0xharib/xword1 · Datasets at Hugging Face

instruction stringclasses 1 value	input stringlengths 16 143	output stringlengths 40 1.17k
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Country with university team represented in festival (9)	### Answer: GUATEMALA ### Explanation: Definition: Country [U(abbrev. of $$u$$niversity) + anagram of(represented?) TEAM] containing(in) GALA(festival)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: One is ill-at-ease when not working on this (4,5)	### Answer: SICK LEAVE ### Explanation: Definition: this Cryptic defn: What one is on when ill and not working. SICK(ill-at-ease) + LEAVE(what one is on when not working – could it be instead, LEAVE = to let alone,ease off?). I'm not sure about the definition and the explanation.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: We hear Cockney bloke's going to relax (4,3)	### Answer: EASE OFF ### Explanation: Definition: relax Homophone of(we hear) 'e's off(Cockney pronunciation of "he's,bloke's off, going")
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: At university, drunk and anxious (7)	### Answer: UPTIGHT ### Explanation: Definition: anxious UP(attending university, cf 10down) + TIGHT(drunk,plastered) Defn: Overly anxious,uptight,anal – interesting etymology)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Prevent animal swallowing the tin opener (5)	### Answer: DETER ### Explanation: Definition: Prevent DEER(animal) containing(swallowing) T(the initial letter,opener of "tin")
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: They secure the going rate, in the main (5)	### Answer: KNOTS ### Explanation: Definition: They secure,the going rate, in the main Double defn: 1st: What are tied in order to secure,fasten; and 2nd: The units of measurement of the speed,going rate at sea,in the main. Another nautical reference
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Rummage about for days (6)	### Answer: FORAGE ### Explanation: Definition: Rummage about FOR + AGE(a period of innumerable days)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Lively in dancing at Medina (8)	### Answer: ANIMATED ### Explanation: Definition: Lively Anagram of(dancing) AT MEDINA
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Stagnant lake to swell river in movie (4,4)	### Answer: DEAD CALM ### Explanation: Definition: movie DEAD(stagnant,unmoving) + [L($$l$$ake) contained in(to swell) CAM(the river in Cambridgeshire, flowing through – no surpise – Cambridge)] Defn: Movie starring Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Seth foolishly slept with women into big pop group (3,7)	### Answer: THE SHADOWS ### Explanation: Definition: pop group Anagram of(foolishly) SETH + HAD(slept with, similar to the Biblical "knew") + [W(abbrev. for $$w$$omen, or woman?) contained in(into) OS(abbrev. for $$o$$ut$$s$$ize,big) Defn: The late 50's instrumental pop group backing Sir Cliff when he and they first started out
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: King and bishop likewise frail in movie (4,4)	### Answer: KILL BILL ### Explanation: Definition: movie K($$k$$ing, as in chess notation) and B($$b$$ishop, likewise), each of them(likewise) + ILL(frail) Defn: A Quentin Tarantino movie, in 2 volumes, starring Uma Thurman and a host of others
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: People's Princess accepting love note (10)	### Answer: ELECTORATE ### Explanation: Definition: People ELECTRA(in Greek, Elektra, princess of Argos in Greek mythology, daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra) containing(accepting) O(looks like 0,zero,love in tennis scoring) + TE(musical note, also spelled "ti", what "I drink with jam and bread")
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Daughter appearing in new airport movie (4,4)	### Answer: ROAD TRIP ### Explanation: Definition: movie D(daughter) contained in(appearing in) anagram of(new) AIRPORT
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Water-monster partial to filthy drains (5)	### Answer: HYDRA ### Explanation: Definition: Water-monster Hidden in(partial to) filtHY DRAins Defn: Many-headed water-monster from Greek mythology (again)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Punch might get this measurement! (10)	### Answer: HORSEPOWER ### Explanation: Definition: this measurement HORSE(the Suffolk Punch, an English breed of draught horse) + POWER(might,strength). Alternatively, I considered a cryptic defn., in keeping with the movie theme, exemplified by the punch delivered by Mongo on a horse, knocking it down – not much power in the horse there – in Blazing Saddles. Defn: In physics (and Top Gear 🙂 ) the measurement of rate of energy output, ie. units of energy per unit of time.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: FT users' fan letters in post (5,5)	### Answer: STAFF NURSE ### Explanation: Definition: post Anagram of(… letters) FT USERS' FAN Defn: A job position,post in a hospital
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: M1 carries a vehicle loaded with pasta (8)	### Answer: MACARONI ### Explanation: Definition: pasta [M + I(Roman numeral for 1)] containing(carries) [A CAR(a vehicle) + ON(loaded,put on)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Poseidon shunning east and north winds to find crustacean (6)	### Answer: ISOPOD ### Explanation: Definition: crustacean Anagram of(winds) POSIDO["Poseidon" minus(shunning) "e"($$e$$ast) and "n"($$n$$orth)]
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Barking order, Neo leaves with dissolute Venetian (8)	### Answer: RODERIGO ### Explanation: Definition: dissolute Venetian Anagram of(barking) ORDER + [I GO(first person pronoun,Neo,the setter leaves)] Defn: The dissolute Venetian lusting after Desdemona, Othello's wife, in Shakespeare's play
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Light on transparencies will show displacements in soil (10)	### Answer: LANSDSLIDES ### Explanation: Definition: displacements in soil LAND(light,land on) SLIDES(hard copy transparencies shown on projector)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Lose job yet bring home the bacon? (3,3,4)	### Answer: GET THE CHOP ### Explanation: Definition: Lose job Cryptic defn: Get fired,get the sack,axed (hence the chop). "Get the chop" could be an instruction to bring meat,chop,bacon from the butcher's on the way home.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Some phobia about Batman movie? (4,4)	### Answer: CAPE FEAR ### Explanation: Definition: movie Cryptic defn: A phobia,fear of capes as worn by Batman, the Caped Crusader Defn: Two movies actually, a 1962 original starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum (playing a convincing villian) and Polly Bergen, and a 1991 Martin Scorsese remake starring Robert DeNiro (playing an even more convincing villain), Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Drunk on time for movie (4,4)	### Answer: HIGH NOON ### Explanation: Definition: movie HIGH(drunk,intoxicated on drugs or alcohol) NOON(time of day when the sun is at its highest) Defn: Movie starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, and its just-as-famous theme song.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Almost has right channel for movie (4,4)	### Answer: HARD RAIN ### Explanation: Definition: movie HA["has" minus last letter(almost)] + R($$r$$ight) + DRAIN(channel) Defn: A heist movie starring Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman, and lots of water
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Bird in depression's little upset (6)	### Answer: PEEWIT ### Explanation: Definition: Bird PIT(depression,hole in the ground) containing(….'s) reversal of(upset) WEE(little) Defn: Aka the lapwing or plover; "peewit" derived from an imitation of its call
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Provide with permanent income (accepting old penny's enough for Spenser) (5)	### Answer: ENDOW ### Explanation: Definition: Provide with permanent income ENOW(old word for enough, as might be used by Edmund Spenser, English poet c.1552-1599) containing(accepting) D(abbrev. for old English penny, as in £ s d)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Hard to leave playhouse Eloi built for helpful agent (3-4,3)	### Answer: TEA-TREE OIL ### Explanation: Definition: helpful agent TEATRE["theatre"(playhouse) minus(to leave) "h"($$h$$ard)] + anagram of(built) ELOI Defn: A natural essential oil from the leaves of a tree native to New South Wales, Australia. A sort of multipurpose disinfectant (I can personally vouch for this), but also reported to be antiviral and antifungal.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Fish on seabed finds lowest possible level (4,6)	### Answer: ROCK BOTTOM ### Explanation: Definition: lowest possible level ROCK(another name for the striped bass, a marine game and food fish) placed above(on, in a down clue) BOTTOM(the seabed)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Run with bounce to grab onepenny sweet (8)	### Answer: LOLLIPOP ### Explanation: Definition: sweet LOLLOP(run with bounce – nice sounding word) containing(to grab) IP[Roman numeral for one + P(abbrev. for the current English penny)]
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Criminal rights of openly gay people? (6)	### Answer: OUTLAW ### Explanation: Definition: Criminal LAW(collective noun for that which define rights) placed after(of) OUT(descriptive of openly gay people, derived from "come out of the closet")
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Shoot convict exhibiting sickness from being transported (6)	### Answer: JETLAG ### Explanation: Definition: sickness from being transported JET(as a verb, to shoot out in a stream) LAG(a convict) Defn: Modern sickness caused by being transported by jet across different time zones
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Stir milk and oats together (8)	### Answer: PORRIDGE ### Explanation: Definition: Stir What you get if you stir milk and oats together Defn: One does porridge,slang for a sentenced term in stir,slang for prison. Is the former derived from what you get to eat in the latter? A nice WIWD (wordplay intertwined with definition) clue, though a slight mismatch in meaning, I think, between definition and answer.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: This could be a clue to ward's handicap (8)	### Answer: DRAWBACK ### Explanation: Definition: handicap "Draw back" could be a cryptic crossword reversal type clue whose solution is "ward"
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Muddy grass bordering nest (6)	### Answer: SODDEN ### Explanation: Definition: Muddy SOD(grass) placed before(bordering,alongside) DEN(an animal's nest)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Quite at home with daring exploit (6)	### Answer: INDEED ### Explanation: Definition: Quite IN(at home) plus(with) DEED(daring exploit, one sort of exploit, not to be confused with others, like the "dirty deed") Defn: An exclamation signifying agreement with what a speaker has said
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: One last night of debauchery, then pray for rehabilitation (3,5)	### Answer: HEN PARTY ### Explanation: Definition: One last night of debauchery Anagram of(for rehabilitation) THEN PRAY Defn: The female equivalent of the stag night, one last night before the wedding (after which there is rehabilitation?) – debauchery depending on the amount of alcohol and the presence of male strippers and such. I hasten to add this doesn't imply that it happens all the time (I think) – might the setter draw some flak for not putting a question mark after "debauchery"? 🙂 A great WIWD
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Diverse variety of sights as epic looked for rejuvenation (12)	### Answer: KALEIDOSCOPE ### Explanation: Definition: Diverse variety of sights Anagram of(for rejuvenation) AS EPIC LOOKED
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Exploding slug sounds doubly stupid when hit by train (6,6)	### Answer: DUMDUM BULLET ### Explanation: Definition: Exploding slug DUMDUM{homophone of (sounds) "dumb"(stupid) twice,doubly} plus(when hit by) BULLET(train, the Shinkansen in Japan that runs at maximum speeds of 240-300 kph Defn: A lethal soft- or hollow-nosed slug,slang for bullet, that expands,explodes on impact and causes extensive laceration, named after Dum-Dum, a town near Kolkata, India where these bullets were made in the 19C.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Excerpt from essay on a Rabelaisian farewell (8)	### Answer: SAYONARA ### Explanation: Definition: farewell Hidden in(excerpt from) esSAY ON A Rabelaisian Defn: What a Japanese might say to one boarding a Shinkansen, literally "if it is to be that way" from "sayo" – "that way", and "nara" – "if"
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Green at former girlfriend's crown (6)	### Answer: VERTEX ### Explanation: Definition: crown VERT(the colour green as used in heraldry) EX(informal term for former girlfriend, if not former spouse) Defn: Top of the head,crown, as used in anatomy and zoology
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Part of fish that is a guide for anglers (6)	### Answer: GILLIE ### Explanation: Definition: a guide for anglers GILL(the part of fish that extracts dissolved oxygen from water) + IE(that is,Latin id est,i.e.) Defn: From a Scottish term for someone who serves as a guide to anglers on a fishing trip.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: It's crazy to fool around outside mirrored toilet (8)	### Answer: DOOLALLY ### Explanation: Definition: It's crazy DALLY(to fool around,play with, as in a dalliance) containing(outside) reversal of(mirrored) LOO(toilet) Defn: Originally "doolally tap", military slang meaning "to lose one's mind", supposedly from Deolali, the location of a British military transit camp near Mumbai, India, and "tap", Urdu for a "malarial fever", which camp was notorious for its unpleasant environment, boredom and psychological problems of the troops passing through it.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Caught snippet of music with adjacent notes (8)	### Answer: SNATCHED ### Explanation: Definition: Caught SNATCH(bit,snippet of music) plus(with) E D(notes adjacent to each other on the musical scale)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Reduce power to interior of display (6)	### Answer: SPLASH ### Explanation: Definition: display SLASH(to reduce, eg. prices in a sale) containing(to interior) P(abbrev. for $$p$$ower, especially in physics) Defn: Eg. across the front page of the newspaper
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Stumble and trip (6)	### Answer: ERRANT ### Explanation: Definition: Stumble,trip Double defn: 1st: Deviating from the proper course,erring – Sir Lancelot was an errant knight for being intimate with his (or rather, Arthur's) Queen; and 2nd: Journeying in a quest of adventure – the very same Sir Lancelot was a knight errant searching for the Holy Grail. Another mismatch in that the answer is an adjective, whilst the definitions in the clues can only be verbs or nouns. Edit.note: Apologies to all (including setter) for my mistake – I was hung up on it being a double definition, misdirected by the conjunction. Thanks to George and , the correct answer is ERR(stumble) + AND – a trip to do a chore. A compact little clue that can really make a solver like me trip and stumble!
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Revealing almost new intrusion into mixed wedlock (3-6)	### Answer: LOW-NECKED ### Explanation: Definition: Revealing Anagram of(mixed) WEDLOCK containing(intrusion into) NE{"new" minus its last letter(almost)} Defn: Descriptive of ladies' garments, where the neckline is much lower than where the neck is.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Thousands go on strike in major event (5,4)	### Answer: GRAND SLAM ### Explanation: Definition: major event GRANDS(plural of grand,thousand in number, especially dollars or pounds) *placed above*(go on, in a down clue) LAM(hit,strike) Defn: The achievement,major event in sports like golf or tennis where a player wins in a single year all the major events (including the British Open in golf, or Wimbledon in tennis) in that sport.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: No time to pick a hot recipe for cabbage (3,4)	### Answer: PAK CHOI ### Explanation: Definition: cabbage Anagram of(recipe) [PICK A + HO("hot" minus(no) T($$t$$ime)] Defn: Brassica rapa chinensis, aka Chinese cabbage, Chinese chard, Chinese mustard and pak choy or bok choi – from the Cantonese dialect for the Mandarin words for "white" and "vegetable" respectively
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: It's sticky to misbehave once more (5)	### Answer: RESIN ### Explanation: Definition: It's sticky RE-(prefix indicating a repeat,once more) + SIN(to misbehave, in a serious manner)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Home help raised in Asian country (5)	### Answer: INDIA ### Explanation: Definition: Asian country IN(at home) + reversal of(raised, in a down clue) AID(help)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Gorilla, perhaps, to feed with skin of fruit (5,3)	### Answer: GREAT APE ### Explanation: Definition: Gorilla, perhaps EAT(to feed on) contained in(with skin of) GRAPE(fruit) Defn: An example of which,perhaps is the gorilla
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Discharge Manx cat? (3)	### Answer: PUS ### Explanation: Definition: Discharge "Puss"(cat) minus its last letter,tail, like a Manx cat which has no tail
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Flip contents in clear out (9)	### Answer: OBLIVIOUS ### Explanation: Definition: out LI(inner letters,contents of "flip") contained in(in) OBVIOUS(clear,plain to see) Defn: Not aware of,not conscious of,unconscious,knocked out
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Disturbed at a curlew's screech (9)	### Answer: CATERWAUL ### Explanation: Definition: screech Anagram of(disturbed) AT A CURLEW. Another WIWD clue
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Fraction split tax period (8)	### Answer: DURATION ### Explanation: Definition: period RATIO(fraction,a number divided by another) contained in(split) DUN(to demand, usually for payment,tax as in "to tax one's patience,to place a demand on)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Make noise in vessel (3)	### Answer: URN ### Explanation: Definition: vessel Homophone of(noise) of "earn",make as in "how much do you make for doing that?"
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Even extracts from quinoa and birdseed are combined without any help (7)	### Answer: UNAIDED ### Explanation: Definition: without any help Every second letter of(even extracts from) "qUiNoA" + "bIrDsEeD
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Men were killed when thrown together (6)	### Answer: FELLAS ### Explanation: Definition: Men FELL(were killed, as in battle) placed above(thrown together) AS(as and when)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: It hurts to go along with baby bird (5)	### Answer: OWLET ### Explanation: Definition: baby bird OW(exclamation to signify "It hurts!") + LET(to go along with,allow,permit)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Abroad, a measure of acidity in alcohol? (5)	### Answer: ALEPH ### Explanation: Definition: Abroad, a ALE(alcohol) PH(measure of acidity; in a scale from 0 to 14, pH 7 is neutral, neither acidic nor basic, less than 7 is acidic, and more than 7 is alkaline) Defn: The first letter in the Hebrew alphabet, a foreign,abroad equivalent to A in the English alphabet
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Freak has the occasional party (7)	### Answer: ODDBALL ### Explanation: Definition: Freak ODD(the occasional, as in "the odd drink or so") + BALL(a party involving music, dance and food)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Service block (4)	### Answer: MASS ### Explanation: Definition: Service,block Double defn: 1st: The church service; and 2nd: A solid lump
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Lean outlines a number of points, personal, in film location (10)	### Answer: TINSELTOWN ### Explanation: Definition: film location TILT(to lean to one side) containing(outlines) [N + S + E(north, south and east,a number of compass points)] + OWN(personal, as in "one's own style") Defn: Aka Hollywood, the town,location where films are made. The nice surface has a misdirecting reference to David Lean, English film director, producer screenwriter, and editor, famous for The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India, Great Expectations and Brief Encounter.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Characters representative of the 17 on trial, legs akimbo, as attendants off piste? (6,5)	### Answer: CHALET GIRLS ### Explanation: Definition: attendants off piste CH(International Vehicle Registration code for Switzerland, from Confederation Helvetique,characters representative of the Swiss,answer to 17A) placed before(on) anagram of(akimbo) TRIAL LEGS. Defn: Girls who temporarily keep house for holidaying skiers,chalet attendants off the ski slope,piste. Read more on: Here's an excerpt: "Somewhere between these stereotypes – Barbarella and Cinderella – lies the real chalet girl…."
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Elgin having lost marbles, horse half gone, revealing habit (8)	### Answer: NEGLIGEE ### Explanation: Definition: revealing habit Anagram of(having lost marbles) ELGIN + GEE{"gee-gee",horse minus(gone) half of the word} Defn: Revealing nightwear,habit – I had "low-necked"="revealing" in the puzzle I blogged 2 days ago. Nice surface with Elgin and his marbles (the sculptured sort).
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Building is sensational pad, this 17 edifice (6,3,7)	### Answer: PALAIS DES NATIONS ### Explanation: Definition: this 17 edifice Anagram of(building) IS SENSATIONAL PAD.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Second dark man, fool, laid back in embrace of the missus, as multitasker (5,4,5)	### Answer: SWISS ARMY KNIFE ### Explanation: Definition: multitasker S($$s$$econd time period) + {reversal of(laid back) [INKY(dark) + MR(mister,man) + ASS(fool)] contained in(in embrace of)} WIFE(the missus) Defn: A multi-tool that might include, besides the main blade, a smaller second blade, tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted/flat-head screwdriver(s), phillips-head screwdriver, nail file, scissors, saw (regular, wood), file, hook, magnifying glass, ballpoint pen, fish scaler, hex wrench w/bits, pliers, and keyring. And there's more: USB flash drives, digital clock, digital altimeter, LED light, laser pointer, and MP3 player. I would think that whatever multitasking the missus can do pales in comparison – a cheeky Paul-esque surface reading.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Long-distance traveller cool! (8)	### Answer: STARSHIP ### Explanation: Definition: Long-distance traveller STARS(*** looking like small stars) + HIP(cool,trendy,with-it)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Barmy notice that may be 17? (6,5)	### Answer: CUCKOO CLOCK ### Explanation: Definition: that may be 17 CUCKOO(barmy,crazy) + CLOCK(British slang for "to see" or "to notice") Defn: As Harry Lime (Orson Welles) said: "In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Reused manuscript most bleached, devils inscribed (10)	### Answer: PALIMPSEST ### Explanation: Definition: Reused manuscript IMPS(minor devils) contained in(inscribed) PALEST(most bleached,whitest) Defn: A parchment on which previous writing has been erased to make way for new writing – an early form of re-cycling.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Noise primarily in boor — or boar? (4)	### Answer: OINK ### Explanation: Definition: Noise primarily in boor — or boar N(initial letter,primarily of "noise) containing(in) OIK(British slang for oaf,lout,boor) Defn: Noise made by a boor, if you decide to call him a pig as well, and a boar, a real pig. A nice WIWD (Wordplay Intertwined With Definition) clue.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: location in 17 centre for Italian sculptor (7)	### Answer: BERNINI ### Explanation: Definition: Italian sculptor BERN(answer to 17A,Swiss capital city) + IN + I(middle letter,centre of "Swiss",answer to 17A)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Difficulty with infusion of one's own blood going this way and that (7)	### Answer: SNAKING ### Explanation: Definition: going this way and that KIN(one's own blood relations) contained in(infusion of) SNAG(difficulty,problem)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Flip over king, say, and queen, perhaps on a now obsolete coin (7)	### Answer: DRACHMA ### Explanation: Definition: now obsolete coin Reversal of(flip over) CARD(in a deck, an example of which,say is the "king") plus(and) HM(abbrev. for Her Majesty, the Queen – "perhaps" signifying it could have been His Majesty instead?) *placed above*(on, in a down clue) A Defn: Former Greek currency, made obsolete by the euro
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: 17 place bottom on top of lap (5)	### Answer: BASEL ### Explanation: Definition: 17 place BASE(bottom) placed above(on) L(initial letter,top in a down clue of "lap")
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Contents of a pack including drink — that's ironic, to say the least! (7)	### Answer: LITOTES ### Explanation: Definition: to say the least LIES(what comes in a pack) containing(including) TOT(a small measure of drink) – I hope I have this right, as I can't quite pin down "ironic". Defn: An understatement
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: In time sell short — or pay back (6)	### Answer: AVENGE ### Explanation: Definition: pay back VEN("vend",sell minus its last letter,short) contained in(in) AGE(time period)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Gut feeling it's how teachers make money? (9)	### Answer: INTUITION ### Explanation: Definition: Gut feeling Cryptic defn: Teachers make (extra) money in the tuition they give
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Roosevelt's initiatives exposed something slippery, by the sound of it (3,4)	### Answer: NEW DEAL ### Explanation: Definition: Roosevelt's initiatives Homophone of(by the sound of it) "nude",exposed + "eel",something slippery,hard to catch Defn: US President Roosevelt's series of economic programmes,initiatives to help Americans affected by the Great Depression of the early 1930's
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Constant return generated a little money to feed one side of Manchester (13)	### Answer: UNINTERRUPTED ### Explanation: Definition: Constant {Anagram of(generated) RETURN + P(abbrev. of,a little penny, money)} contained in(to feed) UNITED(one football team,side of Manchester, now trailing the other side, City, in the Premier League)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: No one with hair on end underwrites a claim (9)	### Answer: ASSERTION ### Explanation: Definition: claim Reversal of(on end, in a down clue) {NO + I(Roman numeral for one) plus(with) TRESS(a braid of hair)} *placed under*(underwrites, in a down clue) A
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Power demonstrated by a hollow tyrant cutting pay (7)	### Answer: WATTAGE ### Explanation: Definition: Power A TT("tyrant" minus all its inner letters,hollow) contained in(cutting) WAGE(pay)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Mexican state currency protecting the queen, say (7)	### Answer: YUCATAN ### Explanation: Definition: Mexican state YUAN(the currency of China) containing(protecting the) CAT{could be,say an adult female (cat),a queen}
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Disapprove of loud argument over French veto (5,2)	### Answer: FROWN ON ### Explanation: Definition: Disapprove of F(abbrev. for forte,musical direction to play loudly) + ROW(argument) placed above(over, in a down clue) NON(the French negative,veto)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Feature about work, one of his taking a minute? (6)	### Answer: CHOPIN ### Explanation: Definition: one of his taking a minute CHIN(facial feature)containing(about) OP(short for opus,musical work) Defn: Frederic, one of his compositions is Waltz No.6 in D flat major, popularly known as the Minute Waltz. In fact "minute" is meant to indicate "little", since Chopin did not intend for it to be played in one minute, which would be about 3 times its intended tempo. This always reminds me of Victor Borge having a go at it:
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Mate in Sydney holding large hammer (7)	### Answer: CLOBBER ### Explanation: Definition: hammer COBBER(in Sydney, Australian slang for a close male friend,mate, not to be confused with one of the opposite sex) containing(holding) L(abbrev. for $$l$$arge, as in clothing sizes) Defn: As a verb, to beat severely,hammer
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Horrible bra came undone (7)	### Answer: MACABRE ### Explanation: Definition: Horrible Anagram of(undone) of BRA CAME
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Hit by a vehicle — and not cared for (3,4)	### Answer: RUN DOWN ### Explanation: Definition: Hit by a vehicle,not cared for Double defn.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Girl's first with simply tailored tunic (7)	### Answer: GYMSLIP ### Explanation: Definition: tunic G(initial letter,first of "girl") plus(with) anagram of(tailored) SIMPLY Defn: The tunic that schoolgirls wear in the gym.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Hint gloom transformed by this? (9)	### Answer: MOONLIGHT ### Explanation: Definition: this Anagram of(transformed) HINT GLOOM Defn: The sunlight reflected by the moon which transforms the darkness,night,gloom. A clever WIWD (wordplay intertwined with definition) clue.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Move during sword fight, taking nothing from room (5)	### Answer: LUNGE ### Explanation: Definition: Move during sword fight "Lounge"(room) minus(taking…from) "o"(looks like 0,zero,nothing)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Tree providing shade (5)	### Answer: LILAC ### Explanation: Definition: Tree,shade Double defn: 2nd: Shade of colour that looks like, well, the colour of the flowers from the shrub,small tree of the 1st defn.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Capital people name ships (9)	### Answer: DUBLINERS ### Explanation: Definition: Capital people DUB(to name) + LINERS(ships, usually for cruises) Defn: The people from the capital. Also the name of a capital sounding group of singers – remember "Seven Drunken Nights"?
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Going wrong isn't moral! (6,3)	### Answer: MORTAL SIN ### Explanation: Definition: Going wrong isn't moral Anagram of(going wrong) ISN'T MORAL. Defn: Same definition expressed twice (going wrong as a nounal phrase) – therefore not a double but a 2xSingle definition. Another clever WIWD clue
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Container, as required by music producers (5)	### Answer: TUBAS ### Explanation: Definition: required by music producers TUB(a container) + AS Defn: What are required by the specific group of music producers, the tubaists or tubists (anyone, especially a tuba player, to confirm these are legit words?)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Tea brought back from service area (5)	### Answer: ASSAM ### Explanation: Definition: Tea Reversal of(brought back) [MASS(church service) + A(abbrev. for $$a$$rea)] Defn: Tea grown in Assam, north-east India, found in the more commonly named English, Irish or Scottish Breakfast Teas.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Girl rings friend and mum in holiday location (3,6)	### Answer: LAS PALMAS ### Explanation: Definition: holiday location LASS(girl) containing(rings) [PAL(friend, not as close as a cobber perhaps) plus(and) MA(mother,mum)] Defn: de Gran Canaria, to give its full name, the joint capital and holiday resort town in the Canary Islands.
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Serious listener with cosy home (7)	### Answer: EARNEST ### Explanation: Definition: Serious EAR(listener, or what you listen with) plus(with) NEST(a cosy home, or sometimes a home for lovers)
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Inability to remember a name is peculiar (7)	### Answer: AMNESIA ### Explanation: Definition: Inability to remember Anagram of(peculiar) A NAME IS
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.	### Clue: Stephenson dismisses female family member (7)	### Answer: STEPSON ### Explanation: Definition: family member "Stephenson" minus(dismisses) "hen"(female)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Country with university team represented in festival (9)

### Answer: GUATEMALA ### Explanation: Definition: Country [U(abbrev. of $$u$$niversity) + **anagram of**(represented?) TEAM] **containing**(in) GALA(festival)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: One is ill-at-ease when not working on this (4,5)

### Answer: SICK LEAVE ### Explanation: Definition: this Cryptic defn: What one is on when ill and not working. SICK(ill-at-ease) + LEAVE(what one is on when not working – could it be instead, LEAVE = to let alone,ease off?). I'm not sure about the definition and the explanation.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: We hear Cockney bloke's going to relax (4,3)

### Answer: EASE OFF ### Explanation: Definition: relax **Homophone of**(we hear) 'e's off(Cockney pronunciation of "he's,bloke's off, going")

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: At university, drunk and anxious (7)

### Answer: UPTIGHT ### Explanation: Definition: anxious UP(attending university, cf 10down) + TIGHT(drunk,plastered) Defn: Overly anxious,uptight,anal – interesting etymology)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Prevent animal swallowing the tin opener (5)

### Answer: DETER ### Explanation: Definition: Prevent DEER(animal) **containing**(swallowing) T(the initial letter,opener of "tin")

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### Clue: They secure the going rate, in the main (5)

### Answer: KNOTS ### Explanation: Definition: They secure,the going rate, in the main Double defn: 1st: What are tied in order to secure,fasten; and 2nd: The units of measurement of the speed,going rate at sea,in the main. Another nautical reference

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Rummage about for days (6)

### Answer: FORAGE ### Explanation: Definition: Rummage about FOR + AGE(a period of innumerable days)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Lively in dancing at Medina (8)

### Answer: ANIMATED ### Explanation: Definition: Lively **Anagram of**(dancing) AT MEDINA

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### Clue: Stagnant lake to swell river in movie (4,4)

### Answer: DEAD CALM ### Explanation: Definition: movie DEAD(stagnant,unmoving) + [L($$l$$ake) **contained in**(to swell) CAM(the river in Cambridgeshire, flowing through – no surpise – Cambridge)] Defn: Movie starring Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Seth foolishly slept with women into big pop group (3,7)

### Answer: THE SHADOWS ### Explanation: Definition: pop group **Anagram of**(foolishly) SETH + HAD(slept with, similar to the Biblical "knew") + [W(abbrev. for $$w$$omen, or woman?) **contained in**(into) OS(abbrev. for $$o$$ut$$s$$ize,big) Defn: The late 50's instrumental pop group backing Sir Cliff when he and they first started out

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: King and bishop likewise frail in movie (4,4)

### Answer: KILL BILL ### Explanation: Definition: movie K($$k$$ing, as in chess notation) and B($$b$$ishop, likewise), each of them(likewise) + ILL(frail) Defn: A Quentin Tarantino movie, in 2 volumes, starring Uma Thurman and a host of others

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: People's Princess accepting love note (10)

### Answer: ELECTORATE ### Explanation: Definition: People ELECTRA(in Greek, Elektra, princess of Argos in Greek mythology, daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra) **containing**(accepting) O(looks like 0,zero,love in tennis scoring) + TE(musical note, also spelled "ti", what "I drink with jam and bread")

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Daughter appearing in new airport movie (4,4)

### Answer: ROAD TRIP ### Explanation: Definition: movie D(daughter) **contained in**(appearing in) **anagram of**(new) AIRPORT

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Water-monster partial to filthy drains (5)

### Answer: HYDRA ### Explanation: Definition: Water-monster **Hidden in**(partial to) filtHY DRAins Defn: Many-headed water-monster from Greek mythology (again)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Punch might get this measurement! (10)

### Answer: HORSEPOWER ### Explanation: Definition: this measurement HORSE(the Suffolk Punch, an English breed of draught horse) + POWER(might,strength). Alternatively, I considered a cryptic defn., in keeping with the movie theme, exemplified by the punch delivered by Mongo on a horse, knocking it down – not much power in the horse there – in Blazing Saddles. Defn: In physics (and Top Gear 🙂 ) the measurement of rate of energy output, ie. units of energy per unit of time.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: FT users' fan letters in post (5,5)

### Answer: STAFF NURSE ### Explanation: Definition: post **Anagram of**(… letters) FT USERS' FAN Defn: A job position,post in a hospital

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### Clue: M1 carries a vehicle loaded with pasta (8)

### Answer: MACARONI ### Explanation: Definition: pasta [M + I(Roman numeral for 1)] **containing**(carries) [A CAR(a vehicle) + ON(loaded,put on)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Poseidon shunning east and north winds to find crustacean (6)

### Answer: ISOPOD ### Explanation: Definition: crustacean **Anagram of**(winds) POSIDO["Poseidon" **minus**(shunning) "e"($$e$$ast) and "n"($$n$$orth)]

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Barking order, Neo leaves with dissolute Venetian (8)

### Answer: RODERIGO ### Explanation: Definition: dissolute Venetian **Anagram of**(barking) ORDER + [I GO(first person pronoun,Neo,the setter leaves)] Defn: The dissolute Venetian lusting after Desdemona, Othello's wife, in Shakespeare's play

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Light on transparencies will show displacements in soil (10)

### Answer: LANSDSLIDES ### Explanation: Definition: displacements in soil LAND(light,land on) SLIDES(hard copy transparencies shown on projector)

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### Clue: Lose job yet bring home the bacon? (3,3,4)

### Answer: GET THE CHOP ### Explanation: Definition: Lose job Cryptic defn: Get fired,get the sack,axed (hence the chop). "Get the chop" could be an instruction to bring meat,chop,bacon from the butcher's on the way home.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Some phobia about Batman movie? (4,4)

### Answer: CAPE FEAR ### Explanation: Definition: movie Cryptic defn: A phobia,fear of capes as worn by Batman, the Caped Crusader Defn: Two movies actually, a 1962 original starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum (playing a convincing villian) and Polly Bergen, and a 1991 Martin Scorsese remake starring Robert DeNiro (playing an even more convincing villain), Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange.

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### Clue: Drunk on time for movie (4,4)

### Answer: HIGH NOON ### Explanation: Definition: movie HIGH(drunk,intoxicated on drugs or alcohol) NOON(time of day when the sun is at its highest) Defn: Movie starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, and its just-as-famous theme song.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Almost has right channel for movie (4,4)

### Answer: HARD RAIN ### Explanation: Definition: movie HA["has" **minus** last letter(almost)] + R($$r$$ight) + DRAIN(channel) Defn: A heist movie starring Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman, and lots of water

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Bird in depression's little upset (6)

### Answer: PEEWIT ### Explanation: Definition: Bird PIT(depression,hole in the ground) **containing**(….'s) **reversal of**(upset) WEE(little) Defn: Aka the lapwing or plover; "peewit" derived from an imitation of its call

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### Clue: Provide with permanent income (accepting old penny's enough for Spenser) (5)

### Answer: ENDOW ### Explanation: Definition: Provide with permanent income ENOW(old word for enough, as might be used by Edmund Spenser, English poet c.1552-1599) **containing**(accepting) D(abbrev. for old English penny, as in £ s d)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Hard to leave playhouse Eloi built for helpful agent (3-4,3)

### Answer: TEA-TREE OIL ### Explanation: Definition: helpful agent TEATRE["theatre"(playhouse) **minus**(to leave) "h"($$h$$ard)] + **anagram of**(built) ELOI Defn: A natural essential oil from the leaves of a tree native to New South Wales, Australia. A sort of multipurpose disinfectant (I can personally vouch for this), but also reported to be antiviral and antifungal.

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### Clue: Fish on seabed finds lowest possible level (4,6)

### Answer: ROCK BOTTOM ### Explanation: Definition: lowest possible level ROCK(another name for the striped bass, a marine game and food fish) **placed above**(on, in a down clue) BOTTOM(the seabed)

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### Clue: Run with bounce to grab onepenny sweet (8)

### Answer: LOLLIPOP ### Explanation: Definition: sweet LOLLOP(run with bounce – nice sounding word) **containing**(to grab) IP[Roman numeral for one + P(abbrev. for the current English penny)]

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Criminal rights of openly gay people? (6)

### Answer: OUTLAW ### Explanation: Definition: Criminal LAW(collective noun for that which define rights) **placed after**(of) OUT(descriptive of openly gay people, derived from "come out of the closet")

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Shoot convict exhibiting sickness from being transported (6)

### Answer: JETLAG ### Explanation: Definition: sickness from being transported JET(as a verb, to shoot out in a stream) LAG(a convict) Defn: Modern sickness caused by being transported by jet across different time zones

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### Clue: Stir milk and oats together (8)

### Answer: PORRIDGE ### Explanation: Definition: Stir What you get if you stir milk and oats together Defn: One does porridge,slang for a sentenced term in stir,slang for prison. Is the former derived from what you get to eat in the latter? A nice WIWD (wordplay intertwined with definition) clue, though a slight mismatch in meaning, I think, between definition and answer.

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### Clue: This could be a clue to ward's handicap (8)

### Answer: DRAWBACK ### Explanation: Definition: handicap "Draw back" could be a cryptic crossword reversal type clue whose solution is "ward"

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### Clue: Muddy grass bordering nest (6)

### Answer: SODDEN ### Explanation: Definition: Muddy SOD(grass) **placed before**(bordering,alongside) DEN(an animal's nest)

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### Clue: Quite at home with daring exploit (6)

### Answer: INDEED ### Explanation: Definition: Quite IN(at home) **plus**(with) DEED(daring exploit, one sort of exploit, not to be confused with others, like the "dirty deed") Defn: An exclamation signifying agreement with what a speaker has said

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### Clue: One last night of debauchery, then pray for rehabilitation (3,5)

### Answer: HEN PARTY ### Explanation: Definition: One last night of debauchery **Anagram of**(for rehabilitation) THEN PRAY Defn: The female equivalent of the stag night, one last night before the wedding (after which there is rehabilitation?) – debauchery depending on the amount of alcohol and the presence of male strippers and such. I hasten to add this doesn't imply that it happens all the time (I think) – might the setter draw some flak for not putting a question mark after "debauchery"? 🙂 A great WIWD

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### Clue: Diverse variety of sights as epic looked for rejuvenation (12)

### Answer: KALEIDOSCOPE ### Explanation: Definition: Diverse variety of sights **Anagram of**(for rejuvenation) AS EPIC LOOKED

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### Clue: Exploding slug sounds doubly stupid when hit by train (6,6)

### Answer: DUMDUM BULLET ### Explanation: Definition: Exploding slug DUMDUM{**homophone of** (sounds) "dumb"(stupid) twice,doubly} plus(when hit by) BULLET(train, the Shinkansen in Japan that runs at maximum speeds of 240-300 kph Defn: A lethal soft- or hollow-nosed slug,slang for bullet, that expands,explodes on impact and causes extensive laceration, named after Dum-Dum, a town near Kolkata, India where these bullets were made in the 19C.

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### Clue: Excerpt from essay on a Rabelaisian farewell (8)

### Answer: SAYONARA ### Explanation: Definition: farewell **Hidden in**(excerpt from) esSAY ON A Rabelaisian Defn: What a Japanese might say to one boarding a Shinkansen, literally "if it is to be that way" from "sayo" – "that way", and "nara" – "if"

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### Clue: Green at former girlfriend's crown (6)

### Answer: VERTEX ### Explanation: Definition: crown VERT(the colour green as used in heraldry) EX(informal term for former girlfriend, if not former spouse) Defn: Top of the head,crown, as used in anatomy and zoology

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### Clue: Part of fish that is a guide for anglers (6)

### Answer: GILLIE ### Explanation: Definition: a guide for anglers GILL(the part of fish that extracts dissolved oxygen from water) + IE(that is,Latin id est,i.e.) Defn: From a Scottish term for someone who serves as a guide to anglers on a fishing trip.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: It's crazy to fool around outside mirrored toilet (8)

### Answer: DOOLALLY ### Explanation: Definition: It's crazy DALLY(to fool around,play with, as in a dalliance) **containing**(outside) **reversal of**(mirrored) LOO(toilet) Defn: Originally "doolally tap", military slang meaning "to lose one's mind", supposedly from Deolali, the location of a British military transit camp near Mumbai, India, and "tap", Urdu for a "malarial fever", which camp was notorious for its unpleasant environment, boredom and psychological problems of the troops passing through it.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Caught snippet of music with adjacent notes (8)

### Answer: SNATCHED ### Explanation: Definition: Caught SNATCH(bit,snippet of music) **plus**(with) E D(notes adjacent to each other on the musical scale)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Reduce power to interior of display (6)

### Answer: SPLASH ### Explanation: Definition: display SLASH(to reduce, eg. prices in a sale) **containing**(to interior) P(abbrev. for $$p$$ower, especially in physics) Defn: Eg. across the front page of the newspaper

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Stumble and trip (6)

### Answer: ERRANT ### Explanation: Definition: Stumble,trip Double defn: 1st: Deviating from the proper course,erring – Sir Lancelot was an errant knight for being intimate with his (or rather, Arthur's) Queen; and 2nd: Journeying in a quest of adventure – the very same Sir Lancelot was a knight errant searching for the Holy Grail. Another mismatch in that the answer is an adjective, whilst the definitions in the clues can only be verbs or nouns. Edit.note: Apologies to all (including setter) for my mistake – I was hung up on it being a double definition, misdirected by the conjunction. Thanks to George and , the correct answer is ERR(stumble) + AND – a trip to do a chore. A compact little clue that can really make a solver like me trip and stumble!

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Revealing almost new intrusion into mixed wedlock (3-6)

### Answer: LOW-NECKED ### Explanation: Definition: Revealing **Anagram of**(mixed) WEDLOCK **containing**(intrusion into) NE{"new" **minus** its last letter(almost)} Defn: Descriptive of ladies' garments, where the neckline is much lower than where the neck is.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Thousands go on strike in major event (5,4)

### Answer: GRAND SLAM ### Explanation: Definition: major event GRANDS(plural of grand,thousand in number, especially dollars or pounds) ***placed above***(go on, in a down clue) LAM(hit,strike) Defn: The achievement,major event in sports like golf or tennis where a player wins in a single year all the major events (including the British Open in golf, or Wimbledon in tennis) in that sport.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: No time to pick a hot recipe for cabbage (3,4)

### Answer: PAK CHOI ### Explanation: Definition: cabbage **Anagram of**(recipe) [PICK A + HO("hot" **minus**(no) T($$t$$ime)] Defn: Brassica rapa chinensis, aka Chinese cabbage, Chinese chard, Chinese mustard and pak choy or bok choi – from the Cantonese dialect for the Mandarin words for "white" and "vegetable" respectively

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: It's sticky to misbehave once more (5)

### Answer: RESIN ### Explanation: Definition: It's sticky RE-(prefix indicating a repeat,once more) + SIN(to misbehave, in a serious manner)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Home help raised in Asian country (5)

### Answer: INDIA ### Explanation: Definition: Asian country IN(at home) + **reversal of**(raised, in a down clue) AID(help)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Gorilla, perhaps, to feed with skin of fruit (5,3)

### Answer: GREAT APE ### Explanation: Definition: Gorilla, perhaps EAT(to feed on) **contained in**(with skin of) GRAPE(fruit) Defn: An example of which,perhaps is the gorilla

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Discharge Manx cat? (3)

### Answer: PUS ### Explanation: Definition: Discharge "Puss"(cat) **minus** its last letter,tail, like a Manx cat which has no tail

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Flip contents in clear out (9)

### Answer: OBLIVIOUS ### Explanation: Definition: out LI(inner letters,contents of "flip") **contained in**(in) OBVIOUS(clear,plain to see) Defn: Not aware of,not conscious of,unconscious,knocked out

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Disturbed at a curlew's screech (9)

### Answer: CATERWAUL ### Explanation: Definition: screech **Anagram of**(disturbed) AT A CURLEW. Another WIWD clue

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Fraction split tax period (8)

### Answer: DURATION ### Explanation: Definition: period RATIO(fraction,a number divided by another) **contained in**(split) DUN(to demand, usually for payment,tax as in "to tax one's patience,to place a demand on)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Make noise in vessel (3)

### Answer: URN ### Explanation: Definition: vessel **Homophone of**(noise) of "earn",make as in "how much do you make for doing that?"

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Even extracts from quinoa and birdseed are combined without any help (7)

### Answer: UNAIDED ### Explanation: Definition: without any help **Every second letter of**(even extracts from) "qUiNoA" + "bIrDsEeD

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Men were killed when thrown together (6)

### Answer: FELLAS ### Explanation: Definition: Men FELL(were killed, as in battle) **placed above**(thrown together) AS(as and when)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: It hurts to go along with baby bird (5)

### Answer: OWLET ### Explanation: Definition: baby bird OW(exclamation to signify "It hurts!") + LET(to go along with,allow,permit)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Abroad, a measure of acidity in alcohol? (5)

### Answer: ALEPH ### Explanation: Definition: Abroad, a ALE(alcohol) PH(measure of acidity; in a scale from 0 to 14, pH 7 is neutral, neither acidic nor basic, less than 7 is acidic, and more than 7 is alkaline) Defn: The first letter in the Hebrew alphabet, a foreign,abroad equivalent to A in the English alphabet

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Freak has the occasional party (7)

### Answer: ODDBALL ### Explanation: Definition: Freak ODD(the occasional, as in "the odd drink or so") + BALL(a party involving music, dance and food)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Service block (4)

### Answer: MASS ### Explanation: Definition: Service,block Double defn: 1st: The church service; and 2nd: A solid lump

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Lean outlines a number of points, personal, in film location (10)

### Answer: TINSELTOWN ### Explanation: Definition: film location TILT(to lean to one side) **containing**(outlines) [N + S + E(north, south and east,a number of compass points)] + OWN(personal, as in "one's own style") Defn: Aka Hollywood, the town,location where films are made. The nice surface has a misdirecting reference to David Lean, English film director, producer screenwriter, and editor, famous for The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India, Great Expectations and Brief Encounter.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Characters representative of the 17 on trial, legs akimbo, as attendants off piste? (6,5)

### Answer: CHALET GIRLS ### Explanation: Definition: attendants off piste CH(International Vehicle Registration code for Switzerland, from Confederation Helvetique,characters representative of the Swiss,answer to 17A) **placed before**(on) **anagram of**(akimbo) TRIAL LEGS. Defn: Girls who temporarily keep house for holidaying skiers,chalet attendants off the ski slope,piste. Read more on: Here's an excerpt: "Somewhere between these stereotypes – Barbarella and Cinderella – lies the real chalet girl…."

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Elgin having lost marbles, horse half gone, revealing habit (8)

### Answer: NEGLIGEE ### Explanation: Definition: revealing habit **Anagram of**(having lost marbles) ELGIN + GEE{"gee-gee",horse **minus**(gone) half of the word} Defn: Revealing nightwear,habit – I had "low-necked"="revealing" in the puzzle I blogged 2 days ago. Nice surface with Elgin and his marbles (the sculptured sort).

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Building is sensational pad, this 17 edifice (6,3,7)

### Answer: PALAIS DES NATIONS ### Explanation: Definition: this 17 edifice **Anagram of**(building) IS SENSATIONAL PAD.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Second dark man, fool, laid back in embrace of the missus, as multitasker (5,4,5)

### Answer: SWISS ARMY KNIFE ### Explanation: Definition: multitasker S($$s$$econd time period) + {**reversal of**(laid back) [INKY(dark) + MR(mister,man) + ASS(fool)] **contained in**(in embrace of)} WIFE(the missus) Defn: A multi-tool that might include, besides the main blade, a smaller second blade, tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted/flat-head screwdriver(s), phillips-head screwdriver, nail file, scissors, saw (regular, wood), file, hook, magnifying glass, ballpoint pen, fish scaler, hex wrench w/bits, pliers, and keyring. And there's more: USB flash drives, digital clock, digital altimeter, LED light, laser pointer, and MP3 player. I would think that whatever multitasking the missus can do pales in comparison – a cheeky Paul-esque surface reading.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Long-distance traveller cool! (8)

### Answer: STARSHIP ### Explanation: Definition: Long-distance traveller STARS(*** looking like small stars) + HIP(cool,trendy,with-it)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Barmy notice that may be 17? (6,5)

### Answer: CUCKOO CLOCK ### Explanation: Definition: that may be 17 CUCKOO(barmy,crazy) + CLOCK(British slang for "to see" or "to notice") Defn: As Harry Lime (Orson Welles) said: "In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Reused manuscript most bleached, devils inscribed (10)

### Answer: PALIMPSEST ### Explanation: Definition: Reused manuscript IMPS(minor devils) **contained in**(inscribed) PALEST(most bleached,whitest) Defn: A parchment on which previous writing has been erased to make way for new writing – an early form of re-cycling.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Noise primarily in boor — or boar? (4)

### Answer: OINK ### Explanation: Definition: Noise primarily in boor — or boar N(initial letter,primarily of "noise) **containing**(in) OIK(British slang for oaf,lout,boor) Defn: Noise made by a boor, if you decide to call him a pig as well, and a boar, a real pig. A nice WIWD (Wordplay Intertwined With Definition) clue.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: location in 17 centre for Italian sculptor (7)

### Answer: BERNINI ### Explanation: Definition: Italian sculptor BERN(answer to 17A,Swiss capital city) + IN + I(middle letter,centre of "Swiss",answer to 17A)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Difficulty with infusion of one's own blood going this way and that (7)

### Answer: SNAKING ### Explanation: Definition: going this way and that KIN(one's own blood relations) **contained in**(infusion of) SNAG(difficulty,problem)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Flip over king, say, and queen, perhaps on a now obsolete coin (7)

### Answer: DRACHMA ### Explanation: Definition: now obsolete coin **Reversal of**(flip over) CARD(in a deck, an example of which,say is the "king") **plus**(and) HM(abbrev. for Her Majesty, the Queen – "perhaps" signifying it could have been His Majesty instead?) ***placed above***(on, in a down clue) A Defn: Former Greek currency, made obsolete by the euro

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: 17 place bottom on top of lap (5)

### Answer: BASEL ### Explanation: Definition: 17 place BASE(bottom) placed above(on) L(initial letter,top in a down clue of "lap")

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Contents of a pack including drink — that's ironic, to say the least! (7)

### Answer: LITOTES ### Explanation: Definition: to say the least LIES(what comes in a pack) **containing**(including) TOT(a small measure of drink) – I hope I have this right, as I can't quite pin down "ironic". Defn: An understatement

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: In time sell short — or pay back (6)

### Answer: AVENGE ### Explanation: Definition: pay back VEN("vend",sell **minus** its last letter,short) **contained in**(in) AGE(time period)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Gut feeling it's how teachers make money? (9)

### Answer: INTUITION ### Explanation: Definition: Gut feeling Cryptic defn: Teachers make (extra) money in the tuition they give

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Roosevelt's initiatives exposed something slippery, by the sound of it (3,4)

### Answer: NEW DEAL ### Explanation: Definition: Roosevelt's initiatives **Homophone of**(by the sound of it) "nude",exposed + "eel",something slippery,hard to catch Defn: US President Roosevelt's series of economic programmes,initiatives to help Americans affected by the Great Depression of the early 1930's

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Constant return generated a little money to feed one side of Manchester (13)

### Answer: UNINTERRUPTED ### Explanation: Definition: Constant {**Anagram of**(generated) RETURN + P(abbrev. of,a little penny, money)} **contained in**(to feed) UNITED(one football team,side of Manchester, now trailing the other side, City, in the Premier League)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: No one with hair on end underwrites a claim (9)

### Answer: ASSERTION ### Explanation: Definition: claim **Reversal of**(on end, in a down clue) {NO + I(Roman numeral for one) **plus**(with) TRESS(a braid of hair)} ***placed under***(underwrites, in a down clue) A

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Power demonstrated by a hollow tyrant cutting pay (7)

### Answer: WATTAGE ### Explanation: Definition: Power A TT("tyrant" **minus** all its inner letters,hollow) **contained in**(cutting) WAGE(pay)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Mexican state currency protecting the queen, say (7)

### Answer: YUCATAN ### Explanation: Definition: Mexican state YUAN(the currency of China) **containing**(protecting the) CAT{could be,say an adult female (cat),a queen}

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Disapprove of loud argument over French veto (5,2)

### Answer: FROWN ON ### Explanation: Definition: Disapprove of F(abbrev. for forte,musical direction to play loudly) + ROW(argument) **placed above**(over, in a down clue) NON(the French negative,veto)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Feature about work, one of his taking a minute? (6)

### Answer: CHOPIN ### Explanation: Definition: one of his taking a minute CHIN(facial feature)**containing**(about) OP(short for opus,musical work) Defn: Frederic, one of his compositions is Waltz No.6 in D flat major, popularly known as the Minute Waltz. In fact "minute" is meant to indicate "little", since Chopin did not intend for it to be played in one minute, which would be about 3 times its intended tempo. This always reminds me of Victor Borge having a go at it:

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Mate in Sydney holding large hammer (7)

### Answer: CLOBBER ### Explanation: Definition: hammer COBBER(in Sydney, Australian slang for a close male friend,mate, not to be confused with one of the opposite sex) **containing**(holding) L(abbrev. for $$l$$arge, as in clothing sizes) Defn: As a verb, to beat severely,hammer

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Horrible bra came undone (7)

### Answer: MACABRE ### Explanation: Definition: Horrible **Anagram of**(undone) of BRA CAME

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Hit by a vehicle — and not cared for (3,4)

### Answer: RUN DOWN ### Explanation: Definition: Hit by a vehicle,not cared for Double defn.

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### Clue: Girl's first with simply tailored tunic (7)

### Answer: GYMSLIP ### Explanation: Definition: tunic G(initial letter,first of "girl") **plus**(with) **anagram of**(tailored) SIMPLY Defn: The tunic that schoolgirls wear in the gym.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Hint gloom transformed by this? (9)

### Answer: MOONLIGHT ### Explanation: Definition: this **Anagram of**(transformed) HINT GLOOM Defn: The sunlight reflected by the moon which transforms the darkness,night,gloom. A clever WIWD (wordplay intertwined with definition) clue.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Move during sword fight, taking nothing from room (5)

### Answer: LUNGE ### Explanation: Definition: Move during sword fight "Lounge"(room) **minus**(taking…from) "o"(looks like 0,zero,nothing)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Tree providing shade (5)

### Answer: LILAC ### Explanation: Definition: Tree,shade Double defn: 2nd: Shade of colour that looks like, well, the colour of the flowers from the shrub,small tree of the 1st defn.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Capital people name ships (9)

### Answer: DUBLINERS ### Explanation: Definition: Capital people DUB(to name) + LINERS(ships, usually for cruises) Defn: The people from the capital. Also the name of a capital sounding group of singers – remember "Seven Drunken Nights"?

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Going wrong isn't moral! (6,3)

### Answer: MORTAL SIN ### Explanation: Definition: Going wrong isn't moral **Anagram of**(going wrong) ISN'T MORAL. Defn: Same definition expressed twice (going wrong as a nounal phrase) – therefore not a double but a 2xSingle definition. Another clever WIWD clue

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Container, as required by music producers (5)

### Answer: TUBAS ### Explanation: Definition: required by music producers TUB(a container) + AS Defn: What are required by the specific group of music producers, the tubaists or tubists (anyone, especially a tuba player, to confirm these are legit words?)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Tea brought back from service area (5)

### Answer: ASSAM ### Explanation: Definition: Tea **Reversal of**(brought back) [MASS(church service) + A(abbrev. for $$a$$rea)] Defn: Tea grown in Assam, north-east India, found in the more commonly named English, Irish or Scottish Breakfast Teas.

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Girl rings friend and mum in holiday location (3,6)

### Answer: LAS PALMAS ### Explanation: Definition: holiday location LASS(girl) **containing**(rings) [PAL(friend, not as close as a cobber perhaps) **plus**(and) MA(mother,mum)] Defn: de Gran Canaria, to give its full name, the joint capital and holiday resort town in the Canary Islands.

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### Clue: Serious listener with cosy home (7)

### Answer: EARNEST ### Explanation: Definition: Serious EAR(listener, or what you listen with) **plus**(with) NEST(a cosy home, or sometimes a home for lovers)

You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation.

### Clue: Inability to remember a name is peculiar (7)

### Answer: AMNESIA ### Explanation: Definition: Inability to remember **Anagram of**(peculiar) A NAME IS

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### Clue: Stephenson dismisses female family member (7)

### Answer: STEPSON ### Explanation: Definition: family member "Stephenson" **minus**(dismisses) "hen"(female)