express skeleton

[redglenys]

can't get started 1a coin cut {a penny cut]6 or 7 letters ending in L
2d
cool guy a saw scared11letters
7d spend £1000 on a little atelier or study

[rayzorless]

me neither. does your gri have a block of blanks 5x3 in the centre i think mi may have to start again

[ges7]

1ac may be nickel?

[billgadd]

at last a chance to help!

2d intimidated in tim i dated (saw)

7d investigate invest 1g ate

[chelle7272]

Thanks billgadd - we may be back for more I just can't get my head round it this week!
Thanks also ges7

[redglenys]

thanks for your help

[millipat]

I find this very hard today but the only answer I know is 20 ac and it is MOTTO which is arrived at with Male (M) and German OTTO

[rayzorless]

could 9a be satin and 16 a priam?

[chelle7272]

yes i like satin, thanks
wasn't sure yet how many letters for 16a but priam looks good too

[chelle7272]

millipat - same here apart from the ones given and motto I only have 10ac. This gets harder and the clues more tenuous than ever lately!

[rayzorless]

apart from an hour at asda ive been at this since 9 o clock and all i have is whats on this thread

[ges7]

skeleton
17ac gist

[chelle7272]

I have Pivot for 10a if that helps anyone (to VIP backward)

ges7 - I was toying with gi something but gist would throw out my grid - oh dear

[rayzorless]

as a last resort try http://www.brittal.talktalk.net/crosswords.htm this weeks answers not on yet

[ges7]

skeleton
5d secretaries

[chelle7272]

Yes I know the site but as you say, last resort because you can see all the answers at once, I'd like to work some out.
I'm toying with trotter for 11 down anyone else any idea?

[chelle7272]

ges could you expain 5d - I have 5d tentatively as a short word to match 18d - where have you placed 18d on the grid please?

[roslyn251254]

I think I have the same grid as you chelle7272 with 17a 7 letters and 5d 4 letters

[ges7]

chelle7272
5d workers = secretaries from unknown secret and stars aries

[ges7]

i have 3d kind
6d ripe
19d gold

[chelle7272]

Yes roslyn that's what I have. Ges gives good reasoning though, back to the drawing board once again?