Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
I just have my keys and wallet with me when I am out so they would be little help if I was attacked!
I went for "ayah" rather than "amah", but I do not understand "hiyah" or "iyah"?
Am I thick or what is going on?
You know, Elle, if I had to guess who sung "Walking in the Rain", I'd have gone for Pat Boone!
But I'd say you are correct with Johnny Ray!
That's a blast from the past!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear!
Just briefly pursuing this question of defence again....(Sorry, Norah! although this is a good point to know)....... a police woman friend of mine once told me that one of the best forms of defence if attacked "close to" is a bunch of keys (most folk carry one or two or more keys)
Apparently, you go for the eyes.........
So you see , Rusty, you could , if necessary, "defend" yourself with a "natural" weapon?
"Hiyah " is used - perhaps more up North - as a contraction of "How are you?" (meaning "Hello; Good day)
Although if you try Googling it, you will get all sorts of strange explanations!
A Cockney would simply drop the "h" giving " 'iyah" which is pronounced like "ayah"
Is that any better?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, always go for the eyes, Elle.
Your explanation is very helpful.
I must be behind the times.
"Hiyah" is new to me.
I am a "Hello" man.
I will leave Google alone, then.
I do not think much of the clue, though.
Have you done the puzzle?
I have a query for you but do not want to spoil it for you.
Still raining here.
No cycling until evening.
Eurosport are prioritising the tennis!

Hello again, Elle!
Forget my query.
Chambers has a definition which is close enough.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I have finished the 15 x15 - but it has taken me all the morning, going back to it off and on!
I did not know that "kitsch" meant "pretentious", and having arrived at the answer, then had to look it up!
I could not parse 28a for ages......"Adapt again and study, like Wallace's four men (8)
I have "readjust" = adapt again (def)
read - study
Then I realised that it must refer to "The Four Just Men"?
24d and 26d took me ages!
What query did you have for me?
I know you have now solved it...but just out of interest?
I have 12 hours of daily tennis on ITV4 all this week...I am watching Caroline Wozniacki just about to take the first set of her match!
Are you, too, watching the tennis ?

Hello, Elle!
My query was for 10a.
"Buy it!"
The setter means "killed", I am sure.
I had only heard "bought it" and "bought the farm" meaning "killed" before now.
Chambers has "have bought it", meaning "having been killed".
The first part of the clue has "cash in one's chips" meaning "to die".
I do not think "died" and "killed" are the same.
What think you?

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, I'd missed that I hadn't fully understood the parsing of that one!
I got the answer from the crossers - as I understand it, the phrase means to die from natural causes?
And yes, "buy it" or the more commonly used "bought it" means to "be killed/ have been killed"?
So technically not the same meaning?
But what does "What one hopes for as owner of takeaway?...." mean?
Why would you expect to find money in your food?
I buzzed through this...but am now, retrospectively, finding it most unsatisfactory?

Hello, Elle!
I have never heard "buy it" used for someone being killed, or someone who has died.
"Bought it", yes. "Bought the farm", or "buy the farm", yes.
But not "buy it".
Either it is a poor clue or the setter is too good for us, but to me the clue does not work properly.
However, the rain has ceased and it is brightening up!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, it is the same here...the rain has ceased and the sun is shining.....
I am taking advantage of this "window" and popping out for a while with the dog......
Fingers crossed t doesn't rain again - I was soaked this morning!

Hi, Rusty!
We only just made it home in time!
We chose the right time to go out...the sun shone and it was lovely for a time...but then the heavens opened again and it absolutely threw it down - raining cats , dogs and pink elephants!
I think the forecast was right in that this will go on until nearly midnight, at least!
How is now, with you?
Did you get out for a walk?
Oh, I nearly forgot...have you spoken to your son since he got back?