Crossword Clues Part 2

[Nearly Sane]

thank you. Well, it's Wednesday and I still haven't got 6 down (as well as half the others!), and I'm afraid I've googled it. The answer is PAYROLL.

Clue: Employees seek opinions about Scottish town (7)
Letters: secnd is A

I knew it had to be PAY to start with but still can't see why the rest of it works, so a brief explanation would be much appreciated.

The Scottish town is AYR.
The seeking opinions is POLL
And employees are on the PAYROLL

[SusanDoris]

The Scottish town is AYR.
The seeking opinions is POLL
And employees are on the PAYROLL

Thank you for your reply. This is the third time I have written and tried to post this, but it is disappearing each time. Okay, I'll try again.
I'm creeping slowly towards the completion - one corner still a bit empty.

The answer to 23 across is ROCKABILLY, I think, but I can't find a reference to a boxing film. Maybe it is one of the compiler's red herrings. A yes/no answer wil be much appreciated.

23 across: Boxing film featuring a programme of music popular in rural USA (10)
Letters: First R, third C

[Nearly Sane]

Thank you for your reply. This is the third time I have written and tried to post this, but it is disappearing each time. Okay, I'll try again.
I'm creeping slowly towards the completion - one corner still a bit empty.

The answer to 23 across is ROCKABILLY, I think, but I can't find a reference to a boxing film. Maybe it is one of the compiler's red herrings. A yes/no answer wil be much appreciated.

23 across: Boxing film featuring a programme of music popular in rural USA (10)
Letters: First R, third C

The film is Rocky
With the programme of music being A BILL

[SusanDoris]

The film is Rocky
With the programme of music being A BILL

Many thanks. Crossword clues certainly require too mnany different ways of thinking sometimes!

[SusanDoris]

About 6 more, linked, clues to answer. I suppose I'll have to finish it! May I have a strong hint, please, for:

24 down: Long sales talk with no pressure (4)
First letter: I

[Nearly Sane]

About 6 more, linked, clues to answer. I suppose I'll have to finish it! May I have a strong hint, please, for:

24 down: Long sales talk with no pressure (4)
First letter: I

It's a synonym for a sales talk with the first letter removed indicated by the no in the clue.

[SusanDoris]

It's a synonym for a sales talk with the first letter removed indicated by the no in the clue.

Thank you - much appreciated.  So it is (P)ITCH, but to use  'itch' as a synonym for 'long' is a stretch too far on the compiler's part in my opinion! Is the word 'pressure' supposed to indicate that the 'pitch' does not put pressure on those listening to the sales talk, or a hint about the letter P?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you - much appreciated.  So it is (P)ITCH, but to use  'itch' as a synonym for 'long' is a stretch too far on the compiler's part in my opinion! Is the word 'pressure' supposed to indicate that the 'pitch' does not put pressure on those listening to the sales talk, or a hint about the letter P?

No. P is a standard abbreviation for “pressure”. If you’re “itching” for a cup of tea for example, then you’re longing for it. Hope that helps!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

No. P is a standard abbreviation for “pressure”. If you’re “itching” for a cup of tea for example, then you’re longing for it. Hope that helps!

Yes, thank you - yours and NS's help has really helped keeping me going on the crossword solving over the last two years.

I googled another answer, which enabled me to finish it, but I hope that particular compiler is not too often doing the Saturday ones!!  That one was no fun!

[SusanDoris]

Much more accessible Cryptic this weekend and I've completed all but about 8 or 9 answers. May I have a yes/no for the following clue, please:

9 across: Harvester in back-breaking exercise (6)   
Letters: R - A(or O) - E -
I think the answer is REAPER

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Much more accessible Cryptic this weekend and I've completed all but about 8 or 9 answers. May I have a yes/no for the following clue, please:

9 across: Harvester in back-breaking exercise (6)   
Letters: R - A(or O) - E -
I think the answer is REAPER

Yes. The “back” is REAR and it’s “broken” by PE, ie “exercise".

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yes. The “back” is REAR and it’s “broken” by PE, ie “exercise".

Ah yes, thank you - much appreciated as always.  I'd forgotten how the two parts worked.

[SusanDoris]

May I please have a hint for the folloing:

24across: Old sailors with an invitation to visit duchy (
Letters: Second O and I think last is A.

This clue has come up before I know, but I cannot remember how to get to the answer. All I can think of is CORNWALL !

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

May I please have a hint for the folloing:

24across: Old sailors with an invitation to visit duchy (
Letters: Second O and I think last is A.

This clue has come up before I know, but I cannot remember how to get to the answer. All I can think of is CORNWALL !

Yep. As you have it anyway, “old” is O and “sailors” is RN (Royal Navy) and they’re “invited” to an “invitation”, ie CALL. (The last letter isn't A by the way.) 

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yep. As you have it anyway, “old” is O and “sailors” is RN (Royal Navy) and they’re “invited” to an “invitation”, ie CALL. (The last letter isn't A by the way.)

Many thanks. I just thought of Cornwall as the duchy that springs to mind ! Also I did think there must be a W for with.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Many thanks. I just thought of Cornwall as the duchy that springs to mind ! Also I did think there must be a W for with.

No problem, and yes to W for "with" - sorry I forgot that bit! 

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

No problem, and yes to W for "with" - sorry I forgot that bit!

Thank you - it is one of the things I have learnt from you.
About 45 minutes ago, I wrote  out the last two clues in order to ask for hints. Gave myself a telling-off, looked up a synonym - and filled in the answers. (19 down: RAILLERY and 26 across BADINAGE - the E being a letter for both.). So Saturday's Cryptic finished!

[SusanDoris]

The DT puzzlers weekly newsletter e-mail has just arrived. Apparently there aren't many crossword jokes, but people have written in with some - somewhat groan-making, but here are two samples which at least raise a smile!
I asked a friend if crossword compilers made up clues. No, he said, just down and across!

and

I didn't realise I was a crossword addict but when I looked back, all the clues were there.

[Steve H]

I'm currently re-reading 'Much Obliged, Jeeves', by PG Wodehouse (Obviously), and at one point Bertie's Aunt Dahlia is doing the Observer crossword puzzle, and gets stuck on the clue "measured tread of saint round St Pauls". The answer is given a couple of chapters later. I won't give it yet, but will say, what PGW didn't, that it has eight letters. I'm not s connoisseur of crossword clues, but I must say that I think it's a rather poor clue, but there, for what it's worth, it is.

[Robbie]

Jedediah the answer I got to that has nine letters so I must be wrong.

[Nearly Sane]

Jedediah the answer I got to that has nine letters so I must be wrong.

think can get a 9 letter answer too

[Steve H]

Oops! Sorry, my mistake. It is nine letters.

[SusanDoris]

It is quite relaxing to read a clue I do not have to solve!

[Steve H]

Pedometer.

[SusanDoris]

Quick completed yesterday morning. Reasonable start made on Cryptic. However,

1 across is: Notice one in tirade incandescent (7)

I thought it was an A in an anagram of 'tirade' and produced RADIATE, but when I checked with wordplay, I see it is RADIANT.  so I would appreciate the reason for that. Okay, AN   instead of A, or is it N for notice?