Crossword Clues Part 2

[Nearly Sane]

Oh dear! Just as well I hadn't written in 'scarcities'! Thank you for help - back to the grid... ...

I think the C is right . And I think your idea of ICE is right but I think it's the absence of it and ICE that is split up.

[SusanDoris]

I think the C is right . And I think your idea of ICE is right but I think it's the absence of it and ICE that is split up.

Thank you.
with the N as the first letter - no problem! NOTICEABLE And that makes the A correct which I was a bit dubious about.

[SusanDoris]

By googling synonyms for familiar and finding the answer, ACQUAINTED, in  the antonyms actually from 'unacquainted', I have the answer, but it seems rather remote from the clue:

12 down: Familiar sweet filling maestro put on starter for dinner (10)
Letters: - C - U - - - T - D

I can see 'quaint' for 'sweet' and D for start of 'dinner', but would be interested to hear how the above clue works out.

The grid is slowly filling up.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

You’ve got most of it - the “maestro” is ACE though.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

You’ve got most of it - the “maestro” is ACE though.

Ah - I see. Thank you.
There are some really obscure - well, to me they are! - clues.  e.g.
24 across: Record's verse part (7)
Begins and ends with E.

A hint would be really helpful.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Ah - I see. Thank you.
There are some really obscure - well, to me they are! - clues.  e.g.
24 across: Record's verse part (7)
Begins and ends with E.

A hint would be really helpful.

"Record" is often either EP or LP, and the E is given to you so...

Also, the "'s" at the end of "record's" is an abbreviation of a two letter word. All you need then is a three-letter synonym for "verse".   

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

"Record" is often either EP or LP, and the E is given to you so...

Also, the "'s" at the end of "record's" is an abbreviation of a two letter word. All you need then is a three-letter synonym for "verse".   

Thank you very much - so that will be EPISODE. I don't think I'd ever have worked that one out.  It will also help with associated answers.

[SusanDoris]

Well, I must say, I am quite chuffed! I have, thanks to the help above, a few minutes ago completed the last six or so clues and all the squares are filled.
*takes modest bow*

[Nearly Sane]

Well, I must say, I am quite chuffed! I have, thanks to the help above, a few minutes ago completed the last six or so clues and all the squares are filled.
*takes modest bow*

Hurrah!

[SusanDoris]

I have three-quarters completed the Cryptic, with only one very minor cheat, and looking up synonyms. I have just worked out two more answers,  one of which I think is DUNGEON, but the clue is:

Waste time in prison (7)
Letters: D - N - E - N

but I can't see why.  I tried looking up synonyms for time in prison, but no luck there.
What am I missing, do you think?

[Nearly Sane]

I have three-quarters completed the Cryptic, with only one very minor cheat, and looking up synonyms. I have just worked out two more answers,  one of which I think is DUNGEON, but the clue is:

Waste time in prison (7)
Letters: D - N - E - N

but I can't see why.  I tried looking up synonyms for time in prison, but no luck there.
What am I missing, do you think?

Dung is waste
Eon is time

[SusanDoris]

Dung is waste
Eon is time

Thank you! I must try to remember that for when it crops up again.
Six more incomplete answers to go.

[SusanDoris]

Yesterday evening, with just two unfinished, crossing answers,  I was beginning to think I could count myself a Graduate of the School of Crossworders, but I'm afraid I haven't quite made it yet. Going for the 15 down answer by putting in letters, I thought it was probably VIBRATED, but, sad to say, it was only when I googled 22 across just now that the T of DOTARD confirmed this. But it is finished!

22 across: Cheat thanks Romeo with daughter who's a feeble-minded person (6)
Letters: D - - - R -

15 down: Thrilled lout was in contention outside (
Letters: - I - R - - - D

I'm not sure why 'dotard' is right though.

ETA: I realised D for 'daughter', and I suppose TA for 'thanks' ...

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

“Cheat” = DO

“Thanks” = TA

“Romeo” = R

“Daughter” = D

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

“Cheat” = DO

“Thanks” = TA

“Romeo” = R

“Daughter” = D

Thank you. Oh dear, there's such a lot to remember!
Another down clue was: Blue is smoother, without question (
Answer SQUANDER, and I can see that 'sander' is a 'smoother', and remove the QU for 'without question', but I can't see where 'blue' comes in. The taxi driver (who brought me home from the hairdresser just now) says he wonder whether it might be something to do with porcelain. Is this correct?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi again Susan,

Not liking that “blue” as a synonym for SQUANDER (surely “blow” would have been better) but for the rest “smoother” is SANDER that’s “without” (ie, outside of) QU for “question”.

[SusanDoris]

Hi again Susan,

Not liking that “blue” as a synonym for SQUANDER (surely “blow” would have been better) but for the rest “smoother” is SANDER that’s “without” (ie, outside of) QU for “question”.

Thank you for reply. Yes, I  could have understood 'blow' or 'blew', but I checked the spelling several times and it  was 'blue'.

[SusanDoris]

There is no way I'm going to be able to even half-complete this week's Cryptic - so I decided to do a bit of guesswork!! Surprisingly, most of my choices so far have worked out to sort of fit the clues which I think is quite funny.
I've been looking up synonyms and picking out the ones with the right number of letters!

 13 & 17 across: Enjoy an innings of torment after being dismissed very quickly (4,1,3,3,2,4) 
One letter available: B - from the only clue I got on first read through, so
BAT OUT OF HELL, plus then LIKE A.

The clues are so long that four or five of both across and down clues had to be printed on second page.  Many have four-letter answers.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

There is no way I'm going to be able to even half-complete this week's Cryptic - so I decided to do a bit of guesswork!! Surprisingly, most of my choices so far have worked out to sort of fit the clues which I think is quite funny.
I've been looking up synonyms and picking out the ones with the right number of letters!

 13 & 17 across: Enjoy an innings of torment after being dismissed very quickly (4,1,3,3,2,4)
One letter available: B - from the only clue I got on first read through, so
BAT OUT OF HELL, plus then LIKE A.

The clues are so long that four or five of both across and down clues had to be printed on second page.  Many have four-letter answers.

You've got it: LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL fits all parts of the clue.

Not sure just guessing at the answers is such a good strategy though!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

You've got it: LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL fits all parts of the clue.

Not sure just guessing at the answers is such a good strategy though!

well, no, that is true of course! But I'll leave it lying around on theCCTV and see how many other answers I manage before next Saturday.

[SusanDoris]

Long, wordy clues again this week.   May I please have a yes/no answer to the following:

3 down: Smashing things made from flour mix using metric weights (9-4)
First letter B

Is the first part BATTERING?  If so, is the second part RAMS?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Long, wordy clues again this week.   May I please have a yes/no answer to the following:

3 down: Smashing things made from flour mix using metric weights (9-4)
First letter B

Is the first part BATTERING?  If so, is the second part RAMS?

Looks good to me: it’s BATTER IN GRAMS

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Looks good to me: it’s BATTER IN GRAMS

Ah, thank you. It's always the detailed reasoning that takes me the longest to work out.

[SusanDoris]

Perseveringly plodding on, I have a question please:

8 down: Voracious, taking a bite of real bait as niibbling’s on the rise (10)
Answer has to be INSATIABLE, doesn’t it, and it fits the first and third letters  but I can’t see exactly where all the letters come from … that is because of having to read one word at a time.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Perseveringly plodding on, I have a question please:

8 down: Voracious, taking a bite of real bait as niibbling’s on the rise (10)
Answer has to be INSATIABLE, doesn’t it, and it fits the first and third letters  but I can’t see exactly where all the letters come from … that is because of having to read one word at a time.

OK, I’m guessing this is a down clue. INSATIABLE is the synonym for “voracious”. Then it’s a portmanteau word: look at the “real bait as nibbling’s” part and then “take a bite” out of it (ie, remove the outside parts). That gives you: “…el bait as ni…” It’s “on the rise” though, and as it’s a down clue “el bait as ni” read upwards gives you “insatiable”.