Spectator 1922

[appledumplin]

I am stuck on the following:

8A. Opening time ignored character (4) ??E?

20A. They're tops for shedding pounds and stones! (4)
S?A? Is this spas?

29A. Police station for deputy PM? Not half (4) TA??

Thank you for any help.

[Pentalpha8]

Clef
Spas
Tana

[appledumplin]

Thank you Pentalpha8. Why tana? I don't get that one (am not questioning the answer by the way, just don't see why).

[Pentalpha8]

Im not too sure of the definition on this appledumplin .
In Chambers it gives Tana as a police or military station ( in India ) . So it seems to be the obvious answer .
I was confuddled myself over what a deputy PM has to do with it :)

[dr b]

29, The T�naiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland.

[nigel2]

Tanaiste is the term for the deputy PM of the Republic of Ireland (like Taoiseach for the Irish PM) A bit obscure but not unduly so by Spectator standards!

[Pentalpha8]

Well done dr b if I had bothered to look about four more entries down in Chambers I would have spotted it :)

[GetOverIt]

Can anyone confirm the theme - Is it French sayings in English ? 30d looks like " C'est la "

[zita-green]

It is c'est la. The theme is French cuisine

[GetOverIt]

Thanks zita - server problems had me unable to answer until now.

[zita-green]

I was going to send you a link but it gives all the answers so you can't just choose one to get you going. Do you want me to send it

[dr b]

I would not agree that the theme is French cuisine per se - look at the title.

[zita-green]

Ah. You are right. My French is, 'ow you say? Pants. Idiomatique, yes. Ok, do you want the answers or not?

[zita-green]

ok. French idioms. NOT cuisine

[appledumplin]

Could I now have a hint for the 2 long unclued light please? Have been racking my poor little brains all afternoon and got nowhere.

[Pentalpha8]

Hard to give a clue really .
They are
C'est la fin des haricots
C'est chou vert et vert chou
Manger son bl� en herbe
and were hard to find without Brewers !