Ev 1078

[x_word_fan]

Surprised no-one has already posted, lots to keep track of here with extra words and phrases and plenty thematic entries. I enjoyed it.

Is it me or are EV's getting tougher in recent weeks?

[DocHH]

Hello x_word_fan,
I agree there was a lot going on, but populated the grid quite quickly. Was a little surprised as it's a few weeks since I attacked an EV, and thought I might have been out of practiice.
Definitely an EV for dr b!

[Twit-Who]

Maybe some of us have been enjoying the tennis. Well done Andy!

I enjoyed this but I've been unable to find one of the five redundant multi-word phrases. Not necessary to submit but it niggles. Thanks Kcit.

[Christiana]

I enjoyed this one, too. It kept me guessing for a while. My chief problem was ending up with 14 clues with redundant single words, rather than the 11 required. I always seem to have trouble sorting out these redundancies. All sorted now, but never did find the redundant multi-word phrase that leads to the unclued entry at 5. Not that it was really necessary but do like to dot the i's and cross the t's.

[Christiana]

Sorry Twit-Who, realise you were saying much the same thing. Was it the same one?

[Twit-Who]

Yes, it was. I like to tie up all the loose ends too but I don't think I'll spend any more time on this.

[Cloverjo]

I enjoyed this one. Like Twit-who and Christiana, I can't find the definition for 5a.

[Rayandad]

I think it's in 9d - hope I am not wrong in posting too broad a hint

Sorry to all if I have breached etiquette but I could not resist

[MatydaLover]

The definition for 5A is incorporated in 7D. ... it's not a plant that loafs around making an oooops! in baggy garments :)

[Christiana]

I'm even more mystified now, and wondering if the on-line version has something left out - or am I just missing something? I understand what you are referring to Matydalover - the multiple meanings etc. but can't see any connection with 7d whatsoever. Every part of that clue was used in the answer.

[Christiana]

Rayandad - 9d seems far more likely but if so the compiler is either using what I think is an incorrect abbreviation for Portugal or an unaccounted for letter is removed in order to reach the answer.

[Rayandad]

Christiana, I reached PR as Portugal is also known as the Portuguese Republic according to Wikipedia which makes it a similar clue to 25a

[Twit-Who]

Yes, 7d it is. I don't know how I missed that definition as I must have looked a dozen times. Thanks for putting me out of my misery.

[MatydaLover]

All of the clue words are used in 9D ... the answer is formed from a base word minus a cryptic "Portugal" ... then minus a cryptic "right" from what's left.

The Chambers definition for 5A includes a multi-word phrase found in 7D. Take them away, and the clue becomes precise. (The second half of my earlier post is a quirky way of eliminating the 5A's other definitions.)

All the best :)

[Twit-Who]

Ah yes, MatydaLover, I now see your point. However, from being unable to find the phrase at all I now think I can see two possibilities as I also think 7d works with the very last definition in Chambers removed. What do you think?

[Christiana]

Tricky - I lived in Portugal for a number of years and the abbreviation used by the general populace was always P or PT, but that's not based on any research. I got the 'quirky' elimination, Matydalover. but not the rest. Now, like Twit-who, I have two possibilities instead of none - feast or famine, as they say.

[MatydaLover]

I see the constructions as (-Portugal)E(-Right)MITS and O-L-YM(PI)AN. The IVR for Portugal is P. The first two words of 7D are redundant.

I see no other possibility, yet two of you have found one! So ... I look again. And all I can see is that the last two words of 9D could be used as a definition for 5A ... but it is not a word-for-word meaning that's normally required, and their removal stops 9D from having a solution. 7D would not work either - it would have to say something like "Initial letter of of ..." or "Initial letters of of line ...".

Time to go ... TMS commentary has started.

[Twit-Who]

.....but 'initial letter' is a definition of 5a and line stands on its own as 'L'....