Sunday Times Cryptic 4608 Sunday September 21St 2014

[herbage]

3d to stand up used to be hard(4) is it WASH? If so, why? used to be=was hard=H
21d Goldfinger demands respect, Richard said(5) looks like AURIC. If so, why please? Gold = au Richard = ric auric=pertaining to gold ( as is the word goldfinger ) but why demands respect?
4a Blushing after maiden tucks into flaky pies made with mince(8) looks like simpered. anag of pies m and RED. How does it relate to mince?

[Lie-in King]

3d Yes, 'Wash' - 'was h(ard)' -

wash - admit to testing or proof; "This silly excuse won't wash in traffic court"
stand - be in effect; be or remain in force; "The law stands!"

21d Auric (Goldfinger) - "awe Rick" (said)
4D Yes, 'Simpered' - (to) mince = (to) simper

[remuera]

Wash as in it won't wash (or the opposite)

Au sounds like awe Ric sounds like Rick

To mince as in the way some people walk

[Lie-in King]

Apologies, "Auric Goldfinger" was the name of the villain in the Bond film

[herbage]

Thanks Lie-in-king.