Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

The answer jumped straight at me for the synonym, but it took me quite a while to understand the cryptic bit…

OK, so you have the UP already. Now you need the first word – maybe pour yourself a glass of wine from something while you think about it?

Thank you. However, even with a mug of coffee and a plain chocolate digestive, mind remains blank!

A bit later: googled 'contain(s)' synonyms: Bottle up ?   Is that the right answer?

The cryptic part is a real is a real teaser though. First you need to get the “head and tail” from PUPS. The you need to work out what they do to the UP that’s left. They contain it, and another way of saying “contain” is…

No, I'm afraid I still don't get the reasoning.! I looked up synonyms of 'repress' first of course, but nothing fitted - I didn't hear the phrase 'bottle up' among them.

I think I’ll probably be back later with a few more requests.





them.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Thank you. However, even with a mug of coffee and a plain chocolate digestive, mind remains blank!

A bit later: googled 'contain(s)' synonyms: Bottle up ?   Is that the right answer?

No, I'm afraid I still don't get the reasoning.! I looked up synonyms of 'repress' first of course, but nothing fitted - I didn't hear the phrase 'bottle up' among them.

Yes. The synonym is for "repress". If you repress your feelings for example, then you bottle them up.

The "head and tail" of "pups" is "P" & "S". Those letters contain the "up" that's in the middle; that is, they bottle "up".   

I think I’ll probably be back later with a few more requests.

Any time.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Yes. The synonym is for "repress". If you repress your feelings for example, then you bottle them up.

The "head and tail" of "pups" is "P" & "S". Those letters contain the "up" that's in the middle; that is, they bottle "up".   

Any time.

Many thanks. I keep going over to the CCTV and having a look at the grid ... ... and have another answer!
7 down: Having defeats and victories only, apparently, in an open-necked shirt? (7)
First letter T and last S, so that's TIELESS

The E from that adds a letter to
9 across: Tea-maker who tries really hard? (

S - - - I - E -

And I'll send this anyway rather than deleting because I have just thought of the answer about 10 seconds ago STRAINER

[SusanDoris]

May I have a hint, please, for:
1 down: Puzzle seeing married male, strong beast, oppressed by what he calls a cold! (7)

- - - M – O -!

All I can think of at the moment is MANMOOD! However, the ‘strong beast’ is usually an OX, isn’t it?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

May I have a hint, please, for:
1 down: Puzzle seeing married male, strong beast, oppressed by what he calls a cold! (7)

- - - M – O -!

All I can think of at the moment is MANMOOD! However, the ‘strong beast’ is usually an OX, isn’t it?

Ooh, quite a clever one this! Yes, a strong beast is usually an ox. And “married male” can be abbreviated to two letters too. All you need then for the first three letters is what men apparently often call a cold and bingo, you have a synonym for “puzzle”!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Ooh, quite a clever one this! Yes, a strong beast is usually an ox. And “married male” can be abbreviated to two letters too. All you need then for the first three letters is what men apparently often call a cold and bingo, you have a synonym for “puzzle”!

Ah, yes, thank you. So it is FLUMMOX - not a word that comes up more than once every, well,what shal we say? ten years or so perhaps?!! I think that's about one-third completed now - I'll aim optimistically for completion by Wednesday!

[SusanDoris]

I'm afraid I   have googled a couple of answers. One of which is GROTTO in answer to:
21 across: It's left on Dec 24 by Santa and his reindeer, but grand to put around rhubarb (6)
I had the R and the first T and that clue has come up before, but even with the answer, what has it got to do with rhubarb?!

A hint would be helpful for the following, please:
19 across:Doctor envied church grounds ( 
E - - - E - - -

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

I'm afraid I   have googled a couple of answers. One of which is GROTTO in answer to:
21 across: It's left on Dec 24 by Santa and his reindeer, but grand to put around rhubarb (6)
I had the R and the first T and that clue has come up before, but even with the answer, what has it got to do with rhubarb?!

Shame on you! “Rhubarb” is slang for nonsense, or “rot”…

A hint would be helpful for the following, please:
19 across:Doctor envied church grounds (   
E - - - E - - -

“doctor” suggests an anagram, and “church” at the end is generally shortened to one of two abbreviations. The answer by the way is something AB claims to have but can never produce!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Shame on you! “Rhubarb” is slang for nonsense, or “rot”…

“doctor” suggests an anagram, and “church” at the end is generally shortened to one of two abbreviations. The answer by the way is something AB claims to have but can never produce!

Thank you – so that makes it EVIDENCE I had of course been thinking DR for doctor.

Actually it is a bit nearer completion than I thought. I have a few questions though for which answers will as always be appreciated.

13 across: Most uneven nap, having eaten duck … that’s horrid! (8
R – U – H – S –
So it would appear to be ROUGHEST – uneven>rough; horrid>UGH … but as always the question arises: but why?!

15 down:I will join good number going to rave in the dark (
-   G – o – a – t
-   Well, the wword IGNORANT fits, and I can see I, and GO with an N, and RANT for rave but that doesn’t account for the ‘night’, does it?  Or of course why ‘ignorant’?

18 Ddown: Half of school rejected studying sacred books by this writer, one inventing plots (7)
-   C – E – O –
-   This is another of the clues that came up  a while back but for which the answer has not stuck in my head.
25 across: …more calm, sitting back in chauffeured limousine (6)
M – L – O - 
MELLOW fits But why?!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Thank you – so that makes it EVIDENCE I had of course been thinking DR for doctor.

Actually it is a bit nearer completion than I thought. I have a few questions though for which answers will as always be appreciated.

13 across: Most uneven nap, having eaten duck … that’s horrid! (8
R – U – H – S –
So it would appear to be ROUGHEST – uneven>rough; horrid>UGH … but as always the question arises: but why?!

A “nap” is REST and it contains (“eaten”) a duck (O) and, as you say, UGH.

15 down:I will join good number going to rave in the dark (
-   G – o – a – t
-   Well, the wword IGNORANT fits, and I can see I, and GO with an N, and RANT for rave but that doesn’t account for the ‘night’, does it?  Or of course why ‘ignorant’?

Because to be “in the dark” is to be IGNORANT. The I is given to you, it “joins” G (“good”) and then NO (“number”). All you need then is the RANT (ie, “rave”).

18 Ddown: Half of school rejected studying sacred books by this writer, one inventing plots (7)
-   C – E – O –
-   This is another of the clues that came up  a while back but for which the answer has not stuck in my head.

I’m not liking that “O” I’m afraid. “Half of school” is given to you. Then reverse (“reject”) the “study of sacred books” in education and “this writer”, ie the author of the clue. You’ll end up with a synonym for “one inventing plots”. 

25 across: …more calm, sitting back in chauffeured limousine (6)
M – L – O - 
MELLOW fits But why?!

Again, not liking that “O”. The answer is a portmanteau word, and it’s hidden backwards (“sitting back in”) inside “chauffeured limousine”.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

A “nap” is REST and it contains (“eaten”) a duck (O) and, as you say, UGH.

Oh, of course – I should have remembered the zero for duck; must do better!!

Because to be “in the dark” is to be IGNORANT. The I is given to you, it “joins” G (“good”) and then NO (“number”). All you need then is the RANT (ie, “rave”).

My previous answer applies here too!

I’m not liking that “O” I’m afraid.

Yes, I did wonder – it’s a shared one with the incorrect ‘mellow.

“Half of school” is given to you. Then reverse (“reject”) the “study of sacred books” in education and “this writer”, ie the author of the clue. You’ll end up with a synonym for “one inventing plots”. 

That seems to make it SCHEMER- I was thinking half of,say, Eton, instead of half of ‘school’;  but I’ll have to have a think about the rest of the clue in order to make sense of it. 

Again, not liking that “O”. The answer is a portmanteau word, and it’s hidden backwards (“sitting back in”) inside “chauffeured limousine”.

MILDER.Thank you very much for all your help with the above.   .

[SusanDoris]

It's Saturday again, so posting to say that this week's Cryptic is much easier and I've done about two-thirds already!
Still three to go on the Quick, though.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

It's Saturday again, so posting to say that this week's Cryptic is much easier and I've done about two-thirds already!
Still three to go on the Quick, though.

Stick at it girl - I'm rooting for you!

[SusanDoris]

I have just deleted a long set of comments, following a request for a hint or two! In fact, having got to mid-afternoon with no progress made, I am now down to five empty squares.
One of the request ones was:
12 across: Something very funny after spells of cricket go too far (9)
It is OVERSHOOT. I thought of it earlier, and knew the first part was OVERS but it is only just ten minutes ago that I realised that the 'hoot' is the 'very funny' bit.

With a bit of luck I'll complete it tomorrow.

ETA Monday morning: Not quite - just three empty squares.
S - R - A -
Clue is: One may be lucky to run out of gear (6)
STREAM Fits best but I don't know exactly why ...

[bluehillside Retd.]

Morning Susan,

I have just deleted a long set of comments, following a request for a hint or two! In fact, having got to mid-afternoon with no progress made, I am now down to five empty squares.
One of the request ones was:
12 across: Something very funny after spells of cricket go too far (9)
It is OVERSHOOT. I thought of it earlier, and knew the first part was OVERS but it is only just ten minutes ago that I realised that the 'hoot' is the 'very funny' bit.

With a bit of luck I'll complete it tomorrow.

ETA Monday morning: Not quite - just three empty squares.
S - R - A -
Clue is: One may be lucky to run out of gear (6)
STREAM Fits best but I don't know exactly why ...

OK, there’s a word that describes what you’re have when you have a series of successes – it’s a lucky…

That same word means what you do when you run naked through a public space (ie, “out of gear”).

[SusanDoris]

Morning Susan,

OK, there’s a word that describes what you’re have when you have a series of successes – it’s a lucky…

That same word means what you do when you run naked through a public space (ie, “out of gear”).

:d
Thank you - so it is STREAK ...but not the sort of thing an ancient person  like me would think of straight away!!!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

:d
Thank you - so it is STREAK ...but not the sort of thing an ancient person  like me would think of straight away!!!

No problem, and you were only one letter out after all. Yeah, maybe save the streaking through Tesco until the better weather comes? 

[SusanDoris]

This week's Cryptic has quite a few previously-seen clues, but these are not being recalled to mind yet! At least I can think up an excuse for slowermoving brain - clocks changing! I've only done six so far and would be grateful for a hint or two to prompt answers!   The ones I've done are straightforward so it shouldn't be too fiendishly difficult.

1 across: Spreads river across five docks (
- - - - L - - -

9 across: Lists gobbling duck and other fowls (
- - - - T - - -

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

This week's Cryptic has quite a few previously-seen clues, but these are not being recalled to mind yet! At least I can think up an excuse for slowermoving brain - clocks changing! I've only done six so far and would be grateful for a hint or two to prompt answers!   The ones I've done are straightforward so it shouldn't be too fiendishly difficult.

1 across: Spreads river across five docks (
- - - - L - - -

No problem. As soon as you see “five” the Roman numeral comes to mind. You need to “spread across” (ie, surround) that with a river, then finish with a four-letter word for “docks” (as in chopping off branches).

What all that gives you is a synonym for “develops”.
   

9 across: Lists gobbling duck and other fowls (
- - - - T - - -

Remember that “duck” is a cricket score you can represent with a number. It needs to be surrounded by (“gobbling”) a synonym for “lists”, and the whole things is a synonym for “fowls”, perhaps male ones.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

No problem. As soon as you see “five” the Roman numeral comes to mind. You need to “spread across” (ie, surround) that with a river, then finish with a four-letter word for “docks” (as in chopping off branches).

What all that gives you is a synonym for “develops”.

I was trying to put an extra V into the word river!  So 'develops' is the answer - no synonym required?!!!
   

Remember that “duck” is a cricket score you can represent with a number. It needs to be surrounded by (“gobbling”) a synonym for “lists”, and the whole things is a synonym for “fowls”, perhaps male ones.

Yes - when I see duck, I now think  of 0 or eider! - but I'll have to think about the rest. I'll instruct my brain to come up with the required synonym rather than googling it
Thank you - much appreciated as always.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

I was trying to put an extra V into the word river!  So 'develops' is the answer - no synonym required?!!!

The synonym part is develops = “spreads”. I misled you before I think inasmuch as the “surrounded by” clue comes just from “across”, not from “spreads across”.   
   

Yes - when I see duck, I now think  of 0 or eider! - but I'll have to think about the rest. I'll instruct my brain to come up with the required synonym rather than googling it
Thank you - much appreciated as always.

No problem Susan – think male chickens, maybe little red ones if you’re a Rolling Stones fan?

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

The synonym part is develops = “spreads”. I misled you before I think inasmuch as the “surrounded by” clue comes just from “across”, not from “spreads across”.   
   
No problem Susan – think male chickens, maybe little red ones if you’re a Rolling Stones fan?

Ah, so it's ROOSTERS  Well, that makes me realise that I'd never have thought of rosters!  I'll go and fill those in, but what with various follow-up hospital visits this week, I don't know how far I'll get!
I may well be back with further requests.

Thank you.

[SusanDoris]

This week's Cryptic is much more accessible and I have done quite a few. Could you please give a yes/no as to whether I have the right answer here:

15 down: One making third score removed this exit (
SIXTIETH anagram of 'this exit'. If right, does it mean that person was out third, so couldn't have been sixtieth?! Seems a bit far-fetched...

Thank you.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Morning Susan,

This week's Cryptic is much more accessible and I have done quite a few. Could you please give a yes/no as to whether I have the right answer here:

15 down: One making third score removed this exit (
SIXTIETH anagram of 'this exit'. If right, does it mean that person was out third, so couldn't have been sixtieth?! Seems a bit far-fetched...

Thank you.

Yes, SIXTIETH is correct. "Score" also means twenty, so if you make your third score you've reached your sixtieth. 

[SusanDoris]

Morning Susan,

Yes, SIXTIETH is correct. "Score" also means twenty, so if you make your third score you've reached your sixtieth.

Ah, yes, of course! Thank you.