Cueshtick

The answers to these clues are all five letters long. The third letter from all of the clues, read from top to bottom, will complete the following pun:

"What do you call a destitute, venerable and benevolent person who doesn't let things bring them down?"

-1. large scale
-2. satire
-3. bisect
-4. word with palm or auto
-5. entryway
-6. tine
-7. you might toss it?
-8. carrying a spare tire?
-9. fervor
-10. sparse
-11. cake topper?
-12. use an epee
-13. change
-14. a flower or a chicken?
-15. belief
-16. pie nut
-17. tilted
-18. reside
-19. bravery
-20. put off
-21. guide
-22. obsolete
-23. preference

16. pecan

6 - prong

4. pilot

2. farce or spoof

3. cross or halve

Hi Cue.

12. fence

Good ones.

Remi, I'll take "halve" for #3. Pick which one you want for #2.

7. Caber

Bernie

Great answer, Bernie, but not what I intended. I guess I should have had a question mark on that one indicating that word play was involved.

8. plump
9. ardor

Herein lies the speed bump for this puzzle, Bob. Even though your answers are five letters long and they answer the clue, they don't fall in line with the final solution. Try again.

7. salad

17. askew (love it! )

11. bride?

9. haste
13. alter
Nice!

5. foyer

15. faith

19. valor

Joan and Bob, I'm glad you like the final solution.

Good solves!

Sondi, try again. This clue is a little misleading.

Bob, try again on #9

1. major
2. spoof

2. irony

18. dwell

Like michele, I'll pick spoof for no.2.

We're knocking them down.

I had "irony" for #2 but "spoof" works just as well.

9. ardor

22. dated

8. pudgy
9. gusto

22. passe
23. taste

10. scant
11. icing

We're nearly there, folks!

Bob has #9 and Joan has #22

20. Delay
21. Steer

14. pansy?

Indeed, Joan. So that makes the answer:

"Jolly old saint nickelless"

Thanks for playing everyone!