Daily Mail prize crossword Thursday Aug 25

[janbrix]

Found some of the clues in this really devious but have done it all, finally, except 22 across, can anyone help? I've got c-n and the clue is 'Stir about one'. If this refers to another clue, the answer to 1 across is 'packed lunch' and to 1 down 'poison pen letter'. Need to have the solution (and explanation! There seem to be only 2 possible words anyway, 'can' and 'con') by the postal collection this afternoon. Thanks in advance!

[kosoro]

Can is slang for Prison so is Stir

[Plutus]

I am stuck on this -  I realised the possible connection in slang terms for prison but how does this fit in with clue?  Anyone explain??

[kosoro]

It's The only explanation i can see, Have racked my brain for hours on this one

[Goofy]

I suppose a packed lunch could come in a can?

[Quizmonkey]

It's a simple cryptic.

Stir (ie. prison) = can
About = c (short for circa)
One = an

[pega]

janbrix   like you this was a harder puzzle I have the same for 1a and 1d. May I ask help for 9a please is it

utilise.  many thanks pega.

[boaw]

 `a` is one e.g. a book, a house. The other answers about `stir` = `prison` tend to suggest `can` as the answer.

[janbrix]

Pega, you wanted to know if 9 across is 'utilise', yes, it is, it's 'futile' minus 'f' and ananagram of 'is' which is in the last part of 'exploit's' - I think that's thexplanation, anyway, but it's really devious! And there's an anagram of 'isle' in there too ...

[Quizmonkey]

That doesn't sound right - give the clue and I'll explain it accurately.

[biley]

This has been asked and answered before. Why are you asking it again?