The Very Logical Prize Puzzle 250

[grandilo]

Hi, there! I am seeking some help with this one...they have changed it to a symmetrical puzzle and I do not have a clue what to do! I have already got 1 and 15 Across ( The Phantom Of The Opera House ) and 1 Down ( The Tempest ). I do not have 20 Down.

But I have many of the other Across:
Checkmate, beheader, Thor, Cran, Esperance, Scuba, Useless, Suspend,

And a few of the Down: Inept, Gloominess...

Where and how to place them on the grid? Some help will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks!

[cruciverbali]

What's the clue please grandilo ?

[grandilo]

The problem is not really the clues, but where to put the answers that I have...If you look at the puzzle you would see what I mean... Only 5 clues are numbered for this puzzle, and as I have never done one before, I am at a loss!

[grandilo]

Some help with 20 down, please:

20 Down: Miser with false bottom in fireplace ( 7 )

[Lie-in King]

Apologies grandilo - I've only just had time to get to the puzzle.

20d Niggard - double meaning, Chambers gives -

"a person who begrudges spending...; a false bottom or side in a fire-grate..."

I don't know if you've started to fill in the black squares, but it might help you to know that the pattern for 15 & 1a is (8,2,3,4)

HTH

[grandilo]

Thanks! I have 15 & 1 wrong. Send me a another hint, please! And Can you suggest a crossword solver of the ilk of Chambers Word Wizard? This latter is no longer functioning! Any help will be appreciated.

[boxtops]

1 & 15 should be the Phantom of the Opera (there's no House in the show title)?

[Mamyalynne]

Hi grandilo.....Chambers is still going - try here


http://www.chambers.co.uk/word-wizard.php

[grandilo]

Many thanks for the info on Chambers Wizard! I have put it in my favourites now and am happy that it's back! Thanks again, Mamyalynne!

[grandilo]

Thanks, Lie-in King, for the 8 2, 3, 4 pattern! Still not getting it, and boxtops suggests "The Phantom of the Opera". Any further help for this one?

[Lie-in King]

Hi again - sorry, I've been away from the PC & am off again now, but I'll check back in an hour or so.

15 & 1a - you need to find an anagram from the clue - the answer has nothing to do with "The Phantom of the Opera".

I'm trying not to spoil it for you by giving too much away :-)

[grandilo]

Thanks, Lie-in King! I have got it!

[Mamyalynne]

Tracked the puzzle down, is a good one - good luck with it.

[grandilo]

Yes, it's interesting. I have got out all the ACROSS clues except two for which I am seeking some hints...

-Supply tongue coating and broken lower leg
- Before strain comes foolish vanity?

And some hints for the following DOWN clues, please:

- Meat entrée spread around small dwelling
- Mistress of a Scottish house in good form
- Depravity results, if Highwayman Dick is cut short before you, of French origin

Many thanks!

[Lie-in King]

Just seen this, grandilo - glad I was able to help up there ^^^ :-)

5a A word for an animal skin + anagram of a short word for that part of the body will give you 'supply'

17a A word for 'foolish vanity', made up of another for 'before' & one for 'strain'

2d A cut of meat...
8d Double meaning here (if you've the crossing letters, it's probably the word you think) - if you have a Chambers Dictionary, it shows them
16d Ends with French words for "you" & "of"

HTH - again, I'm trying not to spoil it for you :-)

[grandilo]

Many thanks, Lie-in King, for these great hints! I have the answers now. I have just 3 more left for which I need some more hints. After this, I will work out the challenge of the black squares! Here are the clues ( DOWN ):

- Body odor, as holy man comes up and talks conceitedly
- Destroys Scottish cottage rooms
- Vulgar upstart is just the usual standard - not quite the Goddess of love!

Thank you again for enlightening me!

[Lie-in King]

21d Start with a short form of 1st 2 words & end with a short form of a 'holy man' (up = reversed)
25d Double meaning - 'destroys' & 'Scottish cottage rooms' - again, Chambers helps if you have it
17d A short word for 'standard; normal' + an unfinished Goddess of love

HTH :-)

[grandilo]

Thanks for walking me through this one so expertly! I do not possess the Chambers Dictionary, so I was unable to check the 2 Scottish clues - 8D & 25D - Everything else is falling into place!

[Lie-in King]

In case you're unsure of your answers -

8d - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/herself

25d - http://www.scots-onli...nary/search_scots.asp

For the 2nd link, enter your answer in the singular in the box shown

[grandilo]

Thanks again! Thought I was done, but am having trouble with a few ACROSS...probably have them wrong...need some confirmation:

- The French value added tax? Each side has a point to raise: LEVY
- Carson to a T, gets the Spanish backing and is hard to deal with in Scotland: NARCOS
-Deny Descartes a major American company: DAMAC
- Getting a gin fizz after the club? She looked neat and charming doing this on a Thursday: FIZZING

I thank you for your help here.

[Mamyalynne]

The French value added tax -

[ a point] [the(in) French] [value added tax] [a point]