Times Cryptic Jumbo 712

[Annie Jay]

Desperate for help to finish this one please. 36dn Unbelievable exclamations - look at the capital city! (11) T???A???S?S 41ac Gangster has upset a lover - something heard at start of tiff (8) ???E?L?R 5dn What tall person may wear to convey personal strength (4,4) L?N? S?I?

[kettledrum]

5d. long suit

[kettledrum]

41a alveolar

[novalis]

5d = long suit

[kettledrum]

36d Tallahassee

[Annie Jay]

Kettledrum, can you explain why alveolar is correct, please? Had already got it but can't see the relationship to the clue. Alas, I've just found one more not solved! 54ac (7) I?T?S?S. Any idea?

[kettledrum]

Al (Capone) = gangster + anag 'a lover'

alveolar is to do with having the tongue against the roots of the upper teeth, which is where it is when one says a 'T' sound (start of tiff)

[kettledrum]

What is the clue for 54a ? Could it be ictuses ? I'm afraid last week is an awful long time ago now, and my memory is not what it was!

[Annie Jay]

It was the stuff about teeth & tongue which confused me. Didnt link it with saying the letter T. Many thanks.for the explanation. Now just need 54ac.....

[Annie Jay]

Sorry, Kettledrum, thought I'd posted the clue for 54ac. First off, border raider employs sudden attacks.

[kettledrum]

(P)ict + uses

an ictus is a sudden attack - see Chambers

[kettledrum]

Sorry - you probably don't have Chambers, as you wouldn't be asking if you did.

ictus - a stroke or sudden attack, especially an epileptic fit

I really cannot recommend Chambers enough: it is absolutely essential kit for any serious crossword solver. (Almost) all the compilers use it.

[Annie Jay]

Wonderful! This has been the longest dialogue I've ever had on the Answerbank. Now I can catch up with this week's crosswords and the ironing......! Thank you again.

[Annie Jay]

No I haven't got Chambers & my Oxford dictionary couldn't help, so I'd better get one. Many thanks for the advice.