Ev 1617

[hankir]

Need help with:

15. Stupid botch, one put to some purpose (6)

26. Urgently pressing once hare gave up earth (5)

40. Spontneous response concerning loud echo, near at first in electricals on stage (6)

 

I hve no idea what the theme is. I have changed 10 across answers before entering. Any hint on three clues containing the same superfluous string will be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Neveracrossword]

You have just given us them... Have a close look!

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, another tip... The solutions to those clues are completely changed, thematically, before entry. If you spot the string of letters, remove them from the first clue you've shown. The solution to the clue should be more obvious. I found I got solution to 40 without parsing - I just came up with a six-letter word meaning 'spontaneous reaction'. Once I'd removed the 'string', I saw how the  clue worked. 

[ProfessorMaisie]

15a anag ('stupid') of 'bot' +synonym of 'put to some purpose' (3 letters) it's an &lit clue.

26a def is 'Urgently pressing' A(re) + 3 letters for 'gave up'/removed + E(arth).

40a 'Spontaneous response' is the def 'concerning' = RE + the usual 1 letter abbrev for 'loud' + E(ar) ['at first']+ LEX (electricians in the theatre).

They all have something in common, hankir [a 5 letter word to finish with].

[ProfessorMaisie]

...sorry, gave you one too many Es - it's LX for theatre electricians (with the 'E' taken in).

[hankir]

Thanks NAC and ProfessorM.

may be back.

[hankir]

I did find the book and three changed entries.

It is the lack of my knowledge on these entities which stumped me.

Now to look up ODQ.