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mack

21st October 2025, 13:16
41a The magistrate wasn't the problem (if I have the right magistrate) it was the rest.
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rhsl

21st October 2025, 21:41
Mack, re your frustration with the clues (#49), I think that you're generally being unfair. For example, the "loose synonym" in 13a is a straight definition in Chambers.

Ironically, a clue that you appear happy with (35a) is actually poorly clued. The dialect meaning of the word would be "than", not "that". The clues has a clunky surface reading anyway, so it's an unnecessary error in an otherwise fine puzzle.
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quisling

21st October 2025, 23:05
Rhsl, I think if you look at the pronoun definition of the two-letter part of the answer it supports the use of “that” in 35a, though I agree the surface isn’t elegant
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rhsl

21st October 2025, 23:46
Good pick-up, Quisling. Thanks.
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mack

22nd October 2025, 09:29
Maybe I used the wrong word for 13a. My objection is that the definition is one of over 40, is a particular usage rather than a general one, and does not appear as a definition under the word 'cook'. Try replacing the word 'cook' in a variety of sentences with the answer and you'll see what I mean. The most common usages you'll find are 'prepare' and 'ready'. So, yes, it is in Chambers but it's still a bit of a stretch. Some setters seem to like this sort of hunt-the-definition-in Chambers clue, others set challenging crosswords without this technique. I prefer the latter and, personally, I think they are more skilful.
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jack aubrey

22nd October 2025, 10:05
Having filled the grid and got the clues I am, err, clueless. Not the least idea of the “idiomatic scene”. I shall await enlightenment when the solution is published.
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oldwolfie

22nd October 2025, 11:03
Thanks very much Iratus and Mack.
41A, 13A, 35A now sorted.
3D: the answer is in, but I haven't twigged the word for `rubbish' yet; a bit of searching should supply this.
But 34A's parsing still eludes me. I'll keep plugging away.
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will37

22nd October 2025, 13:23
oldwolfie - in 3d the (chiefly Scottish) word for "rubbish" is the second half of the answer.
In 34d the definition is the final word. The wordplays consists of a dialect word for "rains" in which "seven" - one of those pesky medieval Latin numerals - drops, in the sense "descends" rather than any implication of omission.
Should you have Bradford's, you can find the words for "rubbish" and "rain" under those entries.
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oldwolfie

22nd October 2025, 14:45
Thanks Will37 for this very patient response.
34D all sorted out.
And finally so is 3D---which I'd made ridiculously complicated by trying to `abandon' something from my answer.
I treated myself to Bradford's last week, so I expect to be sailing through Listeners in the future!
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will37

22nd October 2025, 15:14
Every home should have one! I sometimes wonder how I ever managed without.
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