Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Welcome to our weekly competition to compose a cryptic clue to be judged by your fellow contestants.

You may enter as many clues as you wish this week and everyone is welcome. Please explain your clue if you think it necessary as good ones can be overlooked!

Entrants should vote for their favourite clue. Please include the post number but please refrain from commenting on entries until voting has begun.

Clues should be posted by 1 pm (GMT) on Friday, December 30th when voting opens. Voting closes at 10.00 pm that evening.

The entry with the most votes wins and its composer sets next week's competition.

The setter has the deciding vote in the event of a tie and may change the rules if necessary.

The setter will declare the winner and award an online prize.

This week's answer to be clued is:

MARRY UP (5,2)

I was surprised to see that the expression isn't to be found in Chambers, but I assume it isn't an Americanism. I also see that hypergamy is there but hypogamy isn't.

Have fun and good luck!

Double duty for Aristo this week. Well done!


Agree to join the King(5,2)

Oops Aristo. Is this clueless or PeerReview?
To regulars it may not matter but others should be aware.

Couple happy after girl takes Romeo to heart (5,2)

Disrefard post @3

It may very well be an Americanism. It certainly can mean simply to join, but also:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergamy

Splice a better knot? (5,2)

I've always understood "marry up" can mean matching in general. For example, on sewing curtains, you would (or I would, anyway) marry up the pattern on the seams. Or playing a card game, marry up the suits.

To snare a king, a cat may purr naughtily (5,2)

("A cat may look at a king")

Make an honest woman of Miss Piggy, maybe, but, after loss of pet, she takes in cockney geezer (5,2)