guardian prize 25670

[thebadger]

Last one and its only a three letter tiddler! Can't get my head round the parsing...
Wordplay with change of heart from what boatman essentially wants

I assume its pun but can't fit this around the boatman part of clue

Thanks in anticipation

[TheWinner]

could it be boatman would want a pun - t ???

[shaneystar2]

ATM is what I put
reasoning being (bo ATM man)

[thebadger]

Of course, I assumed essentially referred to middle letter and was thinking boatmsn the setter might want a pen but your answer is better. Thanks for the speedy response

[shaneystar2]

Tut sorry ...have just looked at my copy ..and I have PIN ...being ATM number
The "heart " of bo(atm) an .
The ATM wants your PIN number

[thebadger]

TheWinners ans that, sorry shaneystar, was obv typing at the same time as you

[thebadger]

Now I'm not sure!

[shaneystar2]

Lol...That's the only way I can see it thebadger .
Funny clue .

[thebadger]

On reflection I like the punt clue better as it is not as convoluted as the pin answer. Thanks both of you

[Infomaniac]

Badger, for what it is worth, I think "pun" is correct too. If you follow Shaney's argument and then change the "i" to a "u" as in the clue (change of heart), it equals pun, which is a wordplay. It fits the clue entirely.

[bibblebub]

if you want another opinion, which you probably don't, the ATM explanation looks better

[shaneystar2]

See what you mean Infomaniac....I'm reaching for the tippex :)
We'll find out anyway when they publish the solution !
Good luck folks .

[thebadger]

Thanks infomaniac, still haven't put it in yet and dithering like a good 'un! My partner likes the ATM answer now I've read it out. I think wordplay is the definition too so I'll go with that. Let's hope the crossword ed explains in his next article
Thanks again peeps

[Infomaniac]

Oh gosh. Reading it again I see it could be the "pun" (the wordplay) that has a change of heart to "pin". Good luck everyone!!!!