Ev 1510

[saladdodger]

A little help to finish please...I have changed the phrase and have "5 of the 6 words/phrases" ...3 going across and 2 going down...looks like i'm missing an 8/9 letter one?

and ...

18d Upset academy cutting viscous mineral (5) ......TALA?

[Neveracrossword]

Your T would have been B before... and I had Balas, a mineral.

I've got three across and three down.

[saladdodger]

Thanks for Balas ...how does it parse?

Still only got 2 of the across ones ...both in bottom half of grid...

[Neveracrossword]

Slab means viscous (new to me) and A, academy, inside. Balas, mineral.

Your OP said you had three going across and two going down, but now the other way round?

[saladdodger]

Thanks for the parse.
...sorry! Yes i have 2 acrosses and 3 downs so far...and the 2 acrosses are in the bottom half of the grid

[Neveracrossword]

Saladdodger, thanks. The bottom half is the most productive...

[ProfessorMaisie]

Only the toothpaste fits your number count (all of the acrosses are in the bottom half, saladdodger).

[saladdodger]

Thank you ... i was looking at a different version which doesn't mention toothpaste! ( broccoli instead!)

[ProfessorMaisie]

I'd rather eat toothpaste than broccoli.

[Brownbelle]

I could do with a judge to unlock 11d and 21a....... Thanks.

[Brownbelle]

Nudge not judge!!

[ProfessorMaisie]

21a - Parent on the outside of 2 letter word for 'at(e)' - 'e' is extra - def archaic word for an exotic fruit.
11D def - farm squatters - 'near' = BY and 'caught' (or 'triumphed', maybe?) has 3 letters, followed by alt letters of 'zebras'.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...well, not exactly 'exotic' - a tropical fruit (it's often canned).

[Brownbelle]

Thanks my friends. As usual I managed to solve them as soon as I'd posted!!