Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Moccasin is a type of snake

Ah, right - thank you - I didn't know that!

On second thoughts, I think I recollect that it came up some time last year, so I should have remembered!

[SusanDoris]

/Finished it. Actually, I have spent nearly all my thinking time today on it. 13 down was just about the last clue. It was only when I got the U that it worked, but that's probably because my brain had been busily working it out!

I can see the SUPPL--ANT part and the C for leading letter, but where does the current come in? The only letter it can be is the I but I don't see why.

That presumably makes the 'Optimise condition of air' TUNE?

I think that one was quite hard, but am quite pleased that I have not googled anything for quite a while now and it makes it much more interesting to know that help is at hand here.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

/Finished it. Actually, I have spent nearly all my thinking time today on it. 13 down was just about the last clue. It was only when I got the U that it worked, but that's probably because my brain had been busily working it out!

I can see the SUPPL--ANT part and the C for leading letter, but where does the current come in? The only letter it can be is the I but I don't see why.

That presumably makes the 'Optimise condition of air' TUNE?

I think that one was quite hard, but am quite pleased that I have not googled anything for quite a while now and it makes it much more interesting to know that help is at hand here.

Well done!

Yes to “TUNE”, and the abbreviation for electric current is “I”. I didn’t know that either by the way (usually in crosswords it’s AC, DC etc) but, having got the SUPPLICANT, I looked it up.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Well done!

Yes to “TUNE”, and the abbreviation for electric current is “I”. I didn’t know that either by the way (usually in crosswords it’s AC, DC etc) but, having got the SUPPLICANT, I looked it up.

There  is one otherclue to which I have the answer but can't quite work out why:
Man behind the counter heading off for mountain (5)
The letters were E - G - R so the answer is eIGER
What do you think?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi again Susan,

There  is one otherclue to which I have the answer but can't quite work out why:
Man behind the counter heading off for mountain (5)
The letters were E - G - R so the answer is eIGER
What do you think?

Yes. I overthought it at first by messing around with REG backwards for the man, but it's simpler than that. The "counter" is a Geiger counter (presumably invented by a man called Geiger), and when you take the head (ie, the G) off that leaves the mountain.     

[Nearly Sane]

There  is one otherclue to which I have the answer but can't quite work out why:
Man behind the counter heading off for mountain (5)
The letters were E - G - R so the answer is eIGER
What do you think?

Think of a type of counter that has those letters and one other in it.

[SusanDoris]

bluehillside and NS

thank you - I can see that 'counter' is another word with far more meanings than at first come to mind and which must be remembered for further crosswords!

[SusanDoris]

 Today's cryptic is by one of the setters who does long, long-worded clues where, by the time I have reached the end of the clue, I have half -forgotten the beginning! I've plodded through them all twice, and so far I only think I might have one of them. I'll pick out a couple in hopes that hints to answers will start me off which will, as always be much appreciated.

I haven't completed the Quick either ... ...

1 across: Seasonal visitors behave like hippos aboard ship (
I think the third letter is 'A, but not sure, and I think the hippos aboard ship has come up before ...
12 across: Menace seen in newsagents returned and trespassed (6) 

The only clue I might have is 2 down: It may give you a reaction ((6) so  ACTION which is where the A came from.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Today's cryptic is by one of the setters who does long, long-worded clues where, by the time I have reached the end of the clue, I have half -forgotten the beginning! I've plodded through them all twice, and so far I only think I might have one of them. I'll pick out a couple in hopes that hints to answers will start me off which will, as always be much appreciated.

I haven't completed the Quick either ... ...

1 across: Seasonal visitors behave like hippos aboard ship (
I think the third letter is 'A, but not sure, and I think the hippos aboard ship has come up before ...

Well, a ship is typically abbreviated to two letters, and “aboard” tells you that those two letters will surround something else, ie something hippos do. That then gives you a type of “visitor” that returns to our shores every year.

12 across: Menace seen in newsagents returned and trespassed (6) 

The only clue I might have is 2 down: It may give you a reaction ((6) so  ACTION which is where the A came from.

I’m not convinced by ACTION, but there is a famous “Menace” in a comic, and if your reverse his name (“returned”) perhaps you’ll come up with a word that could be said to be a synonym for “trespassed” (though not a great one I think). 

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Well, a ship is typically abbreviated to two letters, and “aboard” tells you that those two letters will surround something else, ie something hippos do. That then gives you a type of “visitor” that returns to our shores every year.

Ah, so that is SWALLOWS. I thought of Migrants, but that didn't make sense!
 

I’m not convinced by ACTION, but there is a famous “Menace” in a comic, and if your reverse his name (“returned”) perhaps you’ll come up with a word that could be said to be a synonym for “trespassed” (though not a great one I think).

DENNIS - SINNED.
And I'll try ALLERGY  for the A...

thank you for your help, I'll put those in and see if I can do more.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Ah, so that is SWALLOWS. I thought of Migrants, but that didn't make sense!
 
DENNIS - SINNED.
And I'll try ALLERGY  for the A...

thank you for your help, I'll put those in and see if I can do more.

Spot on for the first two – I’m not seeing “ALLERGY” though. 

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Spot on for the first two – I’m not seeing “ALLERGY” though.

No - too many letters!  I'll spend some more time on it tomorrow, but if I can't make progress, I might just have to give up on this one.  Hmmmm, I'll see .. ...

[SusanDoris]

If you happen to have time to read this and tell me whether I am right, or, more likely, heading in entirely the wrong direction,  I would be most grateful and will then decide whether to persevere or throwin the towel!

I'm having another look at top left-hand corner this morning- I've tried to work out the answers and have come up with the following:

9 across: Sound of McCartney's instrument designed after muffling a cellar (
9 down: Creepy-crawlies found in taps (4)
2 down: It may give you a reaction (6)
3 down: Frontiers should be plain - main test, having no odd parts (6)
11 across: Most celebrated as King George renovated estate (

Answers:
BASEMENT
BUGS
ANSWER
LIMITS
GREATEST

BASEMENT: Basement for cellar; base for McC’s guitar; m for muffled???  S shared with anSwer;  M shared with liMits;
BUGS: B shared with Basement and G with Greatest. 
ANSWER: A from 1 across: SWALLOWS; s – basement; E - grEatest
LIMITS: L from SWALLOWS; m – basement; T – greatest
GREATEST: G – buGs; E – answer – answer; T – limiTs

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

If you happen to have time to read this and tell me whether I am right, or, more likely, heading in entirely the wrong direction,  I would be most grateful and will then decide whether to persevere or throwin the towel!

I'm having another look at top left-hand corner this morning- I've tried to work out the answers and have come up with the following:

9 across: Sound of McCartney's instrument designed after muffling a cellar (
9 down: Creepy-crawlies found in taps (4)
2 down: It may give you a reaction (6)
3 down: Frontiers should be plain - main test, having no odd parts (6)
11 across: Most celebrated as King George renovated estate (

Answers:
BASEMENT[

Yes – “Bass” + “meant” = BASEMENT (ie, sounds like – hence “muffled”).

BUGS

Yup. It’s ”taps” as in tapping a ‘phone line etc.

ANSWER

Yes. Quite subtle - the “a” is an abbreviation for ANSWER.

LIMITS

Yes. The answer is in “plain – main test” with alternate letters missing.

GREATEST

Yes. GR = “George”, plus an anagram (“renovated”) of “estate”.

10/10!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yes – “Bass” + “meant” = BASEMENT (ie, sounds like – hence “muffled”).

Yup. It’s ”taps” as in tapping a ‘phone line etc.

Yes. Quite subtle - the “a” is an abbreviation for ANSWER.

Yes. The answer is in “plain – main test” with alternate letters missing.

Yes. GR = “George”, plus an anagram (“renovated”) of “estate”.

10/10!

I wasn't expecting that - very encouraging, thank you!!

And since reading your post, I hav done quite a few more answers. It is certainly a tricky one though.

[SusanDoris]

May I please have a hint for:

23 across: Kind of animal story with a message - all is lost (
Second letter A, last letter Y

I suppose it is expecting too much for the first letter to be F?!
Not that that would help much - the only word that springs to mind then is FATALITY.
I

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

May I please have a hint for:

23 across: Kind of animal story with a message - all is lost (
Second letter A, last letter Y

I suppose it is expecting too much for the first letter to be F?!
Not that that would help much - the only word that springs to mind then is FATALITY.
I

Try a domestic animal to start, then a word meaning “story” but with the letters ALL removed – the whole thing meaning a “kind”.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Try a domestic animal to start, then a word meaning “story” but with the letters ALL removed – the whole thing meaning a “kind”.

CATEGORY
CAT plus ALLEGORY 

Thank you very much - I would not have thought of ALLEGORY unless I'd had some other letters - not available yet!

[SusanDoris]

Good morning - I have a question:
 
25 Across: Individual copies turned over with speed (
- E - - - A –E
SEPARATE  Individual – separate; speed – rate, but where are the copies, especially if they have to be turned over? Apes?!

Reminding myself to read each word individually has given me a few more answers, but still about 9 to go.
It's synonyms for everything, isn't it?!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Good morning - I have a question:
 
25 Across: Individual copies turned over with speed (
- E - - - A –E
SEPARATE  Individual – separate; speed – rate, but where are the copies, especially if they have to be turned over? Apes?!

Reminding myself to read each word individually has given me a few more answers, but still about 9 to go.
It's synonyms for everything, isn't it?!

Yes - to "ape" something is to copy it, and yes every clue should contain a synonym part.

[SusanDoris]

I’m down to three unsolved clues.
5 across: Theymake immature butts or fools (4)
Last letter S. Is the answer Kids?
If not, a hint would be very helpful, please.
That will leave two down clues, 6 and 19, which I’ll give my brain instructions to solve by tomorrow, but if it fails, I will have to ask for more hints, I’m afraid because,of course, the puzzle muste be completed!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

I’m down to three unsolved clues.
5 across: Theymake immature butts or fools (4)
Last letter S. Is the answer Kids?
If not, a hint would be very helpful, please.

Yes. Goats butt things – baby goats make “immature butts” therefore, and to “kid” as a verb is to fool.   

That will leave two down clues, 6 and 19, which I’ll give my brain instructions to solve by tomorrow, but if it fails, I will have to ask for more hints, I’m afraid because,of course, the puzzle muste be completed!

Any time Susan, any time.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Yes. Goats butt things – baby goats make “immature butts” therefore, and to “kid” as a verb is to fool.   

Any time Susan, any time.

Many thanks.

[SusanDoris]

6 down is IMAGINED.
Clue: Thought alcohol should be present in rum I made (
Just now worked out that word rum was to indicate anagram of ‘I made’ and that it must be a synonym of ‘thought’.

19 down: Heath may be cut through by slate set up to make tracks(6)
It is not quite clear if there is a space between ‘may’ and ‘be’ but I think not. Letters – E – A - T
You’ll have the answer already  - but I’ll give it until tomorrow morning!

[SusanDoris]

Having spent quite a long time yesterday evening visualising different letters in the three spaces, I found that the only combination I could come up with which made any sense at all was DEPART.
DEPART - to make tracks
RAP - 'slate set up' - criticise severely - RAP
But I cannot associate 'heath maybe cut through' with anything.

Can you explain, please?