Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Peterm - 10a is word for "fantastic" outside a 9

21d (not 21a, sorry) see my previous post. I think that if the solution is a 9, as in 17d, then a 9 is not required in the wordplay, nor is a definition given.

However, in the case of 21d, the undefined solution which I think is a 9, there seem to be two alternative cryptic clues.

a) one + hung drawn + quartered (as in provided with a quarter)
b) anag of raids with added 9

The first of these, moreover, looks like a definition for another solution that would fit, but require two 9's. I reckon Boatman is being too clever by half.

Thank you sid48. In 10ac, I was so hung up on "up" as being the 9, I didn't spot the obvious. Wood for the trees and all that. I'm still not convinced on 21dn though. How does your alternative a) account for "they're seen in" and "devastating raids"? "Devastating raids" does suggest and anagram but, like you, I can't see how the 2 9s slot in.

For 21 the definition is "they're seen in one hung, drawn and quartered". The solution is an anagram of raids with a 9. The word is more commonly spelled with the second and third letters being the same but this spelling can mean the same thing.

Spot-on slanty. Thank you.

In 21 there is an additional level in that the answer is also a 20,9. There is also nice symmetry between 11 and 26. But these elegances don't seem (or, more likely, I haven't seen how) to be carried through the grid.

Can I just point out that I said that about 21dn at least 20 posts ago? It's a clever clue, both a 9 and a word for the first 8 words of the clue. Moan over, maybe I wasn't clear, and yes there's a kind of symmetry but it doesn't work all through as someone else already said way back near the start of this thread!

slanty - thanks for your solution to 21. Never knew it could be spelt that way. Makes sense of the clue.

More symmetry in 10a and 27a as well. Hmmm...

Apologies, teenieleek. I've come late to this thread and didn't look back before opining. Bad form! I think I should now - as we say in the frozen north "get back in my box" - and will accordingly do just that.

Back again.
side-tracked for couple of days.
couldn't apply my assumed 20,9 to other clues.
checked postings and realised my interpretation of 20,9 was all wrong. guess 20 is a verb? and 9 is a series of phonetics? beyond that I haven't got a clue. Any hints would be appreciated.