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pianydd

31st January 2009, 18:02
I agree clues are getting more tenuous, but the latest two in question aren't that bad;
Scotch - to frustrate and a measure of whisky,
Cant - Pretence/sham, and c(100) on ant (worker).
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paul merrygold

31st January 2009, 18:15
Ash

How about SCARCE. SCAR + CE

Paul
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ash

31st January 2009, 18:17
Many thanks!
Now completed.
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caravaggio

31st January 2009, 18:41
Hi Pianydd. Thank you for your post and, whilst I'm appreciative of your confirmation of the two answers, I am dubious about the definitions. I have checked them both by using different dictionaries and Roget's Thesaurus - and I'm still not happy!
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pianydd

31st January 2009, 19:30
Hi Caravaggio - I know what you mean - just trying to play Devil's Advocate!
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big dave

31st January 2009, 20:25
With regard to the two clues being debated:

5a Frustrate tot (6)

Chamber's definitions include:

Scotch
noun
* Scotch whisky, or a glass of it

scotch
transitive verb
* to frustrate, put an end to

6d Pretence of many a worker (4)

Once again:

cant
noun
* a hypocritical, affected or perfunctory style of speech or thought

I accept that, in the second clue, the use of cant for pretence is not the first thing that comes to mind, but it is within the bounds of what you must expect in a cryptic crossword.

Caravaggio said that he had checked various dictionaries etc. - well it has been said before, Chambers is the preferred dictionary for all Telegraph crosswords, incuding the devilishly evil Enigmatic Variations. If you choose to do the Telegraph crosswords without access to a copy then you will always have problems like those above. It's a case of if you can't beat them then you have to join them.
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neffie

1st February 2009, 10:07
Hi
Could it be possible that 6 down is CONS - i.e. c = many and on = working?
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big dave

1st February 2009, 11:47
The answer to 6d, accepted online on the Clued-up site, is "cant". So, if you want to send in the prize puzzle, that is what you need to enter!
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john (from arran)

1st February 2009, 12:14
CANT is correct and is a good fit to the clue.

"Pretence of many a worker"

C (many) + ANT (worker) gives CANT.

Even the Penguin dictionary has a definition:

'cant' - The insincere or hypocritical expression of platitudes.

HTH.
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