Please Can We Ban .....

[crosswhit99]

(ii) the continuing overuse of hackneyed devices

In the second of an occasional series of things setters could avoid using, does anyone have other examples of wordplay devices that could do with a serious holiday ? The two that particularly spring to mind are 'on vacation', to indicate the first and last letters only, and 'sandwiches' as an inclusion indicator, as in this recent example:

Double hot sandwiches of part of the loaf (5)

[dannyk13]

How would you propose to enforce such a ban.Setters come from a myriad of places?

[crosswhit99]

Good point, probably wouldn't require legislation though.

[British_Olympics]

Couldn't agree more about 'sandwiches' - it's getting used so frequently I'm putting on weight. Apart from anything else using it too often makes it a dead giveaway whenever it appears. It's even in the puzzle I'm working on at the moment from last week's Independent:

Relish making us toasted sandwiches (5)

[Baldric]

Please can we ban;

Chat threads in Crossword Topic?

[dannyk13]

Balders, the OP is referring to crosswords.

[crosswhit99]

Getting back on topic, here is another recent offender:

... possibly on vacation after second look (3)

[Baldric]

Danny, it is still a Chat Thread

From the Guidelines
///6. Please keep chat to the ends of answered questions – “chat” threads in Quizzes and Puzzles are very unpopular with those who are still searching for clues and answers.///

[British_Olympics]

On the other hand, the question has actually been answered ;-)

[British_Olympics]

... and from a recent EV:

Ordinary Indian native on vacation (7)

[crosswhit99]

On the other hand, here is a variation on the theme which cleverly hides the device in a smooth surface reading:

Type of mural somehow cheers the vacated room (12)

[crosswhit99]

Another recent example:

West African resort on vacation, top choice (6)

[British_Olympics]

Chav's account hacked by tourist on vacation (6)

(Chav = Chat)

[logophile]

What about this for a shocking clue:

Potential feature of grave* discontented Wesley's church (4)

* misprint for grove

[British_Olympics]

That puzzle needed the health warning ! Here's another:

Poet* with difficulty keeping diary clear (5)

*Poem

[British_Olympics]

.... and from last week's Listener (4424):

Foul-smelling assorted salami sandwiches taste of mace (7)

[crosswhit99]

Lettuce sandwiches fine fellow devours (6)
S?????
(The S isn't given by wordplay)