LAST SUNDAY’S ANSWERS

NO WINNER THIS WEEK

ACROSS

1. CURE not care. A “special” CURE “can often be costly.” However, “special” care administered by a family member might reduce the cost factor considerably.

2. SLY not shy. A SLY “person” may well keep “his thoughts to himself” to ensure his scheme works in his favor. But a shy “person” might reveal “his thoughts” to a confidante, for example, although perhaps reticent to expand on those “thoughts” in public.

4. PET not let. By not PETTING it, you could be ignoring it. However, not letting it “constantly” visit you might be tricky if, for instance, your property happens to be large, so that you don’t see when and where it gets into your yard.

6. DRINK not drunk. The “parents” would probably not want to wait until she showed signs of “getting” drunk before they “tried” to stop her. Rather, they’d probably try “to prevent her from getting” any alcohol, whether from a DRINK or a bottle.

8. PEGS not legs. PEGS on a clothesline, for instance, “are intended to always give good support” to the items they are holding on the line. But legs have many uses beyond “support,” primarily to do with mobility.

12. POSE not pole. A pole is “wooden,” whereas a POSE is commonly described as “wooden.”

13. TRY not fry. TRY is best with the clue’s reference to “new recipes.” Simply because he doesn’t fry “anything” doesn’t mean he’s not cooking and preparing “new” nonfried “recipes.”

17. ALL not ill. ALL “at ease” is a straightforward answer. If there’s a possibility an “audience” member is ill “at ease,” it’s unlikely the “instructor” would advise the “students” to wait until “just before beginning” the “speech” to assess the mood of the room in case changes are necessary.

18. CAT not cot. The child would play and sleep “well” with the CAT, but she’d play and sleep “well” on the cot.

DOWN

1. CHARITY not clarity. Focusing on the “firm’s” involvement with a CHARITABLE cause might put the “company” and its “finances” in a “favorable” light. But it’s always a good business practice to ensure clarity in any type of communication.

2. SLOPE not scope. There would not be much of a SLOPE for the hill to qualify as a “beginner’s course,” thereby triggering the student’s complaint. But the “beginner’s course” has been planned and designated as such, meaning that its scope justifies its ranking.

3. DERIDED not decided. There might not have been much “media attention” when the “policy” was first introduced and DERIDED. But decided is too vague since a considerable length of time might have passed since the “policy” was decided upon and made into law, so that not surprisingly, the “media” has lost interest.

5. MYSTERY not mastery. The clue word “skilled” makes mastery redundant. MYSTERY is best.

10. SMELL not swell. “When bread starts to” SMELL is a good answer. Strictly speaking, it’s the dough that swells while the “bread” is being made.

11. PEACH not beach. Certainly, a warm “sun” contributes a lot to making a great PEACH crop. But many would argue that a beach is at its most “beautiful” when the “sun” is setting.

14. RIMS not rums. RIMS is apt. “Cocktail ingredients” is superfluous with rums.

16. AIR not aid. The definition of “paramedic” is a professional who gives first aid, making aid superfluous. AIR is better.