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themadwomanintheattic

25th January 2026, 10:16
This one must surely set a new record for the number of deletions!

Please can anyone explain 5d?

Old person's sadly cut up? For me, soothing ointment involves this (8)

I have C - L - M - N -

CALAMINE? That would satisfy the "ointment" part of the clue, and "for me" could be MINE, but how does the first part parse?
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candledave

25th January 2026, 10:17
ALACK cut and reversed
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themadwomanintheattic

25th January 2026, 10:23
Thanks Candledave. Another bloody deletion! Grrr...
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strangelybrown

25th January 2026, 13:38
Thanks for 'calamine', I couldn't work that out either.
Can anyone explain 39d:
Anti-trade manoeuvres? It's a disgrace no longer (9).
It looks like attainder (anagram of antitrade), but I'm struggling with the definition: attainder = loss of civil rights and property due to a serious crime such as treason. It's certainly a disgrace, but where does the 'no longer' fit?
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malone

25th January 2026, 13:43
SB, it's 'no longer' because the dictionary definition says 'archaic'.
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strangelybrown

25th January 2026, 13:49
I see, thanks Malone.
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norah (admin)

25th January 2026, 13:51
Duplicate Thread by Jackiee

40a. turkey. But why? Is it something to do with trade unions?
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malone

25th January 2026, 13:52
Jackiee, could you give the clue? People here like to help, like to try to help, but not everyone has a copy of the puzzle. Thanks.
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jackiee

25th January 2026, 13:53
40a. Country subject of business discussions.
A. TURKEY
But why. Is it something to do with trade unions.
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themadwomanintheattic

25th January 2026, 13:54
According to my Chambers:

"talk turkey (chiefly N Am) = to talk bluntly , to talk business"

I can't help wondering if the setter knows that the country is now referred to as Türkiye. Judging by the number of archaic words included this week, I'm guessing not...
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