Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

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

You may enter as many clues as you like and everybody is welcome to have a go.

Feel free to explain your clue if you think it will help but please refrain from commenting on entries until voting has begun.

Entrants should vote for their favourite clue (please include the post number).

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

Please post your clue by 2 p.m. on Friday 5th February, when voting opens; voting closes at 10 p.m.

The setter has a 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.

The answer to be clued is:

COLLECTIVE NOUNS (10,5)

Have fun.

Murders could be mob business ? (10,5)

(crows,kangaroos and ferrets!)

Venus collection could be a bevy, for instance. (10,5)

Sue & Vincent cool off with student mob, for example
(10,5)

Watch Parliament ambush Labour and name names (10,5)

Watch (Nightingales)
Parliament (Owls)
Ambush (Tigers)
Labour (Moles)

Nun heard and seen in convents - superfluities? (10,5)

(0 (none) in collective nuns)

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/what-do-you-call-a-group-of

Rout army troop – pandemonium! Names are taken (10,5)

Rout (wolves)
Army (frogs)
Troop (monkeys)
Pandemonium (parrots)

Demented evil count clones troops (10,5)

(monkeys)

As JWS has alredy quoted "troop" you may prefer

Demented evil count clones armies (10,5)

(caterpillars)

Army corps drove chattering school party by train down to family stand to watch team game for spring trip. They all set a good example. (10,5)

Army (ants), corps (giraffes), drove (cattle), chattering (starlings), school (dolphins), party (jays), train (jackdaws), down (sheep), family (beavers), stand (plovers), watch (nightingales), team (oxen), game (swans), spring (teal), trip (stoats).