Telegraph Toughie 60

[thinklateral]

1a. To act honourably may help America get sorted out (4,3,4)
7d. Amateur accepted loud fuss about timeless romance (11)
1d. Plant name is inconstant (7)
Again, I need a push start here. Once she gets rolling, I'll shove my brain into first gear and see if the mind fires up. Thanks in advance.

[BigDave44]

1a Play the game (anag may help a(merica) get)
7d a f fic(t)ion ado
1d Protea n

[BigDave44]

Good lick - you'll need it today !!

[thinklateral]

thanks!!!

[sedge47]

BigDave - have you been able to find any reference to aficionado being spelt with a double F? None of my dictionaries show this variation.
I echo your thoughts on the difficulties of today's effort!

[BigDave44]

It is in my 1998 edition of Chambers, with an entry pointing to the other spelling (I don't get the new Chambers until Christmas !!)

[sedge47]

My Chambers is even older (7th edition, 1990) and it's not in that.

[BigDave44]

I checked the 1993 edition and it's in there. Perhaps you too should be asking Father Christmas for a new one !!!

[sedge47]

I guess I should. Similarly I can't find any reference to the answer to 8a being spelt in the way given (i.e. without an initial C).

[thinklateral]

I now have a Crossword with three answers only in it - all courtesy of BigDave44!! I would be better off if the setter spoke a word of English!!

[BigDave44]

I don't know where to start - let's try some of the tricky ones:

8a Hutzpah - HaUnTs + Z(one) + Pah (a Maori settlement)

10a Flexuosa - anag (of sexual)

13a Cant - Scottish slang for Lively

4d Echt - German for genuine

15d Squa(b)mate - mate is an American holly

See how you get on

[BigDave44]

Sedge47 - sorryy - missed your post.

That one is in the 1998 edition, but not the 1993 one.


Dear Father Christmas please send me ....... !!

[pbeach]

BigDave I am glad you had problems with todays crossword, I thought it was just me... Phew one of the hardest for quite a while....

[BigDave44]

Hi Paul - yes, took me over an hour instead of the more usual 20-30 minutes.