Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Slowish start so far this week, but I would be grateful for an explanation of why the answer is AINTREE to:

Where 11 lives beside American racetrack? (7)
Letters A - N - - - E
I can see A for American, IN for'where' and AINTREE fits, but cannot work out where the 11 comes in.

[Udayana]

Slowish start so far this week, but I would be grateful for an explanation of why the answer is AINTREE to:

Where 11 lives beside American racetrack? (7)
Letters A - N - - - E
I can see A for American, IN for'where' and AINTREE fits, but cannot work out where the 11 comes in.

It must be a reference to clue 11 - across or down?

[SusanDoris]

It must be a reference to clue 11 - across or down?

Ah, yes, thank you very much. The answer to 11 across isO RANG-UTAN!!

[SusanDoris]

Having now finished the Cryptic by googling for the last few answers - one of which was NASDAQ - I am left with the uncomfortable feeling that this compiler does not like the puzzlers very much. I sense - probably entirely mistakenly!! - a tone of annoyance or something at having to supply the Saturday Pprize crossword. It is just a bit too much on the side of the extra difficult category, which I would not attempt. I knew that most of the clues - a dozen or so altogether - I googled I would not have been able to do, especially when I saw the answers, and I personally am left with no feeling of pleasure at its completion.

From what I saw on the internet a short while ago (on one of the many crossword help sites) there  was a  new compiler whose style had raised a few questions, and I could I suppose write to the DT and ask for more info, but it's hardly worth it!

Sorry to be less than cheerfl about it, but thank you for reading!!

[Udayana]

I've never been one for crosswords, especially cryptic ones, but have been interested by the various clues you've posted.

Anyway, I've decided to have a go at one daily in the summer break. It will probably be the one from the Guardian as it is easy to access and check online, though the compilers don't seem to be as consistent as the Telegraph.   

[SusanDoris]

I've never been one for crosswords, especially cryptic ones, but have been interested by the various clues you've posted.

Anyway, I've decided to have a go at one daily in the summer break. It will probably be the one from the Guardian as it is easy to access and check online, though the compilers don't seem to be as consistent as the Telegraph.

I shall be reading with interest to hear any comments you make. When I started, over two years ago now, bluhillside recommended the book 'Pretty girl in crimson rose' by Sandy something - who probably is still a top journalist somewhere as well as becoming an expert on compiling as well as solving.
I chose the Saturday cryptic because the answers are not available for about 10 days afterwards, and I am of course much slower at plodding my way through the clues.

[SusanDoris]

In complete contrast to Saturday's unlikeable Cryptic, today's Prize Cryptic is just what I like; I printed it to have it to work on  during the next few days. However, I now have only six clues all in one corner left to do.  Very satisfying.

[SusanDoris]

Coming back to the Tuesday Cryptic, I had to google

21 down: Fevercoming down round notice tenants (7)
Letters: fifth E seventh S

Answer came up as LESSEES but also posted the clue with the first word = fewer, not fever! So I forgive myself for not getting it.

that gives me FLORID  for 20 across and only four to go.

ETA All done!

[SusanDoris]

It's getting a bit demoralising - Clever Clogs would appear to be in favour at the moment as compiler! I managed about six answers at the weekend, and have done about four more since, but have resorted to googling quite a few. However, even when I have the answer, I can't sometimes see how it has been arrived at.

Never mind - at least my son can now visit, which he did on Monday.

[SusanDoris]

With very little to do today, I took another look at the Cryptic; googled several clues and completed more answers as a result of having extra letters, making guesses which were right, but not the sort which make me think, 'Ah, yes, I should have got that.' Continuing in this way, I completed it but mot with any satisfaction. Never mind - always the optimist, I shall hope that Saturday's will be more my style!.

[flower girl]

o
No problem - glad you joined in! Just over two years ago I really needed an extra hobby I could actually do at home and the Tech chap organised my subscription to the DT crossword puzzles. This enabled me to print them - the Cryptic can be printed on to an A4 sheet and there are usually a few clues which go on to a second sheet. I also print the Quick. I decided on the Saturday one because the answers are not available for 9 days - and it takes me the best part of the Saturday to read (on my CCTV) the clues. I then raised the subject here and fortunately there are several crossword experts who have really helped me improve my ability to tackle them with a greater degree of success.

I just found The Cryptic in the Guardian.  I do the daily one from my local paper (The Orlando Sentinel.)  And the NYTimes on Sundays.  I'll try today's Cryptic and see how it goes.

[SusanDoris]

I just found The Cryptic in the Guardian.  I do the daily one from my local paper (The Orlando Sentinel.)  And the NYTimes on Sundays.  I'll try today's Cryptic and see how it goes.

And I shall, of course be interested to hear!

This weekend's Cryptic is more accessible, but I'm not trying to get it finished  all at once.
At least it is not by the one I'm calling Clever Clogs - that is because the solver has to be a walking encyclopaedia!

[SusanDoris]

And I shall, of course be interested to hear!

This weekend's Cryptic is more accessible, but I'm not trying to get it finished  all at once.
At least it is not by the one I'm calling Clever Clogs - that is because the solver has to be a walking encyclopaedia!

[flower girl]

And I shall, of course be interested to hear!

This weekend's Cryptic is more accessible, but I'm not trying to get it finished  all at once.
At least it is not by the one I'm calling Clever Clogs - that is because the solver has to be a walking encyclopaedia!

Well?  My goodness!  They are cryptic!!  I might be at a great disadvantage having lived all these years on the other side of the pond. For now, I'm going to go back to some old ones, and look at the answers to get a feel for what the clues are pointing to.  (I did that with one already, and .... Oh, my.)

[SusanDoris]

Well?  My goodness!  They are cryptic!!  I might be at a great disadvantage having lived all these years on the other side of the pond. For now, I'm going to go back to some old ones, and look at the answers to get a feel for what the clues are pointing to.  (I did that with one already, and .... Oh, my.)

Some compilers like Clever clogs leave an empty space between the clue and the answer which has to be mentally leapt across!! My mental gymnastics are  not fit enough to do that!!

[SusanDoris]

The Cryptic is nearly three-quarters complete, but I have just had to google:
 Not fair when superior virtually eclipses career(
Letters:  - R - - - T - -

I had to google the answer which is BRUNETTE
Well I can see 'brute' but I would be grateful if someone can please explain why the answer is BRUNETTE - I really can't see the connection.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan – nice to hear from you.

The Cryptic is nearly three-quarters complete, but I have just had to google:
 Not fair when superior virtually eclipses career(
Letters:  - R - - - T - -

I had to google the answer which is BRUNETTE
Well I can see 'brute' but I would be grateful if someone can please explain why the answer is BRUNETTE - I really can't see the connection.

BRUNETTE is the synonym for “not fair”. “Superior” is BETTER, but the end is missing (“virtually”) and it goes around (“eclipses”) RUN, meaning “career” (as in run amok).   

[Udayana]

Well?  My goodness!  They are cryptic!!  I might be at a great disadvantage having lived all these years on the other side of the pond. For now, I'm going to go back to some old ones, and look at the answers to get a feel for what the clues are pointing to.  (I did that with one already, and .... Oh, my.)

You could try the "Quiptic",  in the Guardian each Monday. It is supposed to be a bit easier - but I found last weeks still very hard.
 

[SusanDoris]

Just calling back in to say that the DT Puzzlers' e-mail newsletter has arrived and I quote the following from it:

Sometimes, however, topicality in a crossword is purely coincidental, no matter what solvers might think. For instance, one of our crosswords last week contained the following:

Singer's very nearly changed name (4,4)

Solving this reveals the answer VERA LYNN: V (=abbreviation for 'very') + anagram of NEARLY + N (=abbreviation for 'name).

Given that the puzzle had been compiled a couple of months before publication, it was only by chance that it appeared two days after Vera Lynn passed away.

As if that wasn't sufficient coincidence for one day, the same puzzle also contained the following clue:

Four, five, all regularly seen in college (5)

Taking 'regular' (i.e. alternate) letters of 'four five all' gives ORIEL, the Oxford college in the news last week regarding its statue of Cecil Rhodes.

Among the quizzing community, such references

I did the vera lynn  clue unaded, but if I hadn't been googling a few answers it would still be a veryi empty grid!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Do you know the WWII story of the Daily Telegraph crossword answers being secret code names for the D-day landings?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day_Daily_Telegraph_crossword_security_alarm

[flower girl]

You could try the "Quiptic",  in the Guardian each Monday. It is supposed to be a bit easier - but I found last weeks still very hard.

I actually did do that.  And, I cheated after feeling there was no way (I do love that the puzzles allow a click to see the answer.)  Talking to my son who is a crossword person, he encouraged me that I am clearly at a disadvantage being American. And one who is nearing 65 at that. 

[SusanDoris]

Today I shall try and refrain from googling to complete the last quarter of Saturday's Cryptic.

17 down is: Mean 50s lout shut away (
Last letter D

If one of our forum crossword experts would be kind enough to give me a hint, it will be much appreciated.

[Robbie]

A quick go before work - CLOSETED? Not sure where lout fits in though.

[Nearly Sane]

A quick go before work - CLOSETED? Not sure where lout fits in though.

Ted - Short (Mean) for Teddy Boy

[SusanDoris]

A quick go before work - CLOSETED? Not sure where lout fits in though.

I think that is right - CLOD for the lout ans CLOSED for shut away … hmmm

May I mention, very politely and not in any way casting aspersions!! - but what NS and bluehillside. plus several others, have very kindly done since I started is to provide a hint to help me think of the answer myself, not the actual answer. Hope you don't mind my saying!