Crossword Clues Part 2

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Spot on for CAREER BREAK.

Re 1d though, not COLLECT I'm afraid. The first four letters are correct though!

Thank you. That will be COLLATE then? What is it 70 per cent of?!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Thank you. That will be COLLATE then? What is it 70 per cent of?!

Collateral.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Collateral.

thank you. My finances being very simple, I don't tend to get much involved with doing any colating of them!

7 across is: Reportedly charge criminal gang finding dried-up food (7)
Letters: B - L - - - -

I remember that the 'charge' is Bill, but a small hint towards the rest would be appreciated. I don't think it's 'mafia', that's too long, but IRA or IS?   

[Nearly Sane]

thank you. My finances being very simple, I don't tend to get much involved with doing any colating of them!

7 across is: Reportedly charge criminal gang finding dried-up food (7)
Letters: B - L - - - -

I remember that the 'charge' is Bill, but a small hint towards the rest would be appreciated. I don't think it's 'mafia', that's too long, but IRA or IS?

Neither of these. More of a Chinese feel.

[SusanDoris]

Neither of these. More of a Chinese feel.

Thank you - much appreciated. I'll work on that this afternoon.

ETA All I've managed is 3 down which gives the last letter of 7 across as G. I hope my subconscious works overtime during the night!

[SusanDoris]

7 across - Got it - it's BILTONG

[SusanDoris]

Three more clues sharing letters and the two below just lacking them now.
 May I have comments on the answers I think are right, please.
11 across: What might be appropriate in the air? (6)
Letters: - I - A - K

I've been trying out all the combinations of letters I can think of and the only one that seem to fit if only vaguely is HIJACK, but 'appropriate'? I can't see why!.

13 across: Powerful type caught going after banker (4)
Letters: E - E

I think it might be ELEC, or ECEO, or an acronym of which I'm unaware?

[Aruntraveller]

Two meanings to appropriate.

You can appropriate something for your own use.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Three more clues sharing letters and the two below just lacking them now.
 May I have comments on the answers I think are right, please.
11 across: What might be appropriate in the air? (6)
Letters: - I - A - K

I've been trying out all the combinations of letters I can think of and the only one that seem to fit if only vaguely is HIJACK, but 'appropriate'? I can't see why!.

Yes to HIJACK, and the clue relies on the two different meanings of “appropriate”.

13 across: Powerful type caught going after banker (4)
Letters: E - E

I think it might be ELEC, or ECEO, or an acronym of which I'm unaware?

The “banker” is a river, and the “caught” is the cricket abbreviation. The answer is a synonym for a powerful business type – as in “Hollywood E – E –“. 

[SusanDoris]

Two meanings to appropriate.

You can appropriate something for your own use.

Ah, yes, of course. Thank you - that alternative pronunciation and meaning catch me out quite a lot!

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Yes to HIJACK, and the clue relies on the two different meanings of “appropriate”.

Thank you - yes, I've just seen TV's post.

The “banker” is a river, and the “caught” is the cricket abbreviation. The answer is a synonym for a powerful business type – as in “Hollywood E – E –“.

Thank you. I thought of river in connection with banker but not of C for caught. Is it EDEC, the C after DEE mixed up? The meaning still escapes me, I'm afraid!   

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hey Susan,

Thank you. I thought of river in connection with banker but not of C for caught. Is it EDEC, the C after DEE mixed up? The meaning still escapes me, I'm afraid!

Close, but it's EXEC (as in "executive"). It's the rive EXE, plus the C.

[SusanDoris]

Hey Susan,

Close, but it's EXEC (as in "executive"). It's the river EXE, plus the C.

Thank you - and I really should have thought of the Exe!

I was going to write the following, but before posting , I went back and had another look and the answers are: MARTINI and SPINNER!, But I thought you might be interested to see the clues anyway so I'll leave it as written!
 My brain had obviously been working on them.

***************************************

I've done one more clue so now I'm left with the following for which hints would be appreciated please.

17 down: Drink hot Italian stuff on the way up (7)
Letters: M - R - - - I

The only thing I can think of is MARCONI!

24 across: Top political strategist (7)
Letters: S - - - N E R

[SusanDoris]

Reading through the clues of this 29,616 and managing only four, I have looked up the Big Dave's hints and the page starts like this:

To brighten things up, here’s a Prize Puzzle that will give the mental muscles a good workout today. I think there a couple of clues that give the game away as to our setter, who I’m guessing is our lady in town, who’s a most welcome addition to the Saturday setting gang. 9 across is the main example as it’s a device not often seen round these parts, but it is quite accessible if you read the clue properly. It’s sometimes seen in Toughie puzzles and other types of puzzles that our setter specialises in. Having just completed three other puzzles by her, I was probably in tune with the clue.

My heart sinks!!

1 across is: Two tunnels under a bridge? (

and the given clue is:

Where will you find two tunnels under a bridge?? Look in a mirror.

So I assume the answer is FOREHEAD. I shall not look at any other clues- I much prefer the ones given here - but I think it will take me several days or more if I am to get even near to completing it.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

My heart sinks!!

1 across is: Two tunnels under a bridge? (

and the given clue is:

Where will you find two tunnels under a bridge?? Look in a mirror.

So I assume the answer is FOREHEAD. I shall not look at any other clues- I much prefer the ones given here - but I think it will take me several days or more if I am to get even near to completing it.

Don’t know how many letters it is (?), but your “two tunnels under a bridge” are your nostrils I’d have thought.

PS Who’s Big Dave (he sounds scary!)?

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

Don’t know how many letters it is (?), but your “two tunnels under a bridge” are your nostrils I’d have thought.

Ah, thank you! That gave me a laugh to start the day! Eight letters and yes I should have thought of that, but I do have an excuse since I cannot see myself in a mirror!

PS Who’s Big Dave (he sounds scary!)?

I found the site by chance a while ago. If you go to 'main content', this week's Saturday Cryptic is the one referred to. The chap, Tilsett (sp?)  who writes it is elderly, has problems with legs, lives in some kind of sheltered accommodation in Warrington. I think there is a message board of some sort, but I have no wish to try and learn to navigate some other, much more impersonal, message board.

I hope that  having 1 across done will give me some help in deciphering the down clues.

[SusanDoris]

Although I have done 1 down and one other clue this cryptic is one that is going to have to remain unfinished I think.  I have been reading through the clues again and I won't give up until next Saturday, but my subconscious is going to have to work overtime.

6 down is: Periods of time chef journalist wiped out (6)

Presumably ERASED, 'eras' > time and 'ed' journalist, but 'chef'?,

[Aruntraveller]

Susan is it "chef" or "chief" ?

[SusanDoris]

Susan is it "chef" or "chief" ?

Many thanks. You are right - it is 'chief', so that makes sense.

[SusanDoris]

I've managed 5 across: SEESAW

7 down is: A child wrapped in fur in winter, perhaps? (8
First letter S

Could you please say if SKIDABLE sounds like a reasonable answer?

[Nearly Sane]

I've managed 5 across: SEESAW

7 down is: A child wrapped in fur in winter, perhaps? (8
First letter S

Could you please say if SKIDABLE sounds like a reasonable answer?

No. Think of what winter is one of.

[SusanDoris]

No. Think of what winter is one of.

Thank you. Winter is a seasonbut I can't see a place for a word for a child or fur. May I have the answer, please?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Susan,

Thank you. Winter is a seasonbut I can't see a place for a word for a child or fur. May I have the answer, please?

You've basically got it. "A child" is A SON, and the fur is SEAL. Put A SON inside SEAL and you get...

[SusanDoris]

Hi Susan,

You've basically got it. "A child" is A SON, and the fur is SEAL. Put A SON inside SEAL and you get...

Yes, I had thought of son and seal  but thought that sonwas not a close enough synonym for the general word 'child', and couldn't put them together with eight letters! I'll have another go later.

Thank you for your help.

ETA Also, seal and son = 7 letters so just popin an extra A I suppose" SEASONAL 
And I suppose that A is the one at the start of the clue.

[SusanDoris]

Some more clues answered,  but slowly.   

3 down is: Rally finished in sports ground yard (
Letters: R - - - V - R -

Is it RECOVERY? If not, a hint would be much appreciated.