Guardian 27669 Orientation

[HBAnorak]

To answer this you need to be looking at the Guardian, sorry to anyone who isn't. I have all the answers and I want to ink them in. Instructions say some clues indicate the correct orientation. All I can think is that clue D (on hold) suggests a vertical orientation. I cannot see any obvious direction clues elsewhere, so I am assuming this is the key. Am I right?
Many thanks.

[JJ109]

Yes -- but if you have all the answers look at the 10 letter words
Thumbscrew and Guestimate must cross each other at the M otherwise you cannot fit all the 10 letter words together. Then you can fill everything else fairly easily

[HBAnorak]

Thanks ... but wouldn't they fit in the NE corner as well? Setter says they fit two ways. I've inked them in anyway now!

[JJ109]

Scrub that it is symmetrical and two alternative positions are possible.
The on hold MUST be downwards and then you know where to put "THUMBSCREW"

[JJ109]

I was lucky that I got them the right way round and "On Hold" fell in to place

[HBAnorak]

Yep, I think that's it. Similar reply on another question so we'll go with that. Thanks again

[Indianan]

The other guide is that there are two words ending in v and another two in y. There is only one place with a common last letter for 4 and for 6 letter answers. Incidentally the other 4 letter answers have a common first letter and that too can go only in one place. Since you have all the answers the rest will fall in place quite readily.

[HBAnorak]

That's the usual method for alphabetical jigsaws, Indianan: but the point here is that the grid is symmetrical and there are two ways to fill it in. Only one is accepted as correct, and the key is in the two directional clues for "on hold" and "dewlap".

[RM54]

Clues G, D, O and P all have oblique references to vertical orientation and the answers are thus all filled in as down clues. The other symmetrical solution would have them as across clues.

[Pianoman2]

It's the 'x' I cannot get, even with all the other answers and trying different permutation of laying out hasn't changed any of the letters ... hmmmm. Stumped!

[Mamyalynne]

'x' is a slang term for a TV.

Second set of across lights in row 6

[Mamyalynne]

Say if you'd like the answer.

[Pianoman2]

Thanks mamyalynne. I thought that was the case but also sidetracked on "Set compiler" possibly referring to a cunning animal .... perhaps "Set" is sufficient? Cannot parse the 5 letters before it though, can't make sense of the answer I've got :)

[Mamyalynne]

Compiler would - I'd
At first (letter) inform on the - i o t
Fight - Tax


Set - Idiot Box

[Mamyalynne]

Fight - Box - sorry

[Pianoman2]

That was what I had :) Thanks for the insight - grateful to be put out of my misery ... still have a fondness for a "set compiler" to be "fox" ;)

[Mamyalynne]

Well setters do fox us I agree.

[Pianoman2]

:)