Big Issue 1/7/24

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

Finish in the way without a girl (4) 

W?N? 
 

Thanks 

[davebro3]

wendy

[donny48]

wind(lass) ?

[davebro3]

finish = END in W(a)Y

[donny48]

Dave , great answer if poster confirms mistaken number.

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

I like WIND without "lass" but where does "in the way" fit in? 

[Neveracrossword]

I think davebro's Wendy is most likely to be correct, with the letter count being wrong...

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

In a perfect world I would agree - sadly, I'm staring at 4 squares. 

[donny48]

I struggle to parse my answer hence the ?, but much prefer Dave's Wendy with a mistake in the letter count.

[davebro3]

setters sometimes make mistakes

[donny48]

The only thing I can add to the parse of my answer would be a very iffy, in the way = A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points.

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

Thanks donny, I shall ponder that. 

[newmodarmy]

Please let us know the answer when they publish it. It certainly looks like the setter had W END Y in mind

 

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

I shall. :)

[TheWinner]

the answer is definitely Wendy. when googled, the exact clue was in this paper (cyprus mail, 31/10/2012 cryptic crossword, page no. 28,  the clue is no. 4 down).

https://issuu.com/cyprusmailnewspaper/docs/2012_oct_31

the answer given next day, was Wendy.

page 28

https://issuu.com/cyprusmailnewspaper/docs/2012_nov_1/3