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Diabolically Arcane

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A Huh or Two [48]

17 March, 2015

Over coffee I struggled to crack a puzzle by a devious rogue called Radler, downloaded from Big Dave's [excellent] Crossword Blog. Managed to solve all but one, though I'm still head-scratching over a few subterfuges. Namely:

1. Rhetoric with nothing much put out by Spain after article there = ELOQUENCE [I get the EL, and the nothing, but the remainder...?]

2. Under pressure to remove drug for pain relief = _E_S?? [Dunno. Do you? That's the one I missed.]

And from recent Times:

3. A couple of Scotsmen: pygmies = TWA [Ha?]

4. On both sides of line, squad's not yet fired = UNLIT [Both sides of line?]

5. Recurring problems with eye reported by hospital - this problem? = STRABISMUS [I'm trying to wangle Barts - a London hospital - into this answer, and missing the procedure...]

6. Unemployed South African chap has to integrate = OUT OF USE  [Tell me TOFU has no nori roll here...]

7. Pompous golfer’s second round = OROTUND  [O + ROUND but how's the T implicated?

Any insights or other eurekas eagerly awaited. And if the Muse moves, then try to compose an alternative clue for any answer here. Thanks.

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If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
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