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Obscure vault 99 (7)
help
It's the cryptic crossword discussion game. Tease each other with clues, help each other with the dailies, educate the beginners, whatever.
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[Darren]PLAYBACK seems too obvious. [MF] Sorry - meant to say - thanks for help earlier
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Could letters ultimately elucidate? (4)
Yes they could.
Although are you sure you mean ultimately? I once saw this clued as This is it!
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Like this? (4-11)
[rab] well, yes, I was aware that was a flaw; I was hoping to get away with a loose sense of ultimate = end. And I want yours to be DEFINITION, but I can't figure out why.
Simile
Can't get your questioned simile just now, but I'm afraid your not quite right with mine just yet. It's somehow more in the vein of your magnum opus.
Burger king
My clue is wrong. Sorry, it should read: This clue might be: "500. Follows solid containing volume of mute's heart" (10) which might give a clue in its own right.
Self-obsession
CdM's is either self-explanatory or self-descriptive; rab's is maybe convoluted: vol & ut in cone; 500 = D.
PS. Do we really need hidden text in this game?
CdM's previous clue
[CdM] Possibly SELF-REFERENTIAL
Hidden text
[MF] Well, it might be nice for people who want to try solving something themselves after it's already been answered.
None
I was thinking of Darren's answer, but I think MF's first is every bit as good, which of course means the clue is flawed...
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Doctor's wrapped up in umbilical cord
Ka-ching
[MF] Congrats. I tried to make it more so, but failed!
More clues
I didn't bring the Everyman, but here's some (probably) (probably dodgy) clues of my own writing that give a hint as to my preference:
1. Bug Her Majesty? It's the thin end of the wedge (5)
2. Small animal run over by learner driver (6)
3. It's a selfish pleasure to range before the King with the others in tune (5,3,6)
The last is my attempt at a Private Eye style clue.
Whoops, sorry...
...to complete my last: (3)
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[Martha] What, on her first day?
Bug
2 above is wrong. Whoops. Try again:
2. Small animal said to be run over by learner driver
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[rab] (1) is TAPER (TAP E.R.). Is (3) STRIP THE WILLOW? If so, I'm not sure why.

Pure French romance on the edge (8)
Twisted small mammal eats a chopped nut (6)

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[Raak] Is the first one PURCHASE?
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[Raak] I suppose the second could be TURNED but that would mean "red" was the small mammal... I suppose a "red squirrel" could work... also, RED hasn't actually eaten (fully enclosed) the chopped nut (TUN) so I'm probably wrong on that.
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[Darren] No to both.
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[Raak] Wow, must be a bad day for my brain.
Adjudication
[Raak] (1) Yes (3) No
Raak's second again
[Raak] Your second one; is it PURFLING?
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[Raak] Sorry, I meant the first one, of course.
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[Darren] Yes.
ahem
[MF]DIVISION was of course correct, wd. I'm a little confused as to what has been solved and what is still outstanding : would someone like to summarise perhaps ?
Meanwhile, here's the next Blobbian clue : Presume the leader is back in place (8)
As far as I can tell...
Unsolved clues include, but are not restricted to,
  1. Small animal said to be run over by learner driver (6) (me)
  2. It's a selfish pleasure to range before the King with the others in tune (5,3,6) (also me - and Raak was somehow along the right lines, but way off at the same time)
  3. Twisted small mammal eats a chopped nut (6) (Raak)
  4. Presume the leader is back in place (8) (Blob)
Perhaps no new clues for a while?

Meanwhile, a new Private Eye fell onto my doormat this morning. I'll probably attempt the crossword at the weekend. I do so enjoy the smutty clues.

Oh an a few attempts at solving :
[Raak] (1) PURLIEUS ?
[rab] (3) SPANK THE MONKEY ? If not, then Coat
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Ah - sorry - I now realise that Darren had solved Raak's first (and that mine was wrong) - if I'd read rab's simmulpost then I'd've realised sooner.
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[Blob] You're bang on (ahem) with rab's: SPAN (range) K (king) THEM (the others) ON KEY (in tune).
Red-faced
Sorry, couldn't resist it!
obscure times
Please can someone explain why [hidden answer] ENTICE is the probable solution to this clue 'Person bound to learn to sacrifice pawn and rook to offer temptation (6). Letters E_T_C_ already secured. [The Times Crossword - Weds]. Damned if I can work it out.
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[Chalky] Here is the explanation: Person bound to learn=PRENTICE. Sacrifice pawn (P) and rook (R) to leave ENTICE. To offer temptation=ENTICE (straight def). There you go.
being shown the light
Ah - many thanks, kind sir. Didn't realise that PRENTICE was aphetic for APPRENTICE and if I hadn't been so lazy a quick peek in the dictionary would have told me that.
Eye Crossword 241
This crossword pretty much did itself last night, but I don't fully understand two of them. (Answers in square brackets).
  • Archer's thing? Yes, with or without dash (12) [BULLSHITTING]
  • US would-be persuaders of the continuing need for persuaders (3,5) [GUN LOBBY]
The former has an obvious main definition - I don't get the device. The latter looks like a single definition, but I just don't get it.

Meanwhile the same puzzle includes (8) (Geddit?) which should be obvious in the light of our recent discussions.

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