scotsman back again

[vintner]

smarter tree by river ( 7 )

--r-c-r

leaves flag withease,say,fluttering ( 7)

----a-e

philosophers accepting one mark for surliness ( 8 )

--n-c-s-

[Quizmonster]

1. sprucer

3. cynicism

[Quizmonster]

2. foliage

[johnalex]

Foliage or Leafage?? (but can't validate either!)

[biley]

LEAFAGE is more likely, I think.

Then you would have FLAG with EA  and E (two E's as pronounced) mixed up to give you leafage.

[johnalex]

Still not happy . . .

[biley]

Can you let us know the answer when you have it, vintner, please.

Thank you.

[Quizmonster]

I agree, Johnalex, that there's a problem here, whichever way you look at it. With 'foliage', there's an anagram of 'flag' plus one 'e' and an 'i' which is at least pronounced 'ee'...but what about the 'o'?
With 'leafage', there's an anagram of 'flag' plus two letters 'e'...but what about the extra 'a'?
It's a pretty loose clue, unless the setter has something in mind that we are just not 'getting'!

[Quizmonster]

I should have added above that the reason I chose 'foliage' originally rather than 'leafage' is that the clue opens with the word 'leaves'. It's pretty rare for a setter to have an answer which is quite so close to an element of the clue itself.

[johnalex]

Hi Quizmonster.  Yes, I agree with your comments  -  we cannot account for all the letters in either version.  You're right also about leaves/leafage  -  very unsubtle piece of cluesetting, although it did get rid of the 'O' from foliage (in exchange for an 'A'!)  My guess is that we're all barking up the wrong flag.  Maybe we should consider the fluttering/gambling angle?  Will check progress tomorrow.  Thanx to Biley also.

[Rabbitte]

sprucer