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Across
HOW-TO
PAINFUL
FLUE
ELIMINATED
UTOPIA
ARACHNID
RESOLVE
EERIE
CRANK
ROPED IN
STRIKE UP
ALPACA
RHINOCEROS
CITE
STROPPY
DUNCE
Down
HOLSTER
WHELP
OVERALL
PRIVATE PROPERTY
IMITATE
FEATHERED
LEE SIDE
STATIONER
CATCHES
KNEECAP
PRAISED
NECKTIE
PECAN
How to solve Kropotkin, Tossman and other cryptic crosswords.
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Hi can you please explain 15A: hapless chap, out-and-out fruitcake, answer is Crank. Obvs a crank is sort of a hapless chap ( though more of a weird, grouchy chap) but what’s the fruitcake about?
Tricky clue, Rowan! You need to read it as HAPless CHAP – ie remove HAP from CHAP to get C. Add RANK (‘out and out’). ‘Fruitcake’ is the definition, it’s an old idiom which I think comes from ‘as nutty as a fruit cake’.
I hope this is helpful!