Inquisitor 1271

[Neveracrossword]

There are single extra words in most clues.
22 D. More than one offensive Italian onlooker sees around a tree (6)
e?t???

8 D. Sportive eye spying on ostriches (6) ???s??

Thanks for any help.

[Neveracrossword]

I have finally finished this, I think - well, I have four things highlighted.

[boreas]

Yes, me too.
Apart from 26D.
It could begin with M or R, but neither seem to relate to the clue.
The R version relates to GARAGE, but that is the superfluous word.
Any thoughts?

[Neveracrossword]

I went with the M word because 'machine' featured in the dictionary definition - but I wasn't at all sure how else I could justify it.

[Neveracrossword]

...I should have added, I wouldn't mind being told/shown how wrong my answer is!

[boreas]

Yes, that makes sense.
I will see if I can decrypt the clue.
And come to that, quite a few of the others.

[Neveracrossword]

There were several clues/answers that I was dreading having to find explanations for - I'm relieved, in a way, that I'm not the only one who struggled a bit.

[boreas]

Hi Never,

MORA = a delay. Take away the A.
Then enter TO= for.

[Neveracrossword]

Boreas, thanks - that makes perfect sense (I was beginning to wonder if 'garage' in the clue was there to point solvers, wrongly, to 'motor'). It's a relief to have this one finished.

[Indy-trier]

Hi Everyone
I've finished everything including the instruction and all the shaded bits but am still not happy with my answers for 30a and 33a. I'd love some help to tidy this away please!

[rabet]

30a is simply a double definition clue, 33a is the entry for 8d after a 3-letter word meaning "something very difficult" has been rmoved.

[Indy-trier]

Thanks Rabet. I was thrown by 33a as I had assumed that answer was an abbreviation, as was 3d, and the preamble says only one entry is an abbreviation! As one of my shaded bits is also an abbreviation I got myself confused.

[rabet]

Now you've got me confused! My "shaded bits" don't include an abbreviation.

[Indy-trier]

Maybe I've misled myself, Rabet! I found UK where that voyager started and as my extra letters referred to POINTS I thought I should include the start as well as the ends of the trip.

[RossR]

I'm always a lot slower than you guys, but I have almost completed the grid now. I have found the voyager, and I thought I knew all about that particular voyage, but I can't spot a "destination" or any "points". Could somebody please give me a mild hint - how many letters and/or words am I looking for?

[Gregsdad]

Ross, you're looking for an intended destination, same no. of letters as the voyager; and two end points, having the same number of letters (but more than the intended destination). All, together they form a sort of overlapping symmetric pattern in the grid.

[RossR]

Thanks very much, gregsdad, that's very helpful. In particular, if I'm looking for the original planned destination I'm going to have to start rubbing out wrong answers!

[RossR]

gregsdad, thanks again for your hint - I think I've now found everything. I was chasing entirely the wrong voyager, the one at 34A that just happened to have set out on March 3rd.

[Sue66]

22D EYTIES - Eyes around TI.

8D PIGSNY - Anagram of spying.