Times 28,806

[brainiac]

From today's (difficult) cryptic:

Conman in work initially filling in crack leading to slow leak briefly (6, 2, 2)

Answer is Wizard of Oz, but I cannot see the wordplay - or the definition for that matter!  Was the Wizard of Oz a conman?

[Lie-in King]

He was a conman, yes -

Wizard of Oz - 'f(illing; initially)' (in) 'wizard (crack) ooz(e; briefly)'

[brainiac]

Thanks.  Hmmm, wizard/crack- a bit tenuous that, like quite a few in this one!

[Ellipsis]

> Was the Wizard of Oz a conman?

Yes, you must have seen the film? Otherwise, spoilers ... he wasn't a real wizard, it was all smoke and mirrors - literally.

[brainiac]

No, never seen the film, at least not all the way through!

[Lie-in King]

You're welcome 😊 - I wasn't thrilled by 22d, far too loose...

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

I suppose he is a conman, but nice with it. 

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

Lie-in-King, I've had a look at the clue you mentioned (22d), is it ABOUT? 

[Lie-in King]

Hi Fleshy - no, focus on "broadcast".

[Lie-in King]

22a is an easy one, that'll give it to you.

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

Is it JEWEL, a homophone of "duel"? 

[Lie-in King]

It is, though as with many such answers, I think that to say they're pronounced alike is tenuous.

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

Indeed. 

[Lie-in King]

Apologies to brainiac for the extra traffic 🙂

[brainiac]

No, no, I like it.  Good to know others spend their Saturday mornings in the same way as I do :) 

Jumbo half done, but I wish they'd change the prize.

[FleshpotsOfDevon]

I've been slacking on the Times in recent months...need to get back into it. 

[Lie-in King]

brainiac - I agree, I won it a donkey's age ago & got (I think!) a Times Atlas, Collins Dictionary & books of Times Crosswords & Sudokus, so I've never entered again.

If that's still the package, I guess the Atlas might've been updated & the Dictionary probably has a newer version...

[brainiac]

Yes, that's still the prize.  I reckon because it's cheap as it comes from the owner of The Times, who also own Harper Collins the publisher

[Lie-in King]

Aye, good point.