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ichneumon

9th April 2026, 17:46
The clue is 15 down:
Glassware support absorbing blows from underneath (4,4).
The answer is test tube but what is the reasoning?

I have recently started trying to learn how to do cryptic crosswords which is bringing joy and frustration in equal measure so am grateful for any help!

I was thinking maybe:
support = a base word
absorbing =containment indicator
blows = letters to insert or remove
from underneath = reversal indicator as the clue is a down one

Short of maybe being descriptive of absorbing heat from a Bunsen burner, which seems pretty weak, I can't see any logic.
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chrise

9th April 2026, 17:56
Hi ichneumon
I think the support is TEE (as in golf, though strictly the tee is the area where you insert a tee-PEG!). That leaves BUTTS, which I suppose could be "blows".
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escher

9th April 2026, 17:58
tee (support - in golf)) + butts (reversed)
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chrise

9th April 2026, 18:05
btw Ichneumon
Speaking as a retired chemistry teacher, you should never expose a test-tube to a Bunsen flame. If you are heating a liquid, use a wider boiling-tube; if it's a solid, use a small ignition-tube (as you will probably need to throw it away afterwards).
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ichneumon

9th April 2026, 18:52
Ha ha. Me too, though mostly biology! My thoughts exactly! :)
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ichneumon

9th April 2026, 18:54
It works better than any connection with a Bunsen. Thanks.
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