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strangelybrown

11th December 2021, 16:23
Reached about the halfway stage. Couple I think I've got but can't parse.

47a Nation, one entertained by an American refrain (9)
Looks like 'Australia'

52 Puzzle isn't a doodle, unfinished brother admits (11)
Looks like 'brainteaser'.
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malone

11th December 2021, 16:27
47. I think it's A US Tra-la(refrain) with I inside (one entertained by...)
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malone

11th December 2021, 16:30
52 Has 'doddle', not 'doodle'.

Br aint eas(y) er.

Brer, brother, aint, isn't, eas(y), a doddle (unfinished, drop the last letter).


Hope that makes sense!
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strangelybrown

11th December 2021, 16:39
Thanks Malone, sorry it was 'doddle' no 'doodle'.
My favourite sort of clues are ones that involve witty word play, my least favourite, after spoonerisms, are cumbersome ones like these that involve putting stuff and other stuff inside more stuff, I find them more of a chore than fun.
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malone

11th December 2021, 16:43
Thanks, SB. After Spoonerisms, my most disliked clues are supposed homophones. I don't mind the 'various bits inside' ones as I can usually work logically there. Witty word play is good, but not always in evidence!
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strangelybrown

11th December 2021, 17:42
I agree with you about homophones, they're more often miss than hit.
But praise where it's due, I loved this clue today:

43a Purplish, purplis and purpli mouse (9,6)

No typos this time, that's really how it is written.
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gooner

11th December 2021, 21:35
SHRINKING VIOLET
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timdownieuk

12th December 2021, 17:41
Flummoxed by the parsing of 53ac.

Telling stories is generally nice, all kicking off should I be unable to do so. (11)

SIGNIFICANT is the only word that fits.

Please put me out of my misery. ;-)
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buddy

12th December 2021, 17:43
First letters (kicking off) S I G N + IF I CAN'T
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chrise

12th December 2021, 17:44
I think "telling" is the definition, then first letters of Stories Is Generally Nice, then "I can't" (unable to do so)
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