Observer Prize Crossword 3772 Sunday January 27Th 2019

[SwerBan]

5a Partially risk a terrible injury on the ice. (6)

I see that SKATER is a hidden word ... but why “... injury on the ice.”

And why the full stop? Quite a few full stops in other clues today.

[dannyk13]

Skater is part of the clue, that's all'

[JJ109]

It is a hidden word, but you can't leave it as "risk a terrible" on ice. You need a noun for it to make sense. Hence "risk a terrible injury" then a skater is "on ice". Full stop simply as the end of the clue.

[Lie-in King]

Other than reading the clue as a whole or semi &lit (below), it's very poor - frankly there are so many "dodgy" clues in this puzzle, I'm amazed it was passed for publication.

"&lit" ("and literally so"), where the clue as a whole functions as the definition & wordplay
"semi &lit", where the clue as a whole is the definition but only a part of it is wordplay

[Spoffy]

Just a very poor clue, full stop.

[SwerBan]

I’ve just read the Fifteensquared review for Everyman No 3771 - that explains everything.

[crosswhit99]

1 across clearly sets the standard for this one:

Loses hope as spa dries. (8)

Just one example of a clue that's missing its anagram indicator, along with the superfluous full-stop!

[goodgoalie]

I think the anagram indicator is meant to be 'as' in that clue ^
But I think the crossword editor must have been on holiday for this puzzle.

[Neveracrossword]

Goodgoalie, there's relevant history for that crossword. The normal, excellent setter finished the week before - and this very poor specimen of a crossword appeared!

[Spoffy]

Those who tackled this puzzle might enjoy George Heard's spoof at:

https://georgevlistener.wordpress.com/2019/01/27/fired-after-just-one-puzzle/