Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

These clues seem awful...

A disreputable bar could be referred to as a "dive", and "orc" is nasty kind of creature from Tolkien's Lord of The Rings, with an orc in a dive we have a synonym for "split".

For armchair, I think it is a word with a similar sound rather than a similar meaning; "couple" is a word for intercourse - as is "mate", and "Ur" is really the most significant Sumerian city.

Hope that's not too much information!
 

Many thanks for your help. Actually, I would appreciate the answer, please, as I've tried googling Sumerian cities and none of the links suggested show a city - AMATER*.

Edited immediately to say thatof course it's ARMATURE- is that right?!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susa,

Many thanks for your help. Actually, I would appreciate the answer, please, as I've tried googling Sumerian cities and none of the links suggested show a city - AMATER*.

Edited immediately to say thatof course it's ARMATURE- is that right?!

Not quite - its AMATEUR (as in "armchair amateur"). Poor clue though I think.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susa,

Not quite - its AMATEUR (as in "armchair amateur"). Poor clue though I think.

Thank you for the answer and how it links to clue. Yes,, ARMATURE was daft! too many letters and the third letter couldn't be M.     

[SusanDoris]

Before I consign the completed cryptic to the recycle bag, I'd just like to ask one more why question.  I googled two answers and this was one of them. I don't think I'd have got it even with all alternate lettersbut anyway:

5 across is: Birds with wings in Estonia's coastal location (7)

The answer is SWANSEA, but why? SEA is a coastal location, and SWANS are birds with wings, as all birds have, whether used or not! But what has Estonia got to do with it?  I can't puzzle that one out.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Birds = SWANS

The “wings” (ie the outer letters) of the word “Estonia” are E & A

“Coastal location” = SWANSEA (SWANS + EA)

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Birds = SWANS

The “wings” (ie the outer letters) of the word “Estonia” are E & A

“Coastal location” = SWANSEA (SWANS + EA)

Thank you - the trick to dissociate words from each other is quite difficult to do sometimes!

[SusanDoris]

This Saturday's is probably called easy! I've done all except 8 answers, two of which and four of which share letters.
May I have a hint, please, for the first across clue:

7 across: Sporty student to initiate classy descent (4,5)
8th letter O

I know I should know this one, but no luck so far.

ETA Fifth letter L, so FLOOR ...?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

The R is wrong I’m afraid.

Sporty students are sometimes described by a colour, and the second word is a way of initiating someone into something. “Classy descent” could describe you are if you have posh ancestors...

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

The R is wrong I’m afraid.

Sporty students are sometimes described by a colour, and the second word is a way of initiating someone into something. “Classy descent” could describe you are if you have posh ancestors...

Ah, yes, of course - BLUE BLOOD. Many thanksThat leaves just fourincomplete.

[SusanDoris]

Last one:

28 across: Protest about short audition for leading lady ( (9)
Letters: - A(?) - R -  A - C -

May I have a yes/no  for whether the letters are right, please?
Is the ending ANCE?

This is another I know I ought to know!

[Nearly Sane]

Last one:

28 across: Protest about short audition for leading lady ( (9)
Letters: - A(?) - R -  A - C -

May I have a yes/no  for whether the letters are right, please?
Is the ending ANCE?

This is another I know I ought to know!

Letters are right. ANCE is not the ending.

[SusanDoris]

Letters are right. ANCE is not the ending.

thank you for your help - I'll work on that this afternoon.

[SusanDoris]

It's MATRIARCH, isn't it? I was working through  letters, and had got to 'patriarch', dozed off for 5 minutes or so and realised it was 'matriarch'. Not quite sure where the short audition comes in. 'March' for the protest and whole word for the leading lady, but audition? 

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

It's MATRIARCH, isn't it? I was working through  letters, and had got to 'patriarch', dozed off for 5 minutes or so and realised it was 'matriarch'. Not quite sure where the short audition comes in. 'March' for the protest and whole word for the leading lady, but audition?

It's MARCH around TRIA, the latter being a shortened version of TRIAL. He's using "trial" for "audition", which it can be I suppose but I'm not wild about it.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

It's MARCH around TRIA, the latter being a shortened version of TRIAL. He's using "trial" for "audition", which it can be I suppose but I'm not wild about it.

Thank you. Having finished that now, and it's only Sunday, I'll have to copy the Tuesday prize one or something to fill in time here and there during this next week.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

No problem - and well done.

Most of the broadsheets publish jumbo crosswords around this time of year. I don't know which day the Torygraph will do theirs, but look out for it - that one should keep you quiet for a bit!   

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

No problem - and well done.

Most of the broadsheets publish jumbo crosswords around this time of year. I don't know which day the Torygraph will do theirs, but look out for it - that one should keep you quiet for a bit!   
/quote]
The weekly puzzlers' newsletter e-mail mentioned the Giant Christmas Cryptic and that the last across clue is 150, so it will be beyond the capacity of my printer to put it onto an A4 sheet of paper I think - but I might just give it a try!

[SusanDoris]

I tried to search for the DT Giant crossword, but failed. However, I think it might have been a general knowledge one, so I shall not pursue the search.

I've made a start on today's Cryptic, but a yesno for the following will be much appreciated:

8 down: Solitary type, fellow struggling to carry on (4,4)
Letters: - - - P / - O - -

Are the letters right?
Is the second word SORT? Or LOADpossibly ?

9 down: Comprehensive hit when everyone refuses to work (7,6)
Letters: - - - C - A - / - - - - - -

Are letters correct?
Is second word STRIKE? I think it must be.

[Aruntraveller]

Hi Susan - compliments of the season.

9 down on first reading looks suspiciously easy to me if "strike" is correct. But to be what I think it is the "C" in your first word is incorrect.

[Nearly Sane]

I tried to search for the DT Giant crossword, but failed. However, I think it might have been a general knowledge one, so I shall not pursue the search.

I've made a start on today's Cryptic, but a yesno for the following will be much appreciated:

8 down: Solitary type, fellow struggling to carry on (4,4)
Letters: - - - P / - O - -

Are the letters right?
Is the second word SORT? Or LOADpossibly ?

9 down: Comprehensive hit when everyone refuses to work (7,6)
Letters: - - - C - A - / - - - - - -

Are letters correct?
Is second word STRIKE? I think it must be.

Don't think the P in 8 down is correct. And neither sort or load is correct. It is much more animalistic.


In 9 down the C is not correct, but Strike is right.

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan - compliments of the season.

Thank you.That is an expression I haven't seen for ages - I think I like it better than 'Season's Greetings' and shall use it in future. And I return mine to you and all here of course.

9 down on first reading looks suspiciously easy to me if "strike" is correct. But to be what I think it is the "C" in your first word is incorrect.

Thank you. Yes, I wondered about 'strike' being a bit too easy! And the C was a five-letter answer for which TOPIC was suspiciously easy!
More work needed, but it's still ony Saturday morning, so I have plenty of time.

[Aruntraveller]

Yes, I wondered about 'strike' being a bit too easy!

To be clear, I do think "strike" is correct. For the first word you have to think of a more universal term.

[SusanDoris]

To be clear, I do think "strike" is correct. For the first word you have to think of a more universal term.

Thank you -- I've just come back to the computer after having a think ( in between dozing a bit, I have to confess!) to ask if it's OVERALL and whether the second word has to begin with L because of 'everyone' in the clue. However, OVERALL STRIKE sounds okay?

ETA No, of course not! That's hopeless - it doesn't fit the spaces. I'll have to think again ...

[Nearly Sane]

Thank you -- I've just come back to the computer after having a think ( in between dozing a bit, I have to confess!) to ask if it's OVERALL and whether the second word has to begin with L because of 'everyone' in the clue. However, OVERALL STRIKE sounds okay?

No, Overall is not right.

[SusanDoris]

No, Overall is not right.

Thank you - I have just edited the post and will keep thinking ... ...

The fourth letter of 8 down is now E, so I think the first word must be LONE ...

FEDERAL fits the first word of 9 down nicely, but is it too American?