The meaning of the answer is shade of brown
The deletion pointer is topless
The letter to delete is "n" from number (figure)
Another example:
I leave the law to the big guns (8) ordnance
The meaning of the answer is big guns
The deletion pointer is leave
The letter to delete is "i" from ordinance (law)
Initial letters
Just like hidden word clues, the answer (the word) with this type of hint is found in the clue, but the letters are the first letters of successive words. Pointers include: firstly, to begin with, start of, initially.
Yesterday's example:
Bitter initially, but extremely enjoyable refreshment (4)
The answer is beer
The meaning of the answer is bitter
The pointer is initially
The answer (beer) is found in the first letters of "but extremely enjoyable refreshment".
Tip
Some crosswords use the ellipsis (...). If one clue finishes with an ellipsis and the next clue starts with one, the inference is that the two clues are connected. Sometimes they are and you will have to solve one in order to solve the other but in many cases the two clues can be read independently.
Crossword
This crossword contains seven deletions, five initial letters, one container, one hom*ophone, three charades, four double definitions and three anagrams.
Tomorrow we look at two clues - same word/different adverb and the repeat clue. I leave you with one of each.
Same word/different adverb:
It's off to lose effectiveness and it's out to tire (4)
Repeat clue:
Do repeat the name of a past flier (4)
ACROSS
6 Looks at birds (7)
7 The sound begins with verbal outcries, including colourful exchanges (5)
9 Question why the start of the job is removed (3)
10 Occurrences the CSI intend changing (9)
12 Cut back, starting with costly rates of payment (4)
14 Charged for being unwell in the garden plot (6)
16 May copy the starter (6)
17 Pricey capitals of Denmark, Egypt, Australia and Russia (4)
19 A charge for the confession? (9)
21 First off, traded the aged (3)
23 Cut it off - it's not entirely harsh (5)
24 A hairstyle for an attendant (7)
DOWN
1 Almost extol the wage increase (5)
2 Strange with a headless Sweeney (3)
3 Endless subsidy for Nan (4)
4 Own up that they arrive unpolluted (4,5)
5 Disperse roughly one hundred at rest (7)
8 The transgression is wrong for this fictional sailor (6)
11 Structured in a grandiose arrangement (9)
13 Appeals from the sound of it for a polite request (6)
15 Rice fields cause fits of temper (7)
18 Permit to almost indulge oneself in pleasure (5)
20 Fish at the start of October, preferably at Hobart (4)
22 Plane used for the leading characters of Jackson's exciting trilogy (3)
