LAST SUNDAY’S ANSWERS

NO WINNER THIS WEEK

ACROSS

1. ACHING not acting. Acting for her is too vague, since it fails to explain in what capacity the “husband” might have to act on her behalf. ACHING is a straightforward answer.

6. VERVE not verse. “Suddenly revived by” VERVE is a logical answer. Verse is superfluous due to the clue word “song.”

7. GASH not gasp. The act of inflicting a GASH could include the instinctive reaction of gasping, making GASH a comprehensive answer.

10. PET not bet. PET is apt. It’s “the appeal of” winning that’s ultimately the reason for and the attraction to betting.

11. BEAR not beer. A BEAR’S “strength” might well be surprising to see, but a beer’s “strength” is not something that’s “shown,” but something that’s tasted and swallowed, with “its strength” then, perhaps, becoming evident.

15. BALLET not bullet. Once the “new” type of bullet has been given government approval for manufacturing, presumably the bullets will be successful or have more of a “guarantee of success” than a “new” BALLET, which has many factors determining its fate, including management, reviews, dancers and facilities.

17. TRIO not trip. TRIO is best. Organizing a trip might well involve only one traveler, in which case “harmony” would not apply.

19. LIVELIER not lovelier. The reference to her “child” being “exuberant” indicates a LIVELINESS that’s likely reflected in the “performance.” There is nothing in the clue relating to its loveliness.

DOWN

2. CHANCE not change. You could risk missing out on “an opportunity” by not “taking” a CHANCE. But “taking” whatever change is being “offered” might not be seen as “an opportunity” but rather as a necessity due to a lack of cash.

3. GONG not gang. A large GONG would “make” a lot of “noise.” However, a gang can be made up of well-organized workers operating in a calm, efficient manner that doesn’t necessarily involve “noise” production.

4. LEDGER not ledges. “Eye strain” has a direct link to a LEDGER, which generally contains a lot of numbers. Shelves (i.e., ledges) could need reorganizing or cleaning, neither of which involves “eyestrain.”

5. PEDAL not petal. PEDAL is best since PEDALS are paired, with “one” pedal being “identical to the other.” There can be multiple petals on a flower, with the possibility of petals being “identical to” more than simply one “other.”

9. PROWL not growl. An animal PROWLING as “she walks by” might well appear menacing. However, a growl is, in itself, menacing by nature and is, therefore, redundant.

12. NEWT not nest. The reference to “fleeting” suggests movement, which matches up well with a NEWT, rather than with something stationary like a nest.

13. TRAINED not trailed. The “gardener” would have TRAINED the “vine over the fence.” But it would be the “vine” itself that would trail “over” it.

16. EVER not even. The reference to a “carpool” indicates that the drive is a routine one, for which the “passenger” has failed to EVER express his gratitude. Even is too vague, since it implies that there is more expected of the “passenger” than simply his gratitude, which is not indicated in the clue.

18. FIT not hit. The use of the word “brawl” is superfluous with hit. FIT makes the best answer.