(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
28a made me giggle. 🙂
Stuck in NE corner – 5a and 6d anyone?
Ladies leading the way – not even half way, hence references to Clue Hints.
Christine – 5a think piece if loose fibre or hair/6d I’m assuming “cut” of meat
Yes, have done it at last. Some very good clues there this week.
Thought I’d finished, but something not quite right. Will have another look after work.
28a made me laugh too, my pick for the week.
28a is my pick today. Out of left field.
26a was first in and 9a fell into place fairly easily – unusual for definitions of this length.
2d and 3d are worthy of mention 1a, 17a, and 19a also enjoyable.
However I have to work on 15a and 13d.
I have a word for 13d, but it is an anagram with an r in it, and I cannot see how that fits. Perhaps I have taken the definition from the wrong end.
15a has me completely stumped. My pattern is ?T?E??E?T.
More work to do here.
4th letter should be a ‘u’
Hi Arthur the weekly much anticipated discussion in progress.
15a – you will need Clue Hint for “not allowed”
should lead you to a strong, dark drink & rest will follow.
Not a word that would spring to mind (old usage) & existing pattern above won’t do it.
13d – not sure how two assist without giving too much away
maybe “evolution” = unnatural development.
To me, not strictly “physical deformity” more inflicted.
Still working on my Picks of the Week.
Still missing 2d, must be where I’m going wrong, I think.
Wendy 2d – “engine parts” is definition
you need to turn a handle for this water supply (drain) to operate – three letters.
Measure could be something like pace out reversed……. four letters
You’ll love it. It’s a good one.
Thanks, did have it right, must be something else.
Thanks Richard and Wendy. I concentrated on students ultimately as being not allowed. Then the last 3 letters would not work. No wonder I was way off beam. I probably need a good taste of this libation following the struggle.
Once that was in it was a simple matter to complete 13d although I overlooked located When I originally tried to parse it the answer.
Wendy Drain is a verb. In our history lessons we were told that when the sailors were carrying Nelson back to England they preserved him in alcohol, and the level reduced as the men did something to the keg once the sun had passed the yardarm.
The second part of the word is something you do when you want a rough estimate of a distance. Turn it around and you will get a word which mechanics are familiar with, but I only know because on one of my cars these were very noisy.
Yes, I’m well aware of the word, bit of bush mechanics in my time, just couldn’t get the parsing, but Richard helped there.
Finally, had 6d wrong, overthinking it.
28a made me laugh too. The definition was beautifully hidden.
I also loved 10d’s definition. Other favourites were 14d and 18d.
Liked everyones Choices, always the Alphabet Soups & needed plenty of 1a..
Would add 11a & 12a (very neat & tidy cluing)
as well as 13d (outlined above) & 14d just neat (+five starting letters!!!)
Bit of a surprise too find myself offering useful advice
to those I consider far more adept than me.
Brain failure and tunnel vision get in my way quite frequently. A bit of a nudge from the blogs, or responses to an SOS gives the jump start.
I enjoy checking the blog comments to see how others are faring, and
I only got 6d when I had 5a, and I had the benefit of Richard’s comment early in the blog.
Struggling with 5A only. Have ?p?a?d Not too sure about the p though
The P s wrong. Anchor finally has to go in squares 2, 3 or 5. For position, think of a 5 letter word for putting something into a position (therefore a verb)
Richard suggested 6d is a cut of meat which is down (missing one letter) on one side – either beginning or end. That should give you timber. I think it is more likely to grow in South East Asia than Australia, but it provides a popular veneer for furniture.
The full word is what you are when you run a boat aground, until Air sea rescue comes to your aid.
6d also used for boat deck planking, just to keep the nautical bit going!
Thanks Arthur, got 6D and 5A followed.
All goes very quiet here after about Day Two/Three
But it is VERY encouraging to see the growing discussion & number of responses.
Only One more sleep – again…………..