Ns Crossword

[dafyddapgwilym]

Last one, but can’t parse - help, please!
48d) Metal container overturned, lid missing. (7)
I have S?A?N?R, and am thinking SCANNER, but my brain has seized up...

[aelmpvw]

any ab crossword experts seen this? it's got me beat

[dafyddapgwilym]

Yup: I did get it, eventually. It's STRAINER. (Anagram of RETSINA, among other things...)And it was a brain-strangling, very enjoyable crossword.

[dafyddapgwilym]

And I've just realised, looking at it, that it's not actually an anagram of RETSINA. But I've sent it off, first-class post so I really don't care any more. Crosswords are silly, anyway.

[aelmpvw]

and there was me looking for a seven letter word ...

[Mamyalynne]

All very odd, seems like something amiss with clue.

(C)anister
reversed is Retsina

But no definition for that.

[donny48]

You are making more sense that the clue, Mamya.

[aelmpvw]

perhaps it was a crossword with a theme

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not often told that Donny, maybe Ael.

[aelmpvw]

also odd that none of the given letters fit retsina

[donny48]

If it is a seven letter answer how did the poster fill it in the crossword with "strainer" being eight letters.

[dafyddapgwilym]

Yes, it does indeed have a Christmas theme, and the whole thing is beautifully complicated. And Mamya - thank you very much for (part-)parsing it for me, finally: it's one of three themed clues which concern DRINKS. I got the right answer by happenstance. Which was nice.

[Mamyalynne]

We'll probably never know.

[dannyk13]

Dafydd, when it is a themed crossword it is better if you impart that information.It would help a lot.

[dafyddapgwilym]

Do have a look: it's the current New Statesman Prize Christmas crossword, and there'sa £100 book token as the prize.

[dafyddapgwilym]

And it would have taken half a lifetime to include all the pre-amble bumpf in my original post.

[dannyk13]

Dafydd, the word ;themed' drinks would have sufficed

[Mamyalynne]

Glad it helped a bit, good luck with your entry.