Guardian 25,119

[parr1]

This has lost me this week. Theme seems to be nursery rhymes. I think 2dn Time to get in wiser old hand (6) ?T???R is stager. Other clues bounce of others, if it helps I think 1dn is LOVE and 4dn is VIRTUE . I appreciate this is not much help. The hint is "the entrie for 1,4 and 26 can be deduced from the following: according to the 14,10 two ingredients of 4,1 and two of 4, 26 are the solutions to four other clues. 14,10 is nursery rhyme. er.. help

[boxtops]

2d stager - T (time) in Sager (wiser)

[boxtops]

How many letters are there in the ones you can' t get - is it 14 & 10 or are those the clue numbers? (sorry, it's late)

[parr1]

14 and 10 are nursery rhyme. I think? 14ac Growing concern about reruns on telly, ultimately (7) N?R?E?Y 10ac How Frost might be said to show poetic device (5) R?Y
?E. Cannot get 1 dn (4)?o?? 4dn ?I?T?E 26ac (5)G?R?? No clues as such but they refer to nursery rhyme (I think!)

[Lie-in King]

Sorry about the delay, I had to to get the puzzle first...

You're correct about 14 & 10 being 'Nursery rhyme' - anag 'reruns' + (tell)y & "rime"

A hint to the answers for 4d, 1d & 26a would be the answers to 13 & 22d, then 11 & 28a...

[Mamyalynne]

OOh its like code

[Lie-in King]

I ddin't want to spoil it for parr (or anyone else) by just throwing the answers out?..

[Lie-in King]

...Pardon me - ^ "didn't"! ^

[Mamyalynne]

Love it when you are all enigmatic ,,,, purrr

[Lie-in King]

Lol - I believe that's the first time I've been called that! :-))

[parr1]

er.. have FROGS for 13dn apart from that I have nothing relevent. The Guardian is probably my favourite of the weekend crosswords so to be beaten occasionally is annoying but not devasting. Still, any help in beating the swine would be gratifying.

[Lie-in King]

Ok, if you add 13d & 22d, you'll get "Frogs & snails", while 11a & 28a will give you "Sugar & spice"...

[Mamyalynne]

Oh say that again with a slight roar!!

[Lie-in King]

As you wish... "That again" - grooowl...

[parr1]

Damn and blast. I had that in my mind for the last two hours and could not make it work. Thank you

[Lie-in King]

Happy to help :-)

[parr1]

PS, love the growl. Speaking as an unemployed 40 yr old recently divorced male, I can't express adequately how much the whole growl thing meant to me. :)

[Lie-in King]

...Then - "ROOOAR!"

I'm quite exhausted now, so am off to my den - good night parr, & I hope that your fortunes change for the better soon :-)

I'll also take this opportunity to bid good night to mamya - x - & everyone else! :-)

[Mamyalynne]

Night night all espacially my LIe on KIng ♥

[Laborintus]

I haven't many letters to support the theory but presumably 1d 4d & 26a are boys little & girls?

[kayakamina]

Yes - Boys little girls.