Crossword Page - clues, help or bored

[mockney piers]

Ok I'll give it away

senselessness

sense less [ness]

take the letters ness away from sense and you are left with e.

[HAL9000]

Yes, it makes sense after the fact. But is there a logical pathway that leads to this particular answer starting from first principles?

[mockney piers]

Ah I see.

No.

I guess some people might be so lateral in their thinking that they might come up wih it.

As I said I think most people come up with an answer then see if it fits the clue.

Long words are easy to narrow down once you have a few letters, after that it's a process of elimination.

Admittedly I read about this clue elsewhere but I knew why it was the answer in an instant.

[HAL9000]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ah I see.

> No.

Cheers - that's what I thought but just wanted to check in case I'd missed something. I'm new to cryptic clues but can see the attraction.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I refused to even try cryptics for years but now I find it hard to enjoy a quick crossword. the satisfaction of going "but why would that .... ahhh" far exceeds "yep, I know another word for that"

[mockney piers]

Is anyone else finding the Everyman a bit odd today?

What's with the general knowledgey bits?

As for: Row about Diane being neater (6)

what is this, the sun crosswordor an excerpt from Bob the Builder's big book of blindlingly obvious clues?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

On BBC 4 at 8pm tonight - how to solve cryptic crosswords with Don Manley

[mockney piers]

Just checked answers for the two I didn't get in last private eye.

Kicking myself on both.

One who makes no.2 without one is a judas (8)

answer to number 2 was 'sacred cow' as numbers normally refer to other answers.

Nut not in this case. Ooooooh no!!!!

[ianr]

That's no excuse. With a PE crossword, you should automatically be tuning your mind in to sex/toilet/scurrilousness associations.

Do you get your PE by mail, btw?

[mockney piers]

Cruel cruel private eye. Starred clues on the jumbo crimbo crossword are the given answers to questions on dumb Britain.

*The Speaker between 1983 and 1992 was Bernard...? (7)

I'm guessing Manning?

[Brendan]

...ette.

[mockney piers]

Here's an easy one to vet the juices going...

Moralistic author knocking back the drink at work (5)

[SeanMacGabhann]

"Swift" is an answer that won't shift even if I can't make it work

[mockney piers]

Sorry. I like the idea of swift not budging though.

[SimonM]

Aesop

Too easy

;-)

[Bellenden Belle]

Hardy?

[mockney piers]

Simon got it.

OK a little trickier and very Private eye.

They might sleep together using 'Latitude' condoms (4-5)

[SimonM]

Ship Mates?

[mockney piers]

To be honest I don't know but 'room mates' feels better. Hmm hope that's not an advertising slogan soon!! Ok more to follow.

[SimonM]

Yes, on refelction I think "room mates" looks better too !

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Struggling with yesterday's Telegraph 12 across:

Mark one's financial record as a lie (12)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ E _ T

[katie1997]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Struggling with yesterday's Telegraph 12 across:

>

> Mark one's financial record as a lie (12)

>

> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ E _ T

embezzlement?

[SimonM]

Struggling with yesterday's Telegraph 12 across:

Mark one's financial record as a lie (12)

misstatement

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

thank you

[mockney piers]

Assuming I have the right answer, this might be one of the best clues I've done in ages!!

Snicker supplier of Bristol? ( 6 )

...from private eye obviously.