Jumbo Cryptic 663

[JMR27]

Cannot understand the logic on the last two. Can someone help please?
15a Boyfriend left at a loose end? I think the answer is lover - left would give me the l but what has over got to do with loose end?
48d Season to secure time in office? Not quite (6)
_ i _ t _ r - is the answer winter? - time would provide the t but how do you explain the rest?

[kayakamina]

15a L Over

48d Win ter....Secure =Win+ Ter (m)

[kayakamina]

To elaborate on 15a Lover.

Left= L....Loose is over and is at the end of the word.

[JMR27]

Thank you very much Kayakamina - win + ter - I just couldn't see that at all!

Sorry to be a pain but still cannot grasp the other one - what has 'over' got to do with loose end?

[JMR27]

CLUNK!! the penny has finally dropped ....

Thanks again for your help!

[Quizmonkey]

OK my turn to be thick - can you explain the loose/over connection, Kayak?!

[kayakamina]

Sorry Qm I have been away and only just seen your post.

I looked at this two ways:

A loose end being something 'left unfinished or over'

Loose- meaning 'upshot / end

A Boyfriend can be a lover. Left = L + Over

[Quizmonkey]

Sorry, not being difficult but just don't get it! The fact that Chambers gives loose = upshot/end doesn't help as both are in the clue. I need to be convinced that over = 'at a loose end' or 'a loose end' - or we're missing something in this clue.

'At a loose end' surely means restless, or having nothing to do. Which is not synonymous (as far as I can see) with over!

[kayakamina]

Hi again Quizmonkey. As a setter/compiler yourself you are obviously much more of a stickler over clue construction than I a mere solver.
I have to say that until you raised your query I had not given a seconds thought to the structure and on Saturday when completing the puzzle put in the answer without any hesitation at all.
A final look at Chambers gives 'Loose end' as something left unfinished -but I'm calling quits on it !
Cheers K