NO WINNER THIS WEEK!!
ACROSS
1. DATE not gate. No “apology” would be necessary if, for example, it was your gate that you broke, and the clue is too vague regarding the gate’s owner. DATE is a straightforward answer.
5. PARKING not barking. PARKING is best. For accuracy’s sake, the “problem” would be members’ PARKING issues; it wouldn’t be members’ barking issues, but rather dog barking problems that are disturbing “members.”
9. LED not let. The “dog” would be “overly excited when” LED “outside” on a leash. But many pets simply head to the closest exit “when” let “outside”; afterwards, when they are outdoors on their own, their pent-up energy becomes truly obvious.
10. CLEAR not clean. The fact that it’s not completely clean won’t necessarily affect its efficiency in regard to how well the “sink” drains or holds water. But if the drain is clogged because the pipe isn’t CLEAR of food waste, it certainly can’t be very efficient.
12. GAMES not names. It’s a matter of selecting a name that suits the parent’s taste, not the kid’s. However, the “website” might well be helpful when it comes to selecting a “suitable” GAME “for kids.”
14. DOE not dog. The “motorist” would fear for the “safety” of a DOE “on the road,” but a dog could be on a leash being walked along the side of “the road” by its owner without any threat to its well-being.
19. POEM not poet. It wouldn’t be the poet herself who would be termed “immortal”; it would be her work that has made her “immortal.” POEM is, therefore, a straightforward answer.
20. LIVES not loves. There’s no assurance that the actor is a great performer simply because he loves “his role.” The fact that he LIVES his part on stage, however, would very likely mean his “performing” is first-class. DOWN
2. APPLE not ample. APPLE “turnovers” are “often” seen at “fast food” restaurants. The nature of “fast food” employment with its irregular shift work and minimum hourly rates can result in ample employee turnover, but usually the turnover isn’t actually seen by the customer.
3. DANGER not dancer. The clue is more apt of DANGER, as in the case of a construction “worker,” for example, being paid an “above-average salary” by a company for potentially DANGEROUS projects on various sites. A dancer, who “moves” from one stage to another, is often paid by contract, not by “salary.”
4. KIND not mind. “Staff of” the “same” KIND is a good answer. If they were only alike in their views (i.e., “of same” mind) but were very different in attitude or work ethic, with some being cynical or lazy and others being easygoing, “projects” might be difficult and, ultimately, unsuccessful.
6. GUILE not guilt. A criminal can only be labeled as such if he has been found guilty, which is not yet the case, since the trial is ongoing. GUILE makes a better choice.
8. SACKS not socks. “The quantity” implies that a fair amount is involved in the “transaction,” as in the sale of SACKS for industrial use. As for socks, often a retailer will sell only one pair of socks to a customer.
10. ROLL not role. If playing a role is simply for yourself, without any audience watching, you could “expect to” do so well enough to please yourself “without some sort of training.” However, the fact that it definitely takes “some” “training” to do this is better suited to playing a ROLL (defined as: a rapid succession of beats on a drum).
13. MODEL not modes. What is “in demand” is usually something that can be purchased, such as the “latest” MODEL of car or phone, for instance. A mode is defined as a way or manner in which something is expressed or done, as opposed to some object that’s “much in demand.”
16. WOULD not could. Although all “able-bodied people” could “help” in one way or another, many WOULD do so, but some might not.
17. LIDS not bids. If there are “no” bids “on them,” they will indeed “be left unsold.” However, having “no” LIDS means there’s a probability they won’t sell, but there’s no certainty.