Crossword Clues Part 2

[Udayana]

When the chap who writes the hints for the Big Dave's Hints even thinks of the words 'a bit much today' or 'anyhing meaning a bit hard, then what chance is there for the average Saturday cryptic solver who does not try to win a prize or do the DT  cryptic every day?!

There has been only one accessible -for me- cryptic recently and today has this clue for instance:

4 down: Upwardly-mobileMensa editor is  full of these brainwaves (5)

I think it ends in S and I suppose it will have to contain M and ED, but is it, in fact, quite easy and I'm not seeing it?

ETA, Well, before I turn off the computer, I thought,'Well, I might as wel read the hints. They didnt help much in fact I couldn't really make much of them!, but I found the answer to 4 down IDEAS, but although I'll leave the crossword on the CCTV, I have recently lost the interest I had before, particularly as I thought I'd learnt enough to tackle them.  And I'm sorry about that.

"Upwardly-mobile" must mean "try reading backwards" !
 

[SusanDoris]

"Upwardly-mobile" must mean "try reading backwards" !

'Thank you - and yes, I did get it, but when the hint-supplier calls it 'a bit of a challenge' I don't think that's fair! :)Anyway  one of the other clues is:

25 across: Build up series,, with Spain knocking out Italy next (10)
I can't work out the hint, let alone find the answer!

[Udayana]

'Thank you - and yes, I did get it, but when the hint-supplier calls it 'a bit of a challenge' I don't think that's fair! :)Anyway  one of the other clues is:

25 across: Build up series,, with Spain knocking out Italy next (10)
I can't work out the hint, let alone find the answer!

It is ridiculous  

"String" as a synonym of "series", then change the "i" for an "e" and add "then" at the end.

[SusanDoris]

It is ridiculous  

"String" as a synonym of "series", then change the "i" for an "e" and add "then" at the end.

Thank you! In my opinion, the setter, called Chaliceer, likes to show how clever she is ... ... and that's probably totally unfair!, but I do think the Crosswords editor could keep the level  of Saturday's cryptics  a toughie-type only very occasionally!!

[SusanDoris]

This week's cryptic is one by the ssetter, Cephas, which means there were enough clues I could do not to have to be put off.

26 across is: Flowery way to describe life of pleasure (8,4)
Letters: - R - - - O - -/ - A - H

Could someone supply the answer, please? And the 'why' of it, if it is a bit obscure?

[Nearly Sane]

This week's cryptic is one by the ssetter, Cephas, which means there were enough clues I could do not to have to be put off.

26 across is: Flowery way to describe life of pleasure (8,4)
Letters: - R - - - O - -/ - A - H

Could someone supply the answer, please? And the 'why' of it, if it is a bit obscure?

It's not obscure in the sense of the clue, just a phrase that isn't used much nowadays. Primrose path - note ot's from Hamlet.

[SusanDoris]

It's not obscure in the sense of the clue, just a phrase that isn't used much nowadays. Primrose path - note ot's from Hamlet.

Thank you very much. I did wonder if the second word was 'PATH' but had no idea of the first word.

[SusanDoris]

Couldd you please help with another?

25 across is: Over tense (4)
First letter P

I tried googling this one, but even the Crossword Genius came up with 'ON EDGE' but that is obviously 6 not 4! I've tried thinking of all sorts of words ending in P so that I can turn it 'over', but failed.

[Nearly Sane]

Couldd you please help with another?

25 across is: Over tense (4)
First letter P

I tried googling this one, but even the Crossword Genius came up with 'ON EDGE' but that is obviously 6 not 4! I've tried thinking of all sorts of words ending in P so that I can turn it 'over', but failed.

It's the tense in the verb sense, and over tells you which one.

[SusanDoris]

It's the tense in the verb sense, and over tells you which one.

Thank you and thank you for givin the reason why. I presume it is PAST and that gives me the S for the  final down answer CHEESE!

[SusanDoris]

This week, I started the DT cryptic with some confidence because I could do quite a lot of the clues, but it turns out to be by the clever setter, some of whose clues are way beyond me, so this morning I have googled quite a few and, no, I wouldn't have got them.

One of the across clues is: Order 51 signs (5)
I could get O and LI for 51 but the answer appears to be OBELI. I googled definition and it offered 'obelisk' butcould someone please tell me what this word means and whether it is a good clue or not?!

[Nearly Sane]

This week, I started the DT cryptic with some confidence because I could do quite a lot of the clues, but it turns out to be by the clever setter, some of whose clues are way beyond me, so this morning I have googled quite a few and, no, I wouldn't have got them.

One of the across clues is: Order 51 signs (5)
I could get O and LI for 51 but the answer appears to be OBELI. I googled definition and it offered 'obelisk' butcould someone please tell me what this word means and whether it is a good clue or not?!

Definition is here

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/obeli


The OBE is the Order of the British Empire.

Not a clue I like.

[SusanDoris]

Definition is here

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/obeli


The OBE is the Order of the British Empire.

Not a clue I like.

Thank you for your help.
It certainy sounds unfair to leave the word 'order' so  undirected.

ETA I expect the ones who treat such a crossword as  easy, it is not so rare as it would seem from the definition.

[SusanDoris]

The DT cryptic yesterday was by the clever setter again, so I knew I would have to be looking up answers, and yes I did have to look up quite a few. However, I found that I had been thinking in the right direction several times, so perhaps I'm understanding her style a bit better.

I have a completed grid but I'll only give myself six out of ten I think!

[SusanDoris]

I thought I'd print the Monday Prize cryptic and have that to think a bout. I have done quite a bit and hope to see if I can complete it but don't mind if I don't!

2 down is: Clubs in correct order (5)
Letters: E - - - T

I've googled the answer which is EDICT, but I can't work out why. Can anyone help, please? No rush for answer.

[Aruntraveller]

I goggled it because I couldn't see why either. Answer is this:

'clubs in correct' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'correct' becomes 'edit' (edit can mean to correct or emend).
'c' put inside 'edit' is 'EDICT'.

I would never have got that in a month of Sundays!

[SusanDoris]

I goggled it because I couldn't see why either. Answer is this:

'clubs in correct' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'correct' becomes 'edit' (edit can mean to correct or emend).
'c' put inside 'edit' is 'EDICT'.

I would never have got that in a month of Sundays!

Many thanks - definitely a tortuous route for the setter to take to make a clue!

[SusanDoris]

Today, for the first time for ages I have completed the Cryptic unaided! I just had to google a couple of synonyms. So it must have been an easy one for those who try to beat their own best times!

Quite satisfying for a change.

[SusanDoris]

There are far too many toughies amongst the Saturday DT Cryptic crosswords these days - in my opinion anyway!

1 across today is: Brown medicine I swallowed (6)
Second letter: I

Googling for answer comes up with rubbish links! Any help will be much appreciated ... although I don't know whether I will gget anywhere near completion.

[Nearly Sane]

There are far too many toughies amongst the Saturday DT Cryptic crosswords these days - in my opinion anyway!

1 across today is: Brown medicine I swallowed (6)
Second letter: I

Googling for answer comes up with rubbish links! Any help will be much appreciated ... although I don't know whether I will gget anywhere near completion.

Think laxative. The I has been swallowed by it.

[SusanDoris]

Think laxative. The I has been swallowed by it.

Many thanks - that is SIENNA then.

[SusanDoris]

The trend now seems to be to more of a toughie on a Saturday and I've lacked the energy to struggle! This weekend I made a fair start so have persevered and googled a few answers. However, I can't find an answer to: 'Lamb's tender ('.
Letters: S - E - E - R -
Could someone help, please?

Ah, I see that the second E should be an H so SHEPHERD fits but I still don't get why that should be so.

[Aruntraveller]

A shepherd tends sheep so I suppose that may be it.

[SusanDoris]

A shepherd tends sheep so I suppose that may be it.

Yes, thank you, I suppose it is. In my opinion, some of the setter's clues are a  bit sloppy!!

[Aruntraveller]

Yes, thank you, I suppose it is. In my opinion, some of the setter's clues are a  bit sloppy!!

I agree it seems an odd clue. Not clever, just a bit basic, not really anything enjoyable about it.