| # | Name | Clue | Points | Voters | Anno | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satyen Nabar | Go on wild spree, drinking endlessly (9) | 37 | 16 | SPREE* around EVER; wild= anag ind, drinking= cont ind, endlessly= ever, defn= Go on | |
| 2 | Textrous | Soldier on reserve collapsed after exercise (9) | 25 | 14 | Def: Soldier on; RESERVE* after PE | |
| 3 | Ramki Krishnan | Keep going always, wearing a smile, when exhausted (9) | 22 | 12 | Def = keep going, EVER (always) inside PER (a) S-E (smile when exhausted). wearing is insertion ind |
- Very good wordplay - the comma coming before “always” would make for a smoother surface - Very good wordplay - the comma coming before “always” would make for a smoother surface - Very good wordplay - the comma coming before “always” would make for a smoother surface |
| 4 | Mona Sogal | Carry on Doctor! Serve peers endlessly (9) | 20 | 11 | Carry on def/ doctor is anagrind/ servepeers(-s)* | |
| 5 | Maya Sharma | Hold on! Preserve bananas with extreme care(9) | 20 | 10 | Definition is hold on, preserve* + e ( from care) |
- Good wordplay |
| 6 | @qpheevr | For each cut, start to economize and don’t stop (9) | 16 | 12 | PER (for each) + SEVER (cut) + E (start to economize) = PERSEVERE (don’t stop) | |
| 7 | Sowmya Ramkumar | Soldier on choppers ever eager to protect (9) | 14 | 8 | Def: Soldier on, HIPS |
- The need to use “choppers” after the singular “soldier” detracts from the surface reading - The need to use “choppers” after the singular “soldier” detracts from the surface reading - "on choppers" does not make much sense in surface reading IMO - The need to use “choppers” after the singular “soldier” detracts from the surface reading |
| 8 | Nathan Townshend | Don't abandon a grave! | 13 | 9 | Don't abandon = def; a = PER; grave = SEVERE | |
| 9 | Go on dancing spree with Victor here, topless(9) | 12 | 8 | Definition: Go on. Anno: (SPREE*)(V)((-H)ERE). Spree - Fodder. Dancing - Anagrind. Victor - V. Topless - First letter deletion indicator. | ||
| 10 | Exercise including reverse running to go on (9) | 10 | 7 | REVERSE* in PE. Def: Go on | ||
| 11 | In essence, Spooner backs England to stand firm (9) | 10 | 5 | In essence = PER SE, Spooner backs = REV<--, England = E; PER SE VER E = PERSEVERE = To stand firm (defintion) | ||
| 12 | Carry on with exercise class on reserve ground. (9) | 9 | 5 | PE (exercise class) + (RESERVE)*. Anagram indicator - ground. Def - carry on. | ||
| 13 | Soldier on reserve orders after peace at the borders (9) | 9 | 5 | Def: "Soldier on"; RESERVE "orders" (arranges itself) after PeacE "at the borders"; PE+RESERVE* |
- Good wordplay, but “orders” as anagrind after the fodder is a bit misleading IMO - Good wordplay, but “orders” as anagrind after the fodder is a bit misleading IMO - orders as an anagrind should not come after the fodder IMO - Good wordplay, but “orders” as anagrind after the fodder is a bit misleading IMO |
|
| 14 | Keep your hand in a grave | 7 | 4 | Def - Keep your hand in, PER (a) SEVERE (grave) | ||
| 15 | Endure each part before last course (9) | 6 | 5 | PER (each) + SEVER (part as verb) + E (last letter of course); Definition: Endure | ||
| 16 | Stand firm on each grave (9) | 5 | 4 | Stand firm on (Definition), Each - Per, Grave - Severe | ||
| 17 | Keep your hand in a torn sleeve going from left to right (9) | 3 | 3 | Keep your hand in - def , A - PER , SLEEVE* -L+ R | ||
| 18 | Work invariably goes through in essence (9) | 1 | 1 | EVER (invariably) going through PER SE (in essence); PER S (ever) E; def = WORK |
- Very good wordplay, but “work” by itself seems inadequate as a definition for “persevere” - Very good wordplay, but “work” by itself seems inadequate as a definition for “persevere” - Very good wordplay, but “work” by itself seems inadequate as a definition for “persevere” |
|
| 19 | Endure despite hideous, severe, regular spurge (9) | 1 | 1 | Endure = Definition; Regular spurge = (S)P(U)R(G)E = PRE ; Anagram : (SEVERE+PRE)* ; Hideous = Anagram indicator |
- SEVERE doesn’t really get anagrammed; it appears in order. And I don’t get the surface—isn’t spurge a plant? |