Many thanks to Duke for running WG 57.

For the next one, please write a clue for a word (or phrase) that uses only the upper letters on a typewriter:

QWERTYUIOP

The word TYPEWRITER and its sources/derivatives are NOT allowed.

Repeated use of any of the relevant letters is allowed (e.g., PRIOR is allowed).

Please submit up to three clues.

Deadline is midnight, your time, Wednesday, May 19.

Thanks,

Luciano

Stout bag holder (6)

Retire pet mongrel - it's done and dusted (9)

Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)

On Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 10:22:28 AM UTC-7, Duke wrote:
> Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)
That's not right. Withdrawn.

Get them in, please.

Luciano

On Thursday, 13 May 2021 at 9:10:06 am UTC+10, Luciano Ward wrote:
> Many thanks to Duke for running WG 57.
>
> For the next one, please write a clue for a word (or phrase) that uses only the upper letters on a typewriter:
>
> QWERTYUIOP

Strange fruit (5)

Altogether rum! (6,5)

Thanks to all who entered clues. My interpretations are below. Please comment, if necessary.

Luciano

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Rob:
Stout bag holder (6)
PORTER: double def

Retire pet mongrel - it's done and dusted (9)
PRETERITE: RETIREPET anag; def = done and dusted

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Steve:
Strange fruit (5)
QUEER: double def

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David:
Altogether rum! (6,5)
PRETTY QUEER???: not sure how to define this (double synonym?)

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Duke (I include this because I think it actually works):
Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)
PEWTER; PEW + T(h)ER(e); def = metal mixture

On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 4:34:13 PM UTC-2:30, Luciano Ward wrote:
> Thanks to all who entered clues. My interpretations are below. Please comment, if necessary.
>
> Luciano
>
> ----------
>
> Rob:
> Stout bag holder (6)
> PORTER: double def
> Retire pet mongrel - it's done and dusted (9)
> PRETERITE: RETIREPET anag; def = done and dusted
>
> ----------
>
> Steve:
> Strange fruit (5)
> QUEER: double def
>
> ----------
>
> David:
> Altogether rum! (6,5)
> PRETTY QUEER???: not sure how to define this (double synonym?)
>
> ----------
>
> Duke (I include this because I think it actually works):
> Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)
> PEWTER; PEW + T(h)ER(e); def = metal mixture
I'd say, mine was a reasonable cryptic def. Ask Jeeves, for a second opinion!

On Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 7:20:38 PM UTC-2:30, David A wrote:
> On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 4:34:13 PM UTC-2:30, Luciano Ward wrote:
> > Thanks to all who entered clues. My interpretations are below. Please comment, if necessary.
> >
> > Luciano
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > Rob:
> > Stout bag holder (6)
> > PORTER: double def
> > Retire pet mongrel - it's done and dusted (9)
> > PRETERITE: RETIREPET anag; def = done and dusted
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > Steve:
> > Strange fruit (5)
> > QUEER: double def
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > David:
> > Altogether rum! (6,5)
> > PRETTY QUEER???: not sure how to define this (double synonym?)
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > Duke (I include this because I think it actually works):
> > Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)
> > PEWTER; PEW + T(h)ER(e); def = metal mixture
> I'd say, mine was a reasonable cryptic def. Ask Jeeves, for a second opinion!
I was listening to that country song (Ethyl, put your clothes on!) when I wrote this!

Result before the end of the week. My recent football injuries have intervened. Old age knows no mercy.

Thanks for your patience,

Luciano

Repeated thanks to all who entered clues. Repeated apologies for the delay. My opinions are below. The winner is revealed at the end.

Luciano

----------

Rob:
Stout bag holder (6)
PORTER: double def
-- Absolutely solid double definition, with a vivid image.

Retire pet mongrel - it's done and dusted (9)
PRETERITE: RETIREPET anag; def = done and dusted
-- I like the anagram fodder (I especially like mongrel dogs) and the anagram indicator. The definition is just a bit too fanciful for me.

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Steve:
Strange fruit (5)
QUEER: double def
-- It's good to see a double definition that's also a recognisable phrase. Most definitions of 'fruit' (as meaning a male homosexual) identify it as at least derogatory, and certainly if this were a clue in a (UK or USA; Australian, I don't know) newspaper, the definition would need to be qualified with this in mind.

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David:
Altogether rum! (6,5)
PRETTY QUEER: re David, a cryptic definition
-- Can't really see this as a cryptic definition. It's simply a synonym of one word and a synonym for another. Yes, the answer obeys the criterion of the challenge, but the clue just doesn't have the cunning of an effective cryptic clue.

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Duke (I include this because I think it actually works):
Metal mixture that smells bad there, after he leaves (6)
PEWTER; PEW + T(h)ER(e); def = metal mixture
-- Duke withdrew this. My initial response was that the removed H and E don't have to be contiguous; as long as they are in the same order as they are in T(h)ER(e)), that's fine. There is, however, an argument that 'leaves' implies that HE as an undivided unit should be extracted, which is not a bad argument, which is why I like cryptic crosswords so much, which is a cop-out on my part...

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I'm going with Rob's bag-carrier as the winner. Second is Steve with his Billie Holiday song.