Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Team Susan is rooting for you. You go girl!

It is certainly quite satisfying to be able to follow the way of thinking of this particular setter, who seems to come along every four weeks.
If I haven't managed the last five by Wednesday, I'll be back with a question or two!
The word metropolis comes up in one down - what was that you said about that word a little while ago?  I just think: Superman!
The clue is: Messenger is beaten going round metropolis (3,7) L - - A - - - - - S

And you'll have thought of it straight away!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi again Susan,

It is certainly quite satisfying to be able to follow the way of thinking of this particular setter, who seems to come along every four weeks.
If I haven't managed the last five by Wednesday, I'll be back with a question or two!

Yes, back in the day when I use to do the Times crossword on the way to work I could always tell when certain setters were involved. Each had a style of his or her own I found. And yes, some were easier than others!

The word metropolis comes up in one down - what was that you said about that word a little while ago?  I just think: Superman!
The clue is: Messenger is beaten going round metropolis (3,7) L - - A - - - - - S

And you'll have thought of it straight away!

Actually I did (sorry) – think Hollywood!

[SusanDoris]

Hi again Susan,

Yes, back in the day when I use to do the Times crossword on the way to work I could always tell when certain setters were involved. Each had a style of his or her own I found. And yes, some were easier than others!

Actually I did (sorry) – think Hollywood!

I'mquite pleased  to say that I had thought of Los Angeles, but couldn't work out why ... and confused myself slightly by thinking there might be an O in it. Hmmmm...
ANGEL - messenger?

i.e. an O as sixth letter

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

I'mquite pleased  to say that I had thought of Los Angeles, but couldn't work out why ... and confused myself slightly by thinking there might be an O in it. Hmmmm...
ANGEL - messenger?

Yes. The clue is: Messenger is beaten going round metropolis (3,7)

So... an ANGEL is a messenger (from god apparently!). "Is beaten" is LOSES, which surrounds ("going round") the ANGEL, et voila - a "metropolis"!

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Yes. The clue is: Messenger is beaten going round metropolis (3,7)

So... an ANGEL is a messenger (from god apparently!). "Is beaten" is LOSES, which surrounds ("going round") the ANGEL, et voila - a "metropolis"!

Thank you - I see the 'loses', but still not quite sure about the metropolis. Never mind, I'l happily forgive the setter that!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey again Susan,

Thank you - I see the 'loses', but still not quite sure about the metropolis. Never mind, I'l happily forgive the setter that!

You’re over thinking it I think. LOS ANGELES is just an example of a metropolis – ie, a big city.

[SusanDoris]

Hey again Susan,

You’re over thinking it I think. LOS ANGELES is just an example of a metropolis – ie, a big city.

Thank you.
Answers to these last two remaining clues not being requested here! However, if GIN PALACES  is wrong, could you please say, and if Kelvin has anything to do with absolute zero, a yes or no would be appreciated.

Trap positions American inside pretentious public house (3,7)
G - - - A – A – E –
I’m fairly sure  GINPALACES correct?

Which leaves just one: 
Devil getting on with mostly agreeable Kelvin (3,4) – L - - - - -
Sixth letter could be C or R.

And of course the answer is oLD NICK.

Well, that's the record time so far for the cryptic's completion.

I shall try one or two of the mid-week cryptics, but then of course, the answers are available the next day.

Mind you, I'm still not sure where Kelvin comes in.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you.

Answers to these last two remaining clues not being requested here! However, if GIN PALACES  is wrong, could you please say, and if Kelvin has anything to do with absolute zero, a yes or no would be appreciated.

Trap positions American inside pretentious public house (3,7)
G - - - A – A – E –
I’m fairly sure  GINPALACES correct?

Yes. GIN is a kind of trap, and “American” is A. If you put the A “inside” PLACES (ie, “positions”) you get a term for “pretentious public houses", ie GIN PALACES.   

Which leaves just one: 
Devil getting on with mostly agreeable Kelvin (3,4) – L - - - - -
Sixth letter could be C or R.

And of course the answer is oLD NICK.

Well, that's the record time so far for the cryptic's completion. 

I shall try one or two of the mid-week cryptics, but then of course, the answers are available the next day.

Mind you, I'm still not sure where Kelvin comes in.

OLD NICK is (of course) the devil. “Getting on” (ie, ageing) gives you the OLD. “Agreeable” is NICE, but it’s only “mostly” agreeable, so that gives you NIC. K is the standard symbol for Kelvin, et voila!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yes. GIN is a kind of trap, and “American” is A. If you put the A “inside” PLACES (ie, “positions”) you get a term for “pretentious public houses", ie GIN PALACES.   

OLD NICK is (of course) the devil. “Getting on” (ie, ageing) gives you the OLD. “Agreeable” is NICE, but it’s only “mostly” agreeable, so that gives you NIC. K is the standard symbol for Kelvin, et voila!

Thank you; yes, I can of course see now!! I thought the letters N and C were right  and the word NICE fitted, but that obviously wasn't right.

[SusanDoris]

Yesterday's cryptic is a bit harder - obviously not my favourite setter. I've done 7 clues so far.

2 down is:
Something to scare people with and carry, being insecure (3,3)

I assume one of the words is BAT, but would appreciate knowing (a) if this is right and (b) whether it is the first or second word!
Thank you.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi again Susan,

Yesterday's cryptic is a bit harder - obviously not my favourite setter. I've done 7 clues so far.

2 down is:
Something to scare people with and carry, being insecure (3,3)

I assume one of the words is BAT, but would appreciate knowing (a) if this is right and (b) whether it is the first or second word!

Hmmm…took me a while this one. No BAT I’m afraid.

“With” is W, and it’s followed by an “insecure” (ie anagram of) “carry”, so "something to scare people" is a ... 

[SusanDoris]

Hi again Susan,

Hmmm…took me a while this one. No BAT I’m afraid.

“With” is W, and it’s followed by an “insecure” (ie anagram of) “carry”, so "something to scare people" is a ...

So it's WAR CRY. I'd never have got that! Thank you.
There are a couple of long clues with (4) at the end. Now that's not fair!!By the time I've read slowly through them, I've forgotten the start!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Susan,

By the time I've read slowly through them, I've forgotten the start!
So it's WAR CRY. I'd never have got that! Thank you. There are a couple of long clues with (4) at the end. Now that's not fair!!

I'm sure you would, and you're welcome. Yes long clues with short answers can be tricky, but then again I have every confidence in you!

[SusanDoris]

I have modified previous post to get lines in the right order!

[Steve H]

So it's WAR CRY. I'd never have got that! Thank you.

How on earth do you get that from the clue? I know "with" begins with w, but where are you told to only take the first letter of it? If it'd said "...scare people with initially..." or something, fair enough, but as it is, it's ridiculous. This is why I don't do crosswords!

[SusanDoris]

How on earth do you get that from the clue? I know "with" begins with w, but where are you told to only take the first letter of it? If it'd said "...scare people with initially..." or something, fair enough, but as it is, it's ridiculous. This is why I don't do crosswords!

They are, however, something I can do because I can print them off on an A4 and put them on the CCTV to think about.

[bluehillside Retd.]

SteveH,

How on earth do you get that from the clue? I know "with" begins with w, but where are you told to only take the first letter of it? If it'd said "...scare people with initially..." or something, fair enough, but as it is, it's ridiculous. This is why I don't do crosswords!

"W" is a standard abbreviation for "with" - think "burger w/cheese" for example. There's a fair few of them - "D" for "died", "C" for "circa" etc.   

[SusanDoris]

May I have a hint, please, for:

Division used in school course (6)  Second letter T

Pretty nieces short of energy, unusually cold (6)   Third letter E

If they are really quite easy and I really ought to get them myself, please say!

Number of clues answered so far: 16

ETA Of course, having read that book, I am inclined to assume that the word 'pretty' must mean 'belle'!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

May I have a hint, please, for:

Division used in school course (6)  Second letter T

I think you might have got me on this one! “School” is often “ETON” or similar, but I’m not seeing it yet. Are you sure about the clue?

Pretty nieces short of energy, unusually cold (6)   Third letter E

Now you’re talking. If “nieces” are “short of energy” they’re missing (the abbreviation for) it. What’s left is “unusually”, so possibly an anagram – and there’s an abbreviation for “cold” at the end. Which leaves you with a synonym for “scenic”! 

If they are really quite easy and I really ought to get them myself, please say!

Number of clues answered so far: 16

ETA Of course, having read that book, I am inclined to assume that the word 'pretty' must mean 'belle'!

No, they’re not easy at all but the “belle” doesn’t apply here I’m afraid.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

I think you might have got me on this one! “School” is often “ETON” or similar, but I’m not seeing it yet. Are you sure about the clue?

Checked again with increased magnification and, yes, the clue is correct. 
I think the last letter might be N, if the answer to this (down) clue:
Service bringing in tourists - jam's expected sooner or later, depending on area (5,3)
is TRAIN SET
No good?! Well, it has the right number of letters, and the E is right.

Now you’re talking. If “nieces” are “short of energy” they’re missing (the abbreviation for) it. What’s left is “unusually”, so possibly an anagram – and there’s an abbreviation for “cold” at the end. Which leaves you with a synonym for “scenic”! 

Did you mean to say that! I presume the answer is actually SCENIC?
For wich, thank you. 
I wasn't sure whether to remove one E or both, and thought of C for, e.g. cold tap, but couldn't get any further.   

Have done a few more clues too,  but some guesswork has been involved, which does not affect other answers.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Susan,

Division used in school course (6)  Second letter T

Ah, pretty sure I've got this now (I was actually doing something else so it was obviously ticking away in the background!). Think small river...

[SusanDoris]

Susan,

Ah, pretty sure I've got this now (I was actually doing something else so it was obviously ticking away in the background!). Think small river...

Oh dear, of course! STREAM   Thank you.
I was thinking stages, levels ... ... and I was in teaching long enough to know something about it. And have some clear views too!

ETA and of course the other one is CREAM TEA  I'd thought of that but thought it was too easy.

[SusanDoris]

Yesterday evening I shut down the computer, went to the CCTV thinking I'd just have one more look before deciding to discard that one ... ... and promptly filled in several more answers!!
There are two I cannot do but, since it would be nice to fill those few empty squares, solutions to the following would be much appreciated:

Auditor's guarantee to the bank (6) blank S bnlankO blank E
'Slave Queen' depicted in science fiction (4) S blankR blank

PHONE BOX is the answer to the following clue:
Kent's changing situation -- 'smart' people no longer call here (5,3)
But I can't see where Kent comes in.

[Enki]

Hi Susan.

Think Clark Kent((Superman).

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan.

Think Clark Kent((Superman).

Ah, yes, of course! Thank you!