Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good morning. Here are today's clues. Medium difficulty, I venture to comment! Hope they give a small pause for thought. Happy solving.

I set crossies just for pleasure. I wonder if some of you excellent regulars would like to try a few of my clues? Since they're new, no letters!

Please withhold solutions till 5 pm (GMT + 1) to allow others to have a go.

1. Hightailing it with lover's work, in part (9)
2. The Devil’s overworked claw (3,7)
3. Offensive in manner? It's all your own fault (5)
4. A sound step dancer (7)
5. Drug preparation to help suffocating pet has no lasting effect (3,2)

Ari
Have you come down from that mountain? Miss your early comments!

Crazy day, Jolan. Been multi-multi-tasking. Haven't worked out your clues yet! Why don't you take over on Clue Chain- or are you already pigging out?

1. elopement.
2. old scratch.
3. sally.
4. astaire.
5. pre-op? but I can't really see how.

2. The Devil’s overworked claw (3,7)

old scratch

4. A sound step dancer (7)

Astaire

5. Drug preparation to help suffocating pet has no lasting effect (3,2)

hop up

I know how you reach "hop up" but what is it.

Drug=hop up in the sense of "spike"

Nice clues Jolan, should have got 1. thought sally was very well concealed.

thank you ixion. that's something else I learnt today.

Yes Ari, I'm well pigged out!
Thanks all for having a go. Ixion, Phillip and the mountaineer from across the pond.

Very few on board to day, eh? Are they becoming a bit 'browned off'? Herewith are my solutions, for completion. Ye have already solved 'em all. Have a super week. I'm off to grab my knife and fork now.

Bless

J

1. op = work; part = element; work in part = el(op)ement = ELOPEMENT = hightailing it with lover
2. overworked, hackneyed, etc = old; claw = scratch; OLD SCRATCH = The Devil
3. (containment) SALLY = offensive
4. (homophone) a + stair = ASTAIRE
5. preparation to = anag of 'help suffocating pet' - 'lasting effect' = HOP UP (v) = to drug (Chambers Dictionary)

hi Jolan
I was around but only managed:
1. elopement

I spotted "sally" hidden, but wasn't sure, so didn't dare risk another "ostrich" incident.
Thanks.
J