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Huh 43

1 May, 2014

Been a while since I confessed to Confusionism, faced with clues I can’t quite fathom. Like yesterday’s Paul – the first example. While I solved the puzzle, I still can’t justify how POP GROUP bubbled up from the wordplay.

Please, if anyone can elucidate this clue, or the six others, I’d be grateful. Impressed too if we can contrive to make a few classier clues for the same seven answers. Here then is my bewilderment:

  1. Attempt to climb over King – as Queen perhaps? = POP GROUP [Paul has me grasping at GR and POP-UPs.]

  2. Crude oil ultimately extracted by chance? = EARTHY [Is this L from EARTHLY, or am I looking down the wrong rabbit hole? From Times 9877]

  3. Writer whose sister had one? = LAMB [Unless Charles Lamb’s sister was Mary, I’m stumped. From Telegraph book]

  4. Favour daughter staying at home, giving optimistic view = ROSE-TINTED [Daughter = D; home = N…then I go astray with Imogen’s subterfuge.]

  5. Weasel family makes one fancy pop = LEMONADE [Orlando – is this like Paul’s pop group?]

  6. Leather pants coming down on a dance = LAMBADA [More damn lamb trouble. I’d made a lousy shepherd. Courtesy of Times 9888]

  7. Shade found behind trees on a sunny day = SKY BLUE [Is this some kind of colour-by-number pun clue from Times 9885?]

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