Crossword Clues Part 2

[bluehillside Retd.]

Morning Susan,

Top left-hand corner is tricky. May I have some hint help with the following, please:

1 across: Weak sense about black and white's last piece (
Letters: None, I'm afraid.

You need word meaning “sense”, that contains (“about”) an abbreviation for “black”, and then the “last piece” of the word “white”. The whole thing is a synonym or “weak”.

3 down: Look kills (
Third letter: T

I've been thinking WATCHER but that only fits the first half of the clue. If correct, then the fourth letter of 1 across is W.

Is it seven letters? If it is, there’s a rhyming slang term for “look” that may help you. 

[SusanDoris]

Morning Susan,

You need word meaning “sense”, that contains (“about”) an abbreviation for “black”, and then the “last piece” of the word “white”. The whole thing is a synonym or “weak”.

Thank you, I'll work on that.

Is it seven letters? If it is, there’s a rhyming slang term for “look” that may help you.

Thank you, but no, unfortunately it is 8, but I'll check the slang and maybe it will need an S ...

[SusanDoris]

While looking up slang, I remembered the slang word - BUTCHERS, i.e. take a butchers

So thatmakes the fourth letter of 1 across B and the last letter is E - I've also worked out 4 down - and since the letter between must be L, 1 across is FEEBLE..
Definitely won't finish by tomorrow - it is a harder one, I think.

[SusanDoris]

This Cryptic is already raising a few 'but why' questions, so an answer to this one will, as always, be much appreciated.

The H in BUTCHERS gives me BATHROBE  for

11 across: Bishop buzzing with energy in gown (

if that is right, where is the buzzing? I suppose it could be A THROB but I think that's a cheat and a guess!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

This Cryptic is already raising a few 'but why' questions, so an answer to this one will, as always, be much appreciated.

The H in BUTCHERS gives me BATHROBE  for

11 across: Bishop buzzing with energy in gown (

if that is right, where is the buzzing? I suppose it could be A THROB but I think that's a cheat and a guess!

“Bishop” = B

“Buzzing” = ATHROB

“Energy” = E

BATHROBE = “gown” 

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

“Bishop” = B

“Buzzing” = ATHROB

“Energy” = E

BATHROBE = “gown”

Thank you. There aren't too many to do now; I'll have another try tomorrow, but I think I'll probably be having to ask for a few more hints.

Just managed two more but bottom left-hand corner stil looking empty ...

[SusanDoris]

Yesterday evening I completed three of the answers in the lower lefthand corner, but like quite a few of the others, they jar somewhat and leave a slight sense of dissatisfaction rather than a smile , even if there was an attempt at levity with the Bishop athrob answer. I would be really grateful for hints for the remaining four unfinished clues, please,  rather than simply look up the answers. This grid has had quite a lot of two consecutive blank squares which adds to the difficulty I think.

16 down: Notice cut in smart cloth (
Letters: S - - - - I - G

220 across: British comedian Henry provides fish (6)
Letters B - - - N -

18 down: Operate reciprocally having Virgin Queen inside (3,5)
Letters: I - - / E - A - -

25 across: Cover point with erstwhile Prime Minister (6)
LettersS - E - - -- - -

I'm going to the hairdresser's in a minute, so I'll try thinking about them while under the dryer, but I don't think I'll get anywhere.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan - hope the barnet looks lovey!

Yesterday evening I completed three of the answers in the lower lefthand corner, but like quite a few of the others, they jar somewhat and leave a slight sense of dissatisfaction rather than a smile , even if there was an attempt at levity with the Bishop athrob answer. I would be really grateful for hints for the remaining four unfinished clues, please,  rather than simply look up the answers. This grid has had quite a lot of two consecutive blank squares which adds to the difficulty I think.

16 down: Notice cut in smart cloth (
Letters: S - - - - I - G

There are two sorts of cloth that fit here. I think you need the one that's a synonym for "sting" wrapped around a word meaning "notice" that's had its last letter removed ("cut").

220 across: British comedian Henry provides fish (6)
Letters B - - - N -

Blimey! Sorry, but this one has got me foxed. Maybe let me know if you get some more letters though?

18 down: Operate reciprocally having Virgin Queen inside (3,5)
Letters: I - - / E - A - -

As has this one. There aren't many three-letter word beginning with "I" and I've run through as many as I can think of. "Queen" is usually ER if that helps?   

25 across: Cover point with erstwhile Prime Minister (6)
LettersS - E - - -- - -

OK, the "point" you have already with S (as in a point of the compass). You need next a former Prime Minister - think yachts and organ playing!

[Nearly Sane]

Hi Susan - hope the barnet looks lovey!

There are two sorts of cloth that fit here. I think you need the one that's a synonym for "sting" wrapped around a word meaning "notice" that's had its last letter removed ("cut").

Blimey! Sorry, but this one has got me foxed. Maybe let me know if you get some more letters though?

As has this one. There aren't many three-letter word beginning with "I" and I've run through as many as I can think of. "Queen" is usually ER if that helps?   

OK, the "point" you have already with S (as in a point of the compass). You need next a former Prime Minister - think yachts and organ playing!

I think the fish one is difficult to get without knowing the name of the fish. It's a very straight forward, though not very good, clue imo. Just insert the most obvious Henry in this instance.

Not getting the Virgin queen one either

[Aruntraveller]

I see NS has beaten me to it. I got the fish one straight away thanks to my late father's obsession with all things fish.

NS's clue is spot on.

[SusanDoris]

bluehillside

Many thanks for the reply. I am just back and taken a quick look but will reply properly later.

[SusanDoris]

My thanks too to Nearly Sane and Trent Voyager  - I didn’t see those when I glanced quickly.   Hairdo brought forward from Thursday! Walked home using sweep stick – it becomes easier each time of course.

Hi Susan - hope the barnet looks lovey!

There are two sorts of cloth that fit here. I think you need the one that's a synonym for "sting" wrapped around a word meaning "notice" that's had its last letter removed ("cut")’.

I hope you meant STING  and not a synonym! Because I was talking to my next-door neighbour about an hour ago and telling her about the posts here and she said she knew the fish!! So having put BLENNI into the grid I think the cloth is SHEETING.  I hope that’s right.

Blimey! Sorry, but this one has got me foxed. Maybe let me know if you get some more letters though?

Thanks to TV we have blenni!  It is now clear where the comedian comes in, but if that’s not a toughie clue, then I’ll be surprised. The blog page this week says this Cryptic is more like a Wednesday toughie. 

As has this one. There aren't many three-letter word beginning with "I" and I've run through as many as I can think of. "Queen" is usually ER if that helps?   

The letter I comes from:

17 across: Good free network (4) Letters: GR-D,

The E and the A are right.: With HEATH being the ex PM, the last letter is T
The answer remains a blank for me!
Edited to add that it did remain so until I googled the answer - see last paragraph.

OK, the "point" you have already with S (as in a point of the compass). You need next a former Prime Minister - think yachts and organ playing!

I kept thinking of Teresa May of course, but that makes it SHEATH.

At this point I have to humbly apologise because in fact, having found the answer in ‘wordplay.com which is INTERACT, I checked the printed crossword and it is (, not (3,5). Half the clue is at the bottom of the first page and the second half at the top of the second page, so I have some slight excuse for getting that wrong as quite a few clues have been either (5,3) or (3,5) .
Not quite sure I understand the ‘why though …

[Nearly Sane]

Note it is Blenny rather than Blenni

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

I hope you meant STING  and not a synonym! Because I was talking to my next-door neighbour about an hour ago and telling her about the posts here and she said she knew the fish!! So having put BLENNI into the grid I think the cloth is SHEETING.  I hope that’s right.

Yes it is. I was thinking of SMOCKING too, but SHEETING fits the clue.
 

Thanks to TV we have blenni!  It is now clear where the comedian comes in, but if that’s not a toughie clue, then I’ll be surprised. The blog page this week says this Cryptic is more like a Wednesday toughie.

NS & Trent had it – not a word I knew.
 

The letter I comes from:

17 across: Good free network (4) Letters: GR-D,

The E and the A are right.: With HEATH being the ex PM, the last letter is T
The answer remains a blank for me!
Edited to add that it did remain so until I googled the answer - see last paragraph.

At this point I have to humbly apologise because in fact, having found the answer in ‘wordplay.com which is INTERACT, I checked the printed crossword and it is ( , not (3,5). Half the clue is at the bottom of the first page and the second half at the top of the second page, so I have some slight excuse for getting that wrong as quite a few clues have been either (5,3) or (3,5) .
Not quite sure I understand the ‘why though …

Ah, that explains it. OK:

Operate reciprocally having Virgin Queen inside

“Operate reciprocally” = INTERACT

“Virgin” = INTACT

Inside of it is ER (“queen”).

It’s a good clue I think because the “virgin queen” is a known phrase, but that’s just a red herring. The “virgin” and “queen” are unrelated for the purpose of the solution. 

I kept thinking of Teresa May of course, but that makes it SHEATH.

Yep.

[SusanDoris]

NS and bluehillside

Thank you both for further posts.

NS:  I think I assumed the last letter was I because it was a name for a fish!

[Nearly Sane]

NS and bluehillside

Thank you both for further posts.

NS:  I think I assumed the last letter was I because it was a name for a fish!

Other than their existence, and seeing a couple of them some years ago, I didn',t know anything of them. As ever with such things a quick glance on wiki is fascinating.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenniiformes

[SusanDoris]

Other than their existence, and seeing a couple of them some years ago, I didn',t know anything of them. As ever with such things a quick glance on wiki is fascinating.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenniiformes

It is mind-blowingly astonishing how much information is available about something one has never heard of before! And to think that so many people have taken the time and energy to study a particular creature and then write it all down … well, massive praise and respect to them

[SusanDoris]

There hasn't been a Saturday Cryptic by the compiler I used to like best for nearly two years now I think, and this one certainly isn't. I've done a few in top left-hand corner, but a hint would be much appreciated, please,  for:

12 across: Best players unable to finish meal (5,3)
Letters: - R - A - / - - -

(5,4) would be easy BREAK FAST 
FAS has various definitions and acronyms but is it right here?

[Nearly Sane]

There hasn't been a Saturday Cryptic by the compiler I used to like best for nearly two years now I think, and this one certainly isn't. I've done a few in top left-hand corner, but a hint would be much appreciated, please,  for:

12 across: Best players unable to finish meal (5,3)
Letters: - R - A - / - - -

(5,4) would be easy BREAK FAST 
FAS has various definitions and acronyms but is it right here?

Neither part of that is correct. The first part is a synonym for best.

[SusanDoris]

Neither part of that is correct. The first part is a synonym for best.

Thank you for your help. .

[SusanDoris]

Checked synonyms ...
Oh dear, I should have realised: CREAM TEA

[SusanDoris]

too many empty spaces still ... ...
May I have a hint, please, for:

12 down: Something wicked and frivolous that helps dispel gloom (11)
First letter C

I'm fairly sure I ought to know this one, but it's eluding me so far.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

too many empty spaces still ... ...
May I have a hint, please, for:

12 down: Something wicked and frivolous that helps dispel gloom (11)
First letter C

I'm fairly sure I ought to know this one, but it's eluding me so far.

Try pronouncing the word “wicked” as just one syllable…

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Try pronouncing the word “wicked” as just one syllable…

thank you - much appreciated. Hmmmm, I'll have to work on that ...

I've just had a phone call from a friend to say she's heard that a vaccine is likely to be available very soon and one of the first to get it will the over-85s, so only a few months to wait!!

[SusanDoris]

I'm afraid no light is dawning yet, so I think I'll ask for the answer, please, then I might manage the four other - empty! - across clues leading from it.