Times Club Monthly 20076

[cheaton]

This is the first one I've tried and it's jolly hard! After 2 days of creative/hard thinking I have 4 clues left and think I need to get a Dictionary of Difficult Words. Any clues you can give to help gratefully received:
1d capital punishment supporters drank a short without mixers (10). I have s?p?e?a?e?
20d There's no going North on endless leave for American in the South (6) maybe SAHOLI?
22d Turn up karaoke equipment like ancient rock legend. I have o?mic
25a Ring being worn by queen breaks to create shock for Maria? I have m?o???a?e (9)

[sarumite]

1d Supped anea ??

suppedaneum - A brace for the feet on a cross used for crucifixions.

[sarumite]

... supped + a + nea(t) = short and without mixers.

[Quizmonkey]

Ogmic - rev of GO + mic.

A tip: in DOWN clues the word up or 'goes north' indicates, literally, going up in the grid, ie a reversal.

[sarumite]

25a Moon quake

[Quizmonkey]

Moonquake ? (O on Qu in MAKE)

[crofter]

What about YANKEE = NAY <<< + KEE(P)?
I'm not 100% convinced!

[Quizmonkey]

I'm convinced Crofter - well done!

Cheaton: Chambers should be considered your bible.

[cheaton]

Many thanks to you all. 20a is indeed yankee but spelled YANQUI (a Spanish version of yankee) so thanks for that hint. I will certainly look at Chambers QM or maybe the OED :-)

[Quizmonkey]

Interesting that "endless leave" could equally validly lead to kee(p) OR qui(t) - resulting in two equally valid answers. What are the chances...?

Chambers is the favourite of most (serious) crossword compilers.

[Quizmonkey]

Take that back - maybe leave can't equal keep... was thinking a bit laterally :)

[crofter]

I agree with all that has gone on above. I haven't met this Spanish version of Yanqui, but it's clearly correct!

It was the lack of a convincing link between "keep" and "leave" that led me to express my doubt.

Also I would not entertain a dictionary other than Chambers, but be careful which version you buy. The version with a thumb index does not have the range
of entries that the "plain" version has.

For example, lately there was some debate over the word "Telemark" (the place in Norway) and a move in skiing. Only the Chambers (9th edition) of my various
references carried the extra detail that it is also a step in ballroom dancing!

[cheaton]

Thanks crofter - I will look out for the 9th edition and avoid the thumb indexed one. I have won a couple of dictionaries in xwords recently but not a Chambers unfortunately and they are a bit expensive to post if I sell them online!

[sarumite]

Cheaton, just to advise you that there is now a later 10th edition of "The Chambers Dictionary".

[cheaton]

Thanks sarumite - will look out for that instead! It's hard to keep up these days!