Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Welcome to our weekend competition to compose a cryptic clue to be judged by your fellow contestants. You may enter as many clues as you like, and everyone is welcome, particularly new entrants. Feel free to explain your clue, if you think it will help, or to ask another entrant to parse their clue.

However, please don't comment on the clues before voting closes.

Clues should be posted before 12 noon (UK time) on Sunday, February 27th, when voting opens. Voting closes at 9 p.m. (UK time) the same day.

This weekend is Carnaval weekend, which is a big deal here in Maastricht, so, this weekend, please write clues for either:

CARNAVAL (8)
MARDI GRAS (5, 4)

Weekend rules: Each entrant has six votes to allocate across any of one to six clues (no fractional votes allowed). For example, the allocation might be 3/2/1 for the top 3 clues, or one vote to each of six clues, and many other allocations are possible. In the event of a tie, the number of first place votes will be taken into consideration (if those are equal, 2nd place votes, etc).

Good luck everybody!

Four in erotic merriment (8)

Sketchy diagrams - about right for this Tuesday (5,4)

Bigblind. Does Jono have the spelling right?

UK spelling CARNIVAL. I think we should be able to clue for it.

Madras rig tailored for festival. (5,4)

Sorry BB didn’t mean to be rude, just until now we only clue in British English (can’t recall one in US English) unless referring to a specific event (like Mardi Gras) that has no English equivalent, unlike Carnaval.

Amphibious vehicle on display at festival? (8)

(Using BBs local event)

Loves sausages on aluminium - not iron - for the feast (8)

Can rival about a celebration(8)