Sunday Express Skeleton Sunday January 13Th 2013

[filbertfox11]

19d. Crack troops sent back without pants for meeting. (5). T???T 25a. It's quite unlikely to start appreciably closer. (7). T???L?? 2d. Gold - metal in traps. (4). O???

[Wharton]

19d tryst

[filbertfox11]

Thanks Wharton.

[baza]

2d] orfe?

[shoota]

2d Oral - Gold, aluminium = mouths

[filbertfox11]

Thanks shoota & baza. I think it is oral.

[shoota]

Are there any more clues that might give another letter in 25a FF?

[baza]

have you any more letters in 25a?

[shaneystar2]

25a To tally

[filbertfox11]

Hi shoota & baza. 17d is Sacred town entered with anger. (5). I have H???Y.The third letter of the answer to this clue would be the third letter of the "quite unlikely clue" (25a). I wonder if 17 down is HO (T) LY ("T" being "town"). This would make 25a T?T?L?Y. I can only come up with TOTALLY but really don't understand the wordplay.

[shoota]

I've been looking at it since Shaney answered and I don't either.....

[filbertfox11]

Thanks shaneystar2. I think you could be right. I wonder what baza & shoota think about it. Thanks to all of you for the help you have given me.

[shaneystar2]

Quite (totally)
to ( start) closer (ally )
Is how I see it and it fitted my grid .
SE Skellie must be the most convoluted crossword ever
Whoever sets it must be totally nuts :)

[shaneystar2]

sorry that should be tally (closer)

[filbertfox11]

shaneystar2. We're probably even more nuts to attempt it every Sunday! If we aren't already nuts I'm sure we soon will be.

[shoota]

I don't doubt that it is the right answer but I still can't see 'Tally' as either closer (nearer) or closer (shutter).
Maybe I'm too tired....

[kettledrum]

25a to = to, tall= unlikely ( a tall story), y = (appreciabl)y closer