Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Is the answer to:
12 across: Opening time? (4)
SLOT


And I think I'll ask for the answer to 2 down, please, even though I'll probably kick self on reading it? I've tried thinking letters to come after the UNS   and commanded my brain to come up with something, but no luck.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Is the answer to:
12 across: Opening time? (4)
SLOT

I don’t like short clues like this one because there’s too much room for ambiguity. SLOT works as a answer though.

And I think I'll ask for the answer to 2 down, please, even though I'll probably kick self on reading it? I've tried thinking letters to come after the UNS   and commanded my brain to come up with something, but no luck.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

I don’t like short clues like this one because there’s too much room for ambiguity. SLOT works as a answer though.

Thank you. In fact it was 10 across, not 12, and the 5th letter is the O of 2 down.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE

No, no kick self - I don't think I'd ever have managed that ... but I'll try and remember it for future reference!

I realy appreciate your help - and I think it will continue to be needed for this particular cryptic.

[SusanDoris]

I looked at it again this morning, optimistically hoping the missing answers would appear, but no! So may I ask for hints on 5 across and 5 down, please.

5 across: With bar next to major road, carbon leads to trade (7)

The fifth letter is M (from MASSAGE) so I have assumed the sixth is I. I am not sure whether to put the C for carbon at the end or the beginning; and I know there is something about the word 'bar' I should remember ...

5 down: Parking close, or near (7)

Third letter N.

As you can imagine, the top right-hand corner of the grid is still looking a bit empty!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

I looked at it again this morning, optimistically hoping the missing answers would appear, but no! So may I ask for hints on 5 across and 5 down, please.

5 across: With bar next to major road, carbon leads to trade (7)

The fifth letter is M (from MASSAGE) so I have assumed the sixth is I. I am not sure whether to put the C for carbon at the end or the beginning; and I know there is something about the word 'bar' I should remember ...

Took me ages this until I realised that “trade” is probably “tirade”. Is that right? If it is, then there is (or so I’m told) a type of bar in which winsome young women gyrate around a central object. The “major road” is probably the most famous road in the country (two letters) and the chemical symbol for “carbon” is C. Put that together and you have a fancy word for an argument (or I suppose a “tirade”). 

5 down: Parking close, or near (7)

Third letter N.

As you can imagine, the top right-hand corner of the grid is still looking a bit empty!

“Parking” has a standard one-letter symbol. “Close” can be pronounced to rhyme with “rose”, meaning the finale. Put them together and you have a word meaning “near” as in “coming soon” – often following the word “patent (or “pat.”).

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Took me ages this until I realised that “trade” is probably “tirade”. Is that right? If it is, then there is (or so I’m told) a type of bar in which winsome young women gyrate around a central object. The “major road” is probably the most famous road in the country (two letters) and the chemical symbol for “carbon” is C. Put that together and you have a fancy word for an argument (or I suppose a “tirade”). 

Oh dear oh dear, I am so sorry about that! I am so lucky you are a crossword whizz  to be able to work out what it ought to be.  it has been such an interesting thing to do and to persevere with during these past 18 months or so.

So that is POLEMIC.

“Parking” has a standard one-letter symbol. “Close” can be pronounced to rhyme with “rose”, meaning the finale. Put them together and you have a word meaning “near” as in “coming soon” – often following the word “patent (or “pat.”).

Many thanks - PENDING.

That takes it down to three 7-word  clues with some letters plus a couple of 4s, which I should be able too work out methodically.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Susan,

Oh dear oh dear, I am so sorry about that! I am so lucky you are a crossword whizz  to be able to work out what it ought to be.  it has been such an interesting thing to do and to persevere with during these past 18 months or so.

So that is POLEMIC.

Many thanks - PENDING.

That takes it down to three 7-word  clues with some letters plus a couple of 4s, which I should be able too work out methodically.

You're welcome, and I'm definitely not a whizz either! 

[SusanDoris]

Susan,

You're welcome, and I'm definitely not a whizz either!

I disagree!!  However, I am pleased to say I have completed the missing letters here and there: the G of PENDING was the first letter of GROCERY and that Y was the last letter of CUSTODY.  I knew the answer had to be 'custard' and that it was a sound-alike, so I really should have got it sooner.

8 down: Porridge that's like a bit of trifle orally (7)

No crosswording tomorrow - Southampton Museum and Art Gallery are running one of their TouchTours.

[bluehillside Retd.]

i usan,

I disagree!!  However, I am pleased to say I have completed the missing letters here and there: the G of PENDING was the first letter of GROCERY and that Y was the last letter of CUSTODY.  I knew the answer had to be 'custard' and that it was a sound-alike, so I really should have got it sooner.

8 down: Porridge that's like a bit of trifle orally (7)

No crosswording tomorrow - Southampton Museum and Art Gallery are running one of their TouchTours.

Sounds lovely!

[SusanDoris]

About 14 answers so far, so I hope that today’s Cryptic will not take me as long as last week’s.

19 down: Scored briskly? (7)
Third letter L I am just about certain and fifth letter might be G.

I googled synonyms of briskly, but none comes close.

A hint would be much appreciated, please.

[Nearly Sane]

About 14 answers so far, so I hope that today’s Cryptic will not take me as long as last week’s.

19 down: Scored briskly? (7)
Third letter L I am just about certain and fifth letter might be G.

I googled synonyms of briskly, but none comes close.

A hint would be much appreciated, please.

Think of something where there is a score that isn't sport.

[SusanDoris]

Think of something where there is a score that isn't sport.

Thank you - yes, I have been thinking of scratching or making a groove in something,  and twenty being a score and the question mark indicates a bit of lateral thinking necessary, but so far no answer!

ETA Ah, yes, a musical score ... I'll go and have another think

Seconds later: ALLEGRO

[SusanDoris]

Cryptic completed!

[SusanDoris]

Today's Quick completed. The Cryptic has one across and three down clues which had to go on a separate sheet of paper, so you can tell they are long ones! Five done so far and they were not difficult, so I'll see how far I get tomorrow.

[SusanDoris]

In between responding on another forum to posts, e.g. promoting John Lennox as being more scientific and objective,than Peter Atkins, I have been thinking about clues. A couple more done this morning, but a hint for the following would be appreciated, please.

28 across: Writer going to  church in some European capital (5)

I have U as the first letter - is this correct?
I've googled  list of European capital cities - no luck there, so I wonder if it is the name of a writer? 

No speedy solving this week though ...

[bluehillside Retd.]

Afternoon Susan,

In between responding on another forum to posts, e.g. promoting John Lennox as being more scientific and objective,than Peter Atkins, I have been thinking about clues. A couple more done this morning, but a hint for the following would be appreciated, please.

28 across: Writer going to  church in some European capital (5)

I have U as the first letter - is this correct?
I've googled  list of European capital cities - no luck there, so I wonder if it is the name of a writer? 

No speedy solving this week though ...

No problem. Fairly standard this one – a “writer” is also the name of an implement used for writing, and “church” generally has either one of two two-letter abbreviations. Put them together and you have “some European capital”, “capital” being another word for money.   

[SusanDoris]

Afternoon Susan,

No problem. Fairly standard this one – a “writer” is also the name of an implement used for writing, and “church” generally has either one of two two-letter abbreviations. Put them together and you have “some European capital”, “capital” being another word for money.   

Thank you. Is it simply pence then? They would need a lot of those to make any useful capital!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Susan,

Thank you. Is it simply pence then? They would need a lot of those to make any useful capital!

Yes (on both counts).

[SusanDoris]

Susan,

Yes (on both counts).

Plodding slowly on - I have done several more answers, some of which include a large amount of guesswork but which appear to be right even though I really don't know why. I'll set out a couple below for explanations, please. But I'll start with one requiring ahint, please:

8 down: Neater flowing in the delta was imminent (10)
Letters: I think the first is P, the third is R and the seventh E.

2 down: Speed aboard steamer, cool long-distance vessel (9)
Letters were: S- A - E - H - P, so it has to be SPACESHIP, but why the 'speed aboard'? Vessel = SHIP

4 down: Set out and managed to puncture changing gear (7)
Letters were: A - R - N - E So ARRANGE, and I can see the anagrammed 'gear', but what has 'punture' got to do with it?!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Plodding slowly on - I have done several more answers, some of which include a large amount of guesswork but which appear to be right even though I really don't know why. I'll set out a couple below for explanations, please. But I'll start with one requiring ahint, please:

8 down: Neater flowing in the delta was imminent (10)
Letters: I think the first is P, the third is R and the seventh E.

Quite tricky this one. The “flowing” tells you that you have an anagram of “neater” and it’s “in” the word “the”. “Delta” is also a Greek letter than can be shortened, so when you put that together you have a word meaning “imminent” (though more usually it has negative connotations, like when bad weather is about to come).

2 down: Speed aboard steamer, cool long-distance vessel (9)
Letters were: S- A - E - H - P, so it has to be SPACESHIP, but why the 'speed aboard'? Vessel = SHIP

Yes. The “speed” is PACE and it’s “aboard” (ie, inside) “steamer” – ie, SS. If something is “cool” it’s HIP, so…

4 down: Set out and managed to puncture changing gear (7)
Letters were: A - R - N - E So ARRANGE, and I can see the anagrammed 'gear', but what has 'punture' got to do with it?!

“Puncture” just means that something intrudes or similar. “Managed” is RAN, and it “punctures” an anagram (“changing”) of “gear”. 

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Quite tricky this one. The “flowing” tells you that you have an anagram of “neater” and it’s “in” the word “the”.

thank you. I thought it must mean an anagram of 'neater', but couldn't see what other letters fitted in.

“Delta” is also a Greek letter than can be shortened, so when you put that together you have a word meaning “imminent” (though more usually it has negative connotations, like when bad weather is about to come).

The delta being a Greek letter I realised just after posting last post, but I don't think it would have helped me in this case. So it is THREATENED  Thank you.

Yes. The “speed” is PACE and it’s “aboard” (ie, inside) “steamer” – ie, SS. If something is “cool” it’s HIP, so…

Thank you for explaining the SS and the ‘hip’.

[“Puncture” just means that something intrudes or similar. “Managed” is RAN, and it “punctures” an anagram (“changing”) of “gear”.

Thank you. So ‘puncture’ is yet another word I must remember to remember what it implies!

There is another puzzling clue:
25 down: Peachy fried plums regularly used in turnover (5)
Letters: S – P – R
Going through the alphabet, the only word that is a word as far as I can see is SUPER, but that doesn’t make sense. What should it be, please?

[bluehillside Retd.]

No problem Susan,

There is another puzzling clue:
25 down: Peachy fried plums regularly used in turnover (5)
Letters: S – P – R
Going through the alphabet, the only word that is a word as far as I can see is SUPER, but that doesn’t make sense. What should it be, please?

Yes it does make sense! “Peachy” can mean, well, super. If you look at “fried plums” and pick out the alternate letters (“regularly”) backwards (“turnover”) you’ll find that SUPER is in there. The cleverness is in using food-related terms – peachy, plums and turnover – in a context in which none of them have anything to do with food.   

[bluehillside Retd.]

PS

I wouldn't even try by the way to memorise terms like "puncture" to mean "inside" etc. You'll be there forever if you do. Rather it's better to remember that almost always words used in crosswords won't have the meaning (or even the pronunciation) that first comes to mind. Thus "flower" for example will rhyme with "rower" and will mean a river rather than a daisy, "butter" will mean a goat rather than something you put on bread etc. The secret of a good clue is to compose a coherent sentence at first reading, but that has almost nothing to do with the words as they first appear. The last one with three apparent foods in is a good example.     

[SusanDoris]

No problem Susan,

Yes it does make sense! “Peachy” can mean, well, super. If you look at “fried plums” and pick out the alternate letters (“regularly”) backwards (“turnover”) you’ll find that SUPER is in there. The cleverness is in using food-related terms – peachy, plums and turnover – in a context in which none of them have anything to do with food.

thank you. My goodness, talk about complicated! Not only alternate letters,but backwards too... I also tried to think of letter combinations in the gaps and then see if the word made sense read backwards! Which of course  didn't work!

[SusanDoris]

Just a few clues to go, for which hints will be much appreciated.

6 across: One may deck in a ring or be decked in a ring (4)
Last letter T, and I know this has come up before. Something to do with quoits? but this can't be it here with only four letters.

(That will help with getting the 7 down answer I think.)
22 across: Get hot when biting into humbug (5)
First letter R and last T, so ROAST would appear to fit nicely although I can't really see why!

26 down: Distinguished partners crushing opponent twice (4)
Letters: - E - N

This ought to be easy I think, since it is the 'matching' four-letter down clue to 1 down, which is ABBA, but no luck so far.