Tom Lion is a puzzle writer from Australia whose works regularly feature in puzzle magazines in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. He also maintains the puzzle blog, Gridless- www.gridlesscrosswords.blogspot.com. Smart-Kit has previously published a Gridless puzzle called Deduction.
Tom’s Gridless puzzles are like crosswords in that they feature crossword-like clues but there is no Grid. The answers to the clues share an elusive feature in common and when the solver discovers that relationship, a vertical answerline reveals itself which neatly ties the puzzle title, clues, and theme together. Check out this latest Smart-Kit contribution from Gridless called “Hokey Pokey”.
Someone (perhaps prone to wild imaginings) once likened Tom’s Gridless puzzles to a complex song and dance.
“[They] are like asking someone to perform a dance to music they are hearing for the first time. The clues are the unfamiliar notes; their answers, the dance steps. Uncertain foot-tapping leads gradually to ever more confident sashays until finally the Gridless solver, despite his initial confusion, finds not just his foot but his entire body in a whirl of beautiful word music!”
Perhaps then the answerline is a mighty crash of cymbals at song’s conclusion? It reads down and as usual provides a neat finish to the puzzle.
Time to dance. Or foot tap, at least. Start by putting your answers in…
1. I think Salsa go-between prepares to stamp. (4)
2. Ground from a grand ball. (5)
3. The warning is a ballroom ceiling visible in the block. (3,4)
4. Check square dance barn, is finally enthusiastic. (4)
5. Characters are shimmying around a big stage. (3)
6. “….can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its (dancing?) shoes.” (Mark Twain) (1,3)
7. Square and Tap, perhaps, or back to back Swing starts. (5)
8. Makes known the artful Members of Parliament and I dance. (7)
9. More vulgar Eightsome Reel started after six left! (5)
10. Forms a successful group with extreme lambadaists after long dance finales. (4)
11. Rumbas so oddly around, drives into another! (4)
12. Jostles the Mexican Hat decorations. (6)
13. Lets out weary sounds, nags, or jigs. (6)
14. I leave unpartnered and unsullied. (8)
15. Fits easily with a production stage of vending machines? (5,2)
1 inkS
2 eartH
3 bAd omen
4 Keen
5 Earth
6 a lIe
7 rooTs
8 impArts
9 viLer
10 geLs
11 rAms
12 elBows
13 grOans
14 Unmarred
15 T
…still working on 15…
Shake it all about.
After a week of looking for a better answer, I’m back to my original for 15: Co-opt In. I guess I’ll know for sure once everyone’s comments are posted. Maybe someone else has a better answer.
[...] Cheddarmelt and Bizarett18 have solved the Gridless Crossword, so will hold off a bit longer before posting the [...]
Very nice work Cheddarmelt & Bizarette18!
Here are the answers.
1. INKS –> SKIN
2. EARTH –> HEART
3. BAD OMEN –> ABDOMEN
4. KEEN –> KNEE
5. ERA –> EAR
6. A LIE –> ILEA
7. ROOTS –> TORSO
8. IMPARTS –> ARMPITS
9. VILER –> LIVER
10. GELS –> LEGS
11. RAMS –> ARMS
12. ELBOWS –> BOWELS
13. GROANS –> ORGANS
14. UNMARRED –> UNDERARM
15. SLOTS IN –> TONSILS
First letters of body parts spells the answerline: SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT
Nice Puzzle.
Been working on this puzzle since you posted it – even started dreaming about it
Had the overall SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT and answers to 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
11 and 15. Didn’t catch the body part anagram though – that might of
helped
More please