Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4524 Sunday February 10Th 2013

[mercedita]

I found it really hard this week! Stuck on 3. Can anyone help?

23Across: Cut his plastic and note returned payment (4,4). I have _ H _ N, _ _ _ F.

22Across: Couldn't stand backing top launderette (10). I had wonderd about 'washeteria' but how did Dean Mayer even get there? And then I got an A as follows: _ _ S _ A _ E _ I _ so it can't be 'washeteria'!

22Down Start to write the letter. My only guess was 'WEN' but that wrecks 23A!
Please help, someone!

[keet007]

shin beef
washeteria
wye

[keet007]

sorry Washateria

[Oldred]

22a was hater ia

[mercedita]

Thank you both, Keet007 and Oldred. I think the washeteria is not good with an 'a'. Someone else (Vimto) dreads Dean Mayer too. Might he ever read this? :-)

[factor-fiction]

Can someone explain 'shin beef' to me please.
I can see it's a cut (of meat).
I can see the anagram of HIS +NB +FEE backwards- but II'm unsure about the reference to plastic. Is the word 'plastic' used after HIS to indicate an anagram ?

[bibblebub]

yes - 'plastic' in it's adjectival form