Enigmatic Variations N0 1607 By Gaston

[Matakari]

Good morning, an EV without extra letters and an end game that should prove interesting for me. Some clues are eluding me for which I would appreciate your help. Thanks in advance!

24a Both parents carrying dead lotus ( 5 ) : ??C??
34a Old queen’s knocked back drug ( 5 ) : ??R??

3d Almost bond with married, upset brother ( 4 ) : ???P
8d Holiday injury felt awful inside ( 8 ) : ??R?E?R?
18d Borders surrounding a new fabric ( 7 ) : ?R???L??
21d God exists in quiet national ( 7 ) : S???E??
22d Dirty raised edges associated with Switzerland ( 6 ): ???R??

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I hate to say it but you have mistakes in 24, 34,3,8, 18 and 21!

22 A common 'edges' goes upwards, followed by the abbreviation for Switzerland.

[Neveracrossword]

Some hints...

24 Two short abbreviations, one for each parent, witg the usual Dead inside.

21 D. A common (in crosswords) three letter god, the usual two-letter 'exists' and the usual short word for 'quiet'. The defintion is a 'national. a description of someone from ...

[Neveracrossword]

34 The 'drug' could help your digestive system, reversed it belongs to a famous (4 letter) queen.


8 The definition is 'holiday', associated with schools.
18 A+N are inside a five letter word for 'borders. giving a fabric.

[JJ109]

3d A 4 letter word for "bond" - (reef or granny!!) with the last letter removed (almost) + m(arried) - all reversed = "brother"

[Xris]

Struggling to assemble the second "eightsome" - any hints, please?

[JJ109]

Each unclued is two words one male and one female

[Xris]

I just looked at the first one, after your hint, and all became clear! Thanks, JJ.

[JJ109]

You're most welcome, Xris!

[Matakari]

Lovely hints, NACW, only 18d eludes me still…A+N and I thought “edges” for borders, but no dice!
Help for this batch should make a substantial difference now. Thanks in advance!

11a French girl losing pound note (4 ) : F?L?
13a Grass-like state? (6) : ?A??A?
15a Judge caught reluctant cleaner ( 6 ) ??L?T?
28a Popular Highland hills? They’re not always so popular! (6) : D?L?W?
33a Outgrowths from Eastern countries ( 8 ) E?A?I?N?

[JJ109]

18d the edges are around a shield - The answer is also a City in France from which the fabric is named!

[JJ109]

11a What is French for a girl ? Remove a pound(L)

15a J(udge} - c(aught) =a 4 letter word for reluctant gives a hyhenated wordfor a cleaner J-C_ _ _ _

28a 2 letter word for popular + 4 letter word for "hills" in Scotland. = Your husband's/wife's parents

33 E(astern) = 7 letter word for countries or states
Rugby Plays for the Six _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[JJ109]

Where I have typed = I really mean +

[JJ109]

13a Is a state of the USA - where Dorothy comes from in the Wizard of Oz

[Neveracrossword]

Glad we were all able to help, Matakari.
PS I found this the easiest EV for quite some time.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, JJ109, for the clarity of the hints and the parsing! 28a resists my efforts still. I see "Brae" for the hill, but the rest must be incorrect. For the crossers I have 22d SEDGES, 29d LESS, 4d RETAINING WALL...Grateful for any further help!

[Neveracrossword]

28 In-laws, a law is a jill.in Scotland.

[Neveracrossword]

...a law is a hill in Scotland, sorry for typo.
Your 22 is...wayward! Edges is in the clues, so the answer is unlikely to just add an S.

[Neveracrossword]

22 Smirch, dirty, verb. Rims,edges, upwards+ Ch, the usual abbreviation for Switzerland.

[Matakari]

Now, I have the following outstanding before I can contemplate trying to unravel the end game. Many thanks, NACW !

19a Perhaps latest partnership surrounds another? (4) : NE?? ( NEXT )
23a Dry lecturer involved in relationship ( 4 ) : ??LN
5d No longer takes jeans of French cut ( 4 ) : ???S ( PLUS )
26d Shed light on old German abandoning abbreviated GCSE subject (5 ): ?NL??

[Neveracrossword]

23 Kiln, dry - Kin with L,lecturer inside.

5 Nims (from Denims - I thought the French 'of' would get you there!)