Crossword Clues Part 2

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you - It must be POLE STAR. I might have got it eventually, but it was the word 'sticks' that was very off-putting. In fact, I still don't see why  it is there. I suppose the R of STAR is short for road, or maybe it is the ST for street? And why 'coverage;?

OK, yes to POLE STAR as the synonym. "Sticks" are POLES, and some roads are covered in TAR.

PS You were over-thinking it!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

OK, yes to POLE STAR as the synonym. "Sticks" are POLES, and some roads are covered in TAR.

PS You were over-thinking it!

Many thanks. I must remember that when I think sticks means adheres, it probably means poles, and vice versa!

[SusanDoris]

As so annoyingly often happens, I'm down to two clues on which  I'm stuck.

4 across: Clocked if this would be locked? (
Letters: U - - - E - E -  Seventh letter could be W

And with the third letter as first of:
5 down: A man makes dinner for these ladies (
Letters: - - R - S - E -
I've been trying out a variety of letters but so far, no luck.

Maybe KEYED for the second half of 4 across, but a couple of hints would be much appreciated.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

I saw the first one quite quickly but it took me ages to work out why. Look at the first and last words of the clue - they’re the same, except the first letter of the first is missing from the second. That is, the opening letter is missing so the last word is...

The second one is a lousy clue. Think of a type of monster, then feminise it. The man “makes dinner” in the sense that he becomes the dinner.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

I saw the first one quite quickly but it took me ages to work out why. Look at the first and last words of the clue - they’re the same, except the first letter of the first is missing from the second. That is, the opening letter is missing so the last word is...

The second one is a lousy clue. Think of a type of monster, then feminise it. The man “makes dinner” in the sense that he becomes the dinner.

Thank you, as always, for your help.
Are the  answers UNOPENED and OGRESSES?

They fit, but the grammar of 4 acrossdidn't quite work, I think!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Yes - both correct.

Re 4ac, it does work I think if you read the "this" in "clocked if this would be locked" as referring to the word "clocked". I agree that it's an unusual clue though.   

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yes - both correct.

Re 4ac, it does work I think if you read the "this" in "clocked if this would be locked" as referring to the word "clocked". I agree that it's an unusual clue though.   

Thank you.

[SusanDoris]

This Saturday's Cryptic is going to take a few days. Anyway,
1 down is: One promotes growth in the Middle East (7)
Letters: - - - B - U - Z
The answer is, I presume, KIBBUTZ, but why?
I know they're pretty much farming and self-supporting places, but that doesn't seem to cover it.

What do you think?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

I think it’s just a straight clue: a kibbutz promotes agricultural growth in Israel.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

I think it’s just a straight clue: a kibbutz promotes agricultural growth in Israel.

Thank you - I must remember not to be ever so slightly miffed if the clue isn't cryptic!

However, I'm really pleased as I walked the 2.3 miles to the cliff top today in about an hour.

[bluehillside Retd.]

No problem Susan (and I’m relieved to hear you didn’t attempt 2.4!).

[SusanDoris]

Slow progress this weekend -  I've also been busy trying to counter some of the wilder assertions about belief on GH.   

I don't like to give up, though, soa a hint for the following would be, as always, much appreciated.

15 down: Shade's down with prince maybe coming over (5,4)
Letters:  - - - - L - L - C
but not certain about those.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Slow progress this weekend -  I've also been busy trying to counter some of the wilder assertions about belief on GH.   

I don't like to give up, though, soa a hint for the following would be, as always, much appreciated.

15 down: Shade's down with prince maybe coming over (5,4)
Letters:  - - - - L - L - C
but not certain about those.

I’m not liking that last C I’m afraid. A “shade” is a colour, so there’s the synonym. And if you’re “down” you’re sad, another word for which is…

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

I’m not liking that last C I’m afraid. A “shade” is a colour, so there’s the synonym. And if you’re “down” you’re sad, another word for which is…

Thank you - so it's something BLUE

I'll plod on this afternoon!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you - so it's something BLUE

I'll plod on this afternoon!

Yep - and princes, princesses, kings and queens are all...

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yep - and princes, princesses, kings and queens are all...

Yes, I really should have thought of ROYAL.

But there does seem to be a non-connectionh between the thinking of this compiler's thinking and mine ...

[SusanDoris]

A slightly more encouraging afternoon's thinking - just 7 incomplete answers to go.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

A slightly more encouraging afternoon's thinking - just 7 incomplete answers to go

Keep going. You can do it!   

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,
 

Keep going. You can do it!   

Hmmm - I think I'm going to need a hint or two more, please!
The bottom right-hand corner has been changed a dozen times, but I am left with:

19 across: Reporter's style cut (5)
Letters: M - L - D

The selections of letters making words do not seem to fit the clue.

Then there are five or six linked answers in bottom left-hand corner.. with few letters available.

[SusanDoris]

Looking again at bottom left-hand corner, I think I've done it. If the answer to:
 
24 across: Was fashionable tailor's outer coat finished? (7)

is TRENDED, then, apart from the 19 across, it's finished.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Hmmm - I think I'm going to need a hint or two more, please!
The bottom right-hand corner has been changed a dozen times, but I am left with:

19 across: Reporter's style cut (5)
Letters: M - L - D

The selections of letters making words do not seem to fit the clue.

Then there are five or six linked answers in bottom left-hand corner.. with few letters available.

I’m not liking that L I’m afraid. “Reporter” can mean you have a homonym so you need an answer that sounds like a word meaning “style”, and the synonym is for “cut” – perhaps a grass might have been?

Looking again at bottom left-hand corner, I think I've done it. If the answer to:
 
24 across: Was fashionable tailor's outer coat finished? (7)

is TRENDED, then, apart from the 19 across, it's finished.

TRENDED is spot on. “Was fashionable” is the synonym, “tailor’s outer coat” is the first and last letter of “tailor” (ie, TR), and “finished” gives you the ENDED.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

I’m not liking that L I’m afraid. “Reporter” can mean you have a homonym so you need an answer that sounds like a word meaning “style”, and the synonym is for “cut” – perhaps a grass might have been?

TRENDED is spot on. “Was fashionable” is the synonym, “tailor’s outer coat” is the first and last letter of “tailor” (ie, TR), and “finished” gives you the ENDED.

Many thanks. Okay, so that means the bottom right-hand corner is going to look even messier!

20 down is: Wife all over infant with no top or jumper (7)
Letters now: W - L - A Y- 

I couldn't work out where the W for 'wife' came in and thought the word was LULLABY.

So the answers are MOWED and WALLABY. Bit convoluted for me!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Many thanks. Okay, so that means the bottom right-hand corner is going to look even messier!

20 down is: Wife all over infant with no top or jumper (7)
Letters now: W - L - A Y- 

I couldn't work out where the W for 'wife' came in and thought the word was LULLABY.

So the answers are MOWED and WALLABY. Bit convoluted for me!

Yep, both spot on. The latter incidentally works like this: “wife” is W; the ALL is given to you; the “infant with not top” is ABY (BABY with the first letter missing); and a WALLABY is a “jumper”. 

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Yep, both spot on. The latter incidentally works like this: “wife” is W; the ALL is given to you; the “infant with not top” is ABY (BABY with the first letter missing); and a WALLABY is a “jumper”.

Thank you - actually I thought it meant that the word 'all' should be reversed, but that was last week … … and history now!

This week's came out complete on one A4 sheet, so I could tell it was one of the slightly less difficult ones! So far I've done quite a lot, but a hint would be much appreciated for:

11 across: Money, endless variety (6)

I think it has come up before, but I'm afraid I've forgotten the answer. Taking the y off the end of money doesn't help...

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you - actually I thought it meant that the word 'all' should be reversed, but that was last week … … and history now!

This week's came out complete on one A4 sheet, so I could tell it was one of the slightly less difficult ones! So far I've done quite a lot, but a hint would be much appreciated for:

11 across: Money, endless variety (6)

I think it has come up before, but I'm afraid I've forgotten the answer. Taking the y off the end of money doesn't help...

That’s a toughie – any letters so far?