But that’s a really nice link you’ve spotted between the wordplay and the definition. That kind of idea can often be worked up into a strong surface reading. How about
Play bluegrass country with a syncopated rhythm (5)
Well, maybe needs a bit of work, but I think you could make an excellent clue out of the bluegrass thing.
I would have gone for:
The use of the phrase “Initially” as seen in the Great Lakes / Calvin Klein clue. This usually is a code for the first letters, or in some cases, abreviation.
Would this version of Wally’s clue also work?
“Enjoyment of the Initial state of bluegrass offends the nose (5)”
Then again, if I used " in " that would be closer to a container type clue, a holder. Correct?
“It’s more pleasant to dress in red for young Klaus and his sister” (6)
(Another “surface reading” one?)
[spoiler]Answer: Kinder
Tortuous explanation:
“Dress in red” = anagram of “inder”
“Klaus” gives “K”
“his sister” indicates plural children
“Kinder” is German for “young children”
“Kinder” in English means “more pleasant” (“more kind”)
Think that might be a bit too complicated - I think the “sister” bit confuses things, but I wasn’t sure how to indicate that Klaus was not the only German child (as kinder is plural).
[/spoiler]
A large number move to observe (6)
Via:
Move – change in spelling ?
Just “It’s more pleasant for young Klaus and his sister (6)” seems pretty sound to me.
Nope.
GO (“move”) + OGLE (“to observe”)
:smack: This is why I’m no good at cryptics.
I didn’t know that defined anagrams were frowned upon. I’ve seen it done before. I agree, though, that it adds an extra layer of difficulty.
Two more:
Friend may eat LP: disgusting. (8)
Leap days oddly reveal woman. (4)
You sure it’s not
Large Number = Googol
and
Move = Word play direction to alter spelling
and
The sense of the word “google” as related to ogle ? ?
I was working on part three, as I describe it, and some how, apparently still got at your answer. Can someone tell me if my third step is that far gone? I mean, I’m not making that part up, am I ? I’m brainfarting on it now.
Could I have used “young Werner”, or does the “K” still need to be there?
You have to consider the overall difficulty of the clue - if the definition is really obvious, like “<bla bla wordplay bla bla> US President (5)”, then yeah, an indirect anagram might be OK, although in those cases the wordplay would be largely superfluous and merely serve as confirmation that the answer was OBAMA or NIXON or whatever.
If the definition is not so obvious, then you have to enable the solver to narrow things down a bit with the wordplay. But with indirect wordplay, they have to guess both the operation(s) you wish then to perform, and the letters you wish them to perform them on. That can amount to an enormous number of possibilities.
You don’t need “initial” for certain standard letters (T for time, etc.) or for states.
Reposting mine from page 1 that haven’t had a solution posted:
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song sounds like it’s rotting. (7)
Belief systems consist of one-hundred crimson circles. (6)
Annoyed group trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8)
Friend may eat LP: disgusting. (8)
Leap days oddly reveal woman. (4)
And one more that I thought of while out running:
Distilled ciders are part of this nutritious breakfast (10)
Hey, I think I finally got one!
Lady.
Make that two!
credos
Applejacks?
I’m on a roll:
Carry On
Correct on all three, pulykamell. Good job!
BTW, this one:
Annoyed group trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8)
I’ll change to
Annoyed band trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8)
Just to make it fair per Ximenean’s suggestion.
And I see you’ve edited in another answer.
You’re very close on the CSNY one, but remember, the clue is one word of 7 letters.