Crossword Clues Part 2

[Nearly Sane]

Thank you.

With three to go, I allowed my self to look up BOUNDARY for a clue which has come up a few times and for which I should have remembered the answer:

2 down: Tied beside a railway  line (
Letters: - O - N - - - -

. MAGNET  must be the answer to:

12 across: Painter consumes gallon in attractive bar (6)

but can you pleas say where the painter comes in?

Last unfinished answer is:
27 across: Party, holding short sword in both hands? (5)
Letters: - E - E -

LEVER? L and R for both hands, but looking up words for 'short sword' does not show EVE!
May I have a yes/no for that, please?

For 27 across, can I check if 'Party' is correct in clue? Could it be Parry? If so I think the sword is epee.

[SusanDoris]

For 27 across, can I check if 'Party' is correct in clue? Could it be Parry? If so I think the sword is epee.

Oh dear, I am sorry - yes, it is 'parry'.  /Having only that peripheral vision is extremely annoying at times!!!

that completes the Cryptic nicely. Thank you.

ETA I'm not sure, though, because the 127 across is five letters. Did I say (4) ?  More apologies!
ETA No. 2: Five letters ... can we blame the compiler for a not good clue?!

[Nearly Sane]

Oh dear, I am sorry - yes, it is 'parry'.  /Having only that peripheral vision is extremely annoying at times!!!

that completes the Cryptic nicely. Thank you.

ETA I'm not sure, though, because the 127 across is five letters. Did I say (4) ?  More apologies!
ETA No. 2: Five letters ... can we blame the compiler for a not good clue?!

No, sorry I was unclear. The sword referred to is an epee but that is not the answer. You are on the right track with both hands.

[SusanDoris]

No, sorry I was unclear. The sword referred to is an epee but that is not the answer. You are on the right track with both hands.

Thank you. I'm off to Tesco now, so will think about that while I sit waiting for an Assistant to do the shopping.

[SusanDoris]

An abbreviated epée with L and R gives LEPER, but in a brief  search re to lepers, it does not say they had to carry a dagger or short sword.
Is LEPER  right, please? If so, an explanation would be much appreciated.

[Nearly Sane]

An abbreviated epée with L and R gives LEPER, but in a brief  search re to lepers, it does not say they had to carry a dagger or short sword.
Is LEPER  right, please? If so, an explanation would be much appreciated.

Reverse Left and Right

[SusanDoris]

Reverse Left and Right

Thank you. I'd never have thought of that, I'm afraid! I'll try and remember it though.

[Nearly Sane]

Thank you. I'd never have thought of that, I'm afraid! I'll try and remember it though.

Repel then being a synonym for Parry in terms of sword fighting, and epee is short by dropping the third e.

[SusanDoris]

Repel then being a synonym for Parry in terms of sword fighting, and epee is short by dropping the third e.

Thank you for the explanation. I think one of the most difficult things to do is to separate, disconnect and isolate the words from each other.

[SusanDoris]

In the past few weeks, I have been printing off one of the mid-week cryptic crosswords for which answers appear the following day and have been using them as practice exercises! I do not have to look at too many of the answers but the answer, CAMERAS, to the following clue is slightly puzzling:
17 down:Two thirds of soldiers in automobile as they take shots (7)

CA..R for automobile
Whole word for 'taking shots',
but could you please say where does the 'two thirds of soldiers'come in?

I had thought of CAMERA but had rejected it ... not enough letters for a start!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

In the past few weeks, I have been printing off one of the mid-week cryptic crosswords for which answers appear the following day and have been using them as practice exercises! I do not have to look at too many of the answers but the answer, CAMERAS, to the following clue is slightly puzzling:
17 down:Two thirds of soldiers in automobile as they take shots (7)

CA..R for automobile
Whole word for 'taking shots',
but could you please say where does the 'two thirds of soldiers'come in?

I had thought of CAMERA but had rejected it ... not enough letters for a start!

Soldiers is MEN, two thirds of which is ME. Put that inside CAR (“automobile”) and add the AS that’s given to you in the clue.   

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,
 

Soldiers is MEN, two thirds of which is ME. Put that inside CAR (“automobile”) and add the AS that’s given to you in the clue.

Thank you very much - definitely a bit too cryptic for my liking, though!

[SusanDoris]

No easy run this week! May I have yes/no answers for the following, please:

17 across: Seconds brought in Walter perhaps doesn't eat (5)
Answer FUSSY?

17 down: Hide debts, making one angry (7)
Letters: - - r - o - -
 Answer FURIOUS?

I can't see what Walter has to do with anything! This may well be of course that  the reply to this will be No and No!

[Nearly Sane]

No easy run this week! May I have yes/no answers for the following, please:

17 across: Seconds brought in Walter perhaps doesn't eat (5)
Answer FUSSY?

17 down: Hide debts, making one angry (7)
Letters: - - r - o - -
 Answer FURIOUS?

I can't see what Walter has to do with anything! This may well be of course that  the reply to this will be No and No!

17 down is correct.

For 17 across could Walter actually be Waller?

[SusanDoris]

17 down is correct.

For 17 across could Walter actually be Waller?

Many thanks and, yes, it is Waller. As it has a capital W, I automatically read it as Walter.  I'm afraid that reading it as Waller does not ring any bells though ...

Actually, I have bought a new magnifier. It's a Clover 4 handheld video magnifier. It does not replace the large screen CCTV but I shall use it for reading labels on things more easily as the magnification goes up to 24x if needed.   It wil also mean I can take the crossword with me (on a clipboard or something) to places other than the desk on which sits the CCTV!

ETA I have just looked at the introduction paragraph of the Big Dave's blog and it says that there are some clues which are trying to be too clever and might cause a problem to experienced puzzlers.!  Hmmmm.  I don't read the hints part as I have plenty of time to work on it and much prefer the help here.

[Nearly Sane]

Many thanks and, yes, it is Waller. As it has a capital W, I automatically read it as Walter.  I'm afraid that reading it as Waller does not ring any bells though ...

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

[SusanDoris]

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

Thank you - much appreciated. I have done 12 answers so far ...

ETA FASTS (that helps with three other answers.)

[SusanDoris]

Did quite a few answers yesterday evening, but  I would appreciate help on 1 down, please. I have just googled the answer but I don't agree with it!

1 down: Thus PM defends his specious argument (7)
Letters: - - P - - - M

Answer from wordplay.com was PRETEXT but I am fairly sure the P and the M are right.

[Nearly Sane]

Did quite a few answers yesterday evening, but  I would appreciate help on 1 down, please. I have just googled the answer but I don't agree with it!

1 down: Thus PM defends his specious argument (7)
Letters: - - P - - - M

Answer from wordplay.com was PRETEXT but I am fairly sure the P and the M are right.

I agree with you . I think the P and M are correct. The clue means 'specious argument' wisely.

[SusanDoris]

I agree with you . I think the P and M are correct. The clue means 'specious argument' wisely.

Thank you. I'll keep thinking ... ...

11:30 a.m. Cryptic completed.

I am waiting for WFF to deliver, so have spent the time on finishing the last quarter. Couple of synonyms looked up, but no cheating!

[SusanDoris]

Thanks  to your post, NS, I have the answer - SOPHISM. I had thought of SO for 'thus' but had got no further.   thank you.

Three quarters now complete.

ETA I have just added this to wrong post! 11:30 a.m. Cryptic completed.

I am waiting for WFF to deliver so have spent the time finishing the last quarter. A few synonyms looked up, but no cheating!

[Nearly Sane]

Thanks  to your post, NS, I have the answer - SOPHISM. I had thought of SO for 'thus' but had got no further.   thank you.

Three quarters now complete.

Hurrah

[SusanDoris]

Hurrah

Please see ETA I have just written in previous post!! (And the one before that by mistake!)

I couldn't be doing this without the help received over the past couple of years.

[SusanDoris]

With one minor cheat, I have completed three-quarters of the Cryptic, so I expect those who aim to be prize-winners will have completed it in a very short time!
Of the six clues remaining, a hint would be much appreciated for:

20 down: Around capital, cold and extremely tense atmosphere (7)(
No letters available

ETA Fifth letter I, I think.

ETA It's CLIMATE,  isn't it? C > cold, LIMA > capital, TE first and last letters of 'tense'.

No empty squares now! There are two clues, however,  for which answers are right but I will as always be interested in the why, please.

23 across: Researcher, say, one going into trail of evidence, is right at last (9)
Answer: SCIENTIST

26 across: Beasts harshly censurefashionable adult in review (7)
Letters: A - I - A - S, so I assume ANIMALS

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan – hope you’re nice and warm today.

20 down: Around capital, cold and extremely tense atmosphere (7)(
No letters available

ETA Fifth letter I, I think.

ETA It's CLIMATE,  isn't it? C > cold, LIMA > capital, TE first and last letters of 'tense'.

Spot on.

No empty squares now! There are two clues, however,  for which answers are right but I will as always be interested in the why, please.

23 across: Researcher, say, one going into trail of evidence, is right at last (9)
Answer: SCIENTIST

Scientist = “researcher”. I is “one” that “goes into” SCENT (the “trail of evidence”). IS is given to you (“is”), and “right at last” is the T. 

26 across: Beasts harshly censurefashionable adult in review (7)
Letters: A - I - A - S, so I assume ANIMALS

“Harshly censure fashionable adult” is SLAM IN A. Reverse it (“in review”) and you get ANIMALS.