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Ok, I've got it - I hadn't heard of this particular faux pas before.

Realised my mistake as soon as i switched my computer off last night.
Thanks drxx.

Belated thanks to drxx, malone and brendan re 33d.

I seem to have a quantum mechanics version of Chambers. I looked that word up when I was trying to solve, and it definitely was not there. Tried again this morning . . . and it was.

This is not the first time I have observed this phenomenon. Should I buy a new dictionary - or maybe new specs?

Thanks, Nelson. Although my hint wasn't hugely helpful, I was puzzled that you hadn't just tried the various vowels in what you had!

malone,out of desperation I also tried more than one consonant .

And for a short while I flirted with 'rappel' on the basis that rapelling uses ropes - which are often made of hemp. But, obviously, that string of thought led nowhere.

Anyway, thanks for the nudge.

Nelson, glad you got there in the end.

PS Have you booked the appointment at the optician's?

Er. . . . I might pop into the Pound Shop.

Er. . . . I might pop into the Pound Shop.

Before I put this one away, could someone help me parse.....

19a Essentially discontented driver's comportment (4)

My answer is a word meaning "comportment"

5d Lead-free death-dealing alcohol (5)

My answer is an anagram of "death" with an L instead of a D and definition "alcohol"

Also, does 4d end in a Y?

Hi Brendan,
re 19a - If you put a Z or ZZ in the middle of the word you have, it gives a synonym for 'driver'
5d. A 6 letter synonym for 'deadly' minus the first letter.
4d - I think Y, from something which is 'a piece of cake', but not 100% sure