Spectator 2046

[Farrnorth]

Unlike Roslyn, no penny has yet dropped. Perhaps the answers to 2d Wood isn't out, coming round as opener (7 two words) ????rs? and 16a Young child's endless nonsense. Yes! (6) ???o?? --- would help. Thanks

[bibblebub]

2d IN FIRST [=opener, in cricket]

wood = FIR
isnt out = IN ST [anagram] and put that outside of ^

[bibblebub]

16a KIBOSH [=nonsense yes i.e. emphasis of it being nonsense]

young child's endless = KI(d), nonsense = BOSH

[Farrnorth]

Thanks bibblebub. I'm not sure how far they will get me!

[maurice]

Help needed with my last 4 clued solutions:
7a I have ?D??CH
13a " I??II
15a " ?AW?D??DS
9d " ????OSI?
Will deliver clues only if nec.
Also,theme(s) unclear tho' I have nearly all the unclued ones:s'thing to do with "rock"?Otherwise any hint welcome (not answer!).

[Farrnorth]

7a Pleach Anag of chapel
13a ASCII
15a Dawn Raids
9d Acidosis
I still can't figure out the theme!

[maurice]

It's so simple: it's just the one letter as an abb.! I find that pretty stupid as a "theme".

[maurice]

...and thank-you, Farrnorth,of course: I forgot that in my fury!

[Crackabilly]

I have a mental block on the last three:
12a Busy continuously (9, three words) ?NR?E?R??
32a Indian factotum is returning Catholic god in retrospect (6) S?R??R
44a Should it happen to frame (6, two words) ???A?E
Any help appreciated!

[maurice]

Without revealing too mch:
12a first make a T out of yout first R,then think horses!
32a I'm sure it's SIRCAR/SIRKAR, but can't explain why!
44a phrase means s'th like IF;as one word it could be a verb (normally beginning E.....)

[maurice]

...have just realized SIRCAR = IS + RC (catholic)+ RA(god)---first & last parts backward!

[Crackabilly]

Thanks Maurice, understand 32a and 44a now.
For 3d I had CRIB which is a farm building, but you're saying this becomes ?T?B?

[haggis58]

Crackabilly - the answer to 3d is stab.

I've completed all clues but can't see the connection between the unclued lights that all begin with b. Any hints?

[Crackabilly]

Thanks haggis58.
I get the b connection - looks like they are all words that can be abbreviated by a single b.?
Got 12a now.
But stuck on last unclued 1a BIS?W? doesn't seem to make a proper word?

[Farrnorth]

My only suggestion is that it is b is aw'a (scots away)

[roslyn251254]

1a bishop, 4d is o erst ed (OED being the oxford engl dictionary)

[Farrnorth]

Thank you Roslyn. I was hoping you would come to our rescue! I can not imagine how the penny dropped so early for you. Brilliant.