They’re sometimes peculiar, but do the various dictionaries’ words of the year pass the Crossword Test?
In the sample clues below, the links take you to explainers from our beginners series. The setter’s name often links to an interview with him or her, in case you feel like getting to know these people better.
For as long as I can remember, we’ve had a look at various dictionaries’ word of the year lists and more recently we’ve investigated whether the words in question pass the ultimate test: has a crossword setter decided that they’re familiar enough that a solver has a decent chance of entering them in a puzzle?
14a Bighead having grand slam of 25, 21D, 10 & 6 first? (7)
[ wordplay: reference to awards in other clues + IST (‘first’) ]
[ definition: bighead ]
32a Video deception by leaders in dubiously elected executive presidencies fooling all, kindling enmity (8)
[ wordplay: first letters of (‘leaders in’) DUBIOUSLY ELECTED EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCIES FOOLING ALL KINDLING ENMITY ]
[ definition: video deception ]
22a City mayor supporting ULEZ chasing Vauxhall car? (9)
[ wordplay: name of ULEZ-supporting mayor, after (‘chasing’) type of Vauxhall ]
[ KHAN after ASTRA ]
[ definition: city ]
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