0xharib/xword2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

Clue stringlengths 6 133	Answer stringlengths 3 46	Explanation stringlengths 5 888
Media's topical content is concerning (2,2)	AS TO	Definition: concerning Hidden in(… content) "Media's topical". Defn: …/regarding.
Military Intelligence backed sanctions ending early deadlock (7)	IMPASSE	Definition: deadlock Reversal of(… backed) MI(abbrev. for "Military Intelligence", as in "MI5") + "passes"(sanctions/approves) minus its last letter(ending early).
Make subject in French school extremely welcome to classicists (7)	ENSLAVE	Definition: Make subject EN(French for "in") + 1st and last letters of(… extremely) "school" + AVE("welcome" to classicists studying Latin).
Starters of buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk (5)	BLINI	Definition: Starters of buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk 1st letters, respectively, of(Starters of) "buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk". Defn: Pancakes made from buckwheat flour, originally from Russia where Novosibirsk and Irkutsk are located.
She could produce The Mousetrap (9)	DAIRYMAID	Definition: She could produce The Mousetrap Cryptic defn: ~~Presumably a reference to the nursery rhyme, "Three Blind Mice", in which the rodents ran after the farmer's wife who used a carving knife …. The whole drama could have been averted if the farmer's employee had produced a mousetrap (not the famous Agatha Christie play, of course).~~ Per &2: One who could make/produce a third-grade flavourless or textureless version of any particular cheese, the former derogatively called a "mousetrap cheese".
Investor holding the cards dealt a blow (4-6)	BACK-HANDER	Definition: a blow BACKER(one who backs, financially/an investor) containing(holding) HAND(the cards dealt to any one of the players in a card game like bridge or poker).
Retreat from PM losing face (4)	LAIR	Definition: Retreat "Blair"(Tony, former UK PM) minus its 1st letter(losing face). Defn: …/a refuge to retreat to for privacy or safety.
Led sister astray with notion of paradise? (6,6)	DESERT ISLAND	Definition: notion of paradise Anagram of(… astray) LED SISTER + AND(with/plus). Defn: …/a place representing freedom from worldly cares and woes.
Novel feature of Attic civilisation (4,2,3,3)	ROOM AT THE TOP	Definition: Novel Cryptic defn: What would be an item/feature of a hypothetical civilisation living in attics.
Couple conclude proceedings on board (4)	MATE	Definition: Couple,conclude proceedings on board Double defn: 1st: …/to engage in sexual intercourse; and 2nd: … or checkmate, to end/conclude proceedings on board/a game on a chessboard with a winning move.
Rude character that is not apparent in Michael Caine's performance (10)	MECHANICAL	Definition: Rude character Anagram of(…'s performance) [ "Michael Caine" minus(… not apparent) "i.e."(abbrev. for "id est"/that is) ]. Defn: In Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", one of the 6 amateur actors called "rude mechanicals" by Puck, in reference to their occupations as manual labourers.
Kent's one comic figure? (9)	SUPERHERO	Definition: comic figure Superman, the alter ego of Clark Kent, was one such in the series of comics.
Unfit setter dozed in audition (5)	INAPT	Definition: Unfit I(the setter of this crossword using the self-referential pronoun) + homophone of(… in audition) "napped"(dozed/slept for a while).
Excess of devoutness — not the first — on Jewish Sabbath (7)	SATIETY	Definition: Excess "piety"(devoutness/religiousness or reverence) minus its 1st letter(not the first) placed after(on) SAT(abbrev. for "Saturday" in the civil calendar, on which the Jewish Sabbath/day of rest falls). Defn: …/surfeit.
Obsession with Paddington? It could merit a hard stare (7)	BUGBEAR	Definition: It could merit a hard stare BUG(an obsession/an enthusiastic interest in something) plus(with) BEAR(an example of which is Paddington Bear, a fictional character in children's literature). Defn: "It" being an imaginary character invoked to frighten children/a bogeyman.
Medic stops team leaders from buying extra drink (6)	IMBIBE	Definition: drink MB(abbrev. for "Medicinae Baccalaureus", a doctor/a medic) contained in(stops) II(or 11/eleven, with the respective Roman numeral substitutions, a sports team of 11 players, as with a cricket team, say) + 1st letters, respectively, of(leaders from) "buying extra". Defn: To ….
Entertainer who sang for the young Elvis? (6)	PRINCE	Definition: Entertainer who sang What you might call Elvis Presley, dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" when he was young and before being "crowned".
Masquerading sheikhs and bishops enthralling a dish (5,5)	SHISH KEBAB	Definition: dish Anagram of(Masquerading) SHEIKHS plus(and) B,B(2 x abbrev. for "bishop") containing(enthralling) A.
Author lying about haunt of vice in German port (5)	EMDEN	Definition: German port Reversal of(… lying about) ME(author/setter of this crossword using the self-referential pronoun) + DEN(a haunt of vice/a secluded place for illegal activities).
Rest in peace? Not a second of it, unfortunately, here (9)	EPICENTRE	Definition: Rest in peace? Not a second of it, unfortunately, here Anagram of(unfortunately) "Rest in peace" minus(Not … of it,) "[ A + "s"(abbrev. for "second" in time notation) ]. Defn: The geographical point vertically above the focus of an earthquake, and where its force is the greatest. By extension, also the central point of any disturbance or difficult situation.
Well over 25% of yakitori is protein (4)	SOYA	Definition: protein SO(well/extremely, as in "he was well/so out of it") placed above(over, in a down clue) 1st 2 out of 8 letters of(25% of) "yakitori". Defn: … derived from the beans of the same name.
Seaweed repeatedly gathered from prime locations in La Guaira (4-4)	AGAR-AGAR	Definition: Seaweed 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th letters of(gathered from prime locations in/letters in the 1st 4 prime number positions) "La Guaira" x 2(repeatedly …)
Con-artist's seldom discovered casing wealthy place (2,6)	EL DORADO	Definition: wealthy place [ DO(to con/to swindle) + RA(abbrev. for a member of the Royal Academy of Arts/an artist) ] contained in(… casing) "seldom" minus its 1st and last letters(discovered). Defn: A legendary … where precious stones and gold coins were found in abundance.
Staggering… so daunting, but surprisingly impressive! (10)	ASTOUNDING	Definition: surprisingly impressive Anagram of(Staggering…) SO DAUNTING.
Very, very French — almost all attending Mass in old cathedral city (9)	EXTREMELY	Definition: Very ["tres"(French for very/exceedingly) minus its last letter(almost all) plus(attending) M(symbol for "mass" in physics) ] contained in(in) [ EX-(prefix signifying "old"/former) + ELY(a cathedral city in England) [.
Propositions put before half-hearted females (8)	PREMISES	Definition: Propositions PRE-(prefix signifying "before" in time, place, etc.) + "misses"(unmarried women/females) minus its central letter(hearted …). Defn: … from which another is inferred or concluded.
Notice contains nothing on our weakness (4,4)	SOFT SPOT	Definition: weakness SPOT(to notice/to perceive) containing(contains) [ O(letter representing 0/nothing) + FT'S(our, a first person possessive pronoun/belonging to the paper printing this crossword, the Financial Times, or FT) ].
Raise eco-tax within eight days (6)	OCTAVE	Definition: eight days Reversal of(Raise, in a down clue) [ ECO containing(… within) VAT(abbrev. for "value added tax") ]. Defn: A period of … starting with the day of a Church festival.
Governor tipped to take centre of industrial province (6)	ULSTER	Definition: province "ruler"(governor/head) minus its 1st letter(tipped /with an end/tip removed) containing(to take) central 2 letters of(centre of) "industrial". Defn: Traditional Irish ….
Potential killer needs to extract drug from hard sweet (1-4)	H-BOMB	Definition: Potential killer "E"(abbrev. for the drug Ecstasy) deleted from(extract … from) [ H(abbrev. for "hard") + "bombe"(a frozen dome-shaped dessert/sweet) ].
Genuine grandeur that's to some extent receding (4)	TRUE	Definition: Genuine Hidden in(… to some extent) reversal of(… receding) "grandeur that's".
Church dignitary that's opposed to 15 (8)	CARDINAL	Definition: Church dignitary,that's opposed to 15 Double defn: 1st: Leading … in the Roman Catholic Church, nominated by the Pope; and 2nd: A number denoting quantity(1, 2, 3, etc.) as opposed to an "ordinal"(answer to 15 across).
So, these tenors transformed Madchester band (3,5,5)	THE STONE ROSES	Definition: Madchester band Anagram of(… transformed) SO, THESE TENORS.
Fundamentally, rock and roll comprises nothing but loud noise (4)	ROAR	Definition: loud noise 1st letters, respectively, of(Fundamentally) "rock and roll" containing(comprises) O(letter signifying 0/nothing).
Ring road in pleasant surroundings is within budget (10)	AFFORDABLE	Definition: within budget [ O(letter representing a circle/a ring) + RD(abbrev. for "road") ] contained in(in … surroundings) AFFABLE(pleasant/friendly).
Vivid railway worker's uniform (6)	LIVERY	Definition: worker's uniform LIVE(vivid/intensely bright) + RY(abbrev. for "railway"). Unisex livery:
One out to deeply impress uninhibited Penge party-goer (8)	ENGRAVER	Definition: One out to deeply impress 1st and last letters deleted from(uninhibited) "Penge" + RAVER(one who attends/goes to a rave/a lively drinking and dancing party). Defn: …/to cut words or designs into stone, metal, wood, etc.
Criminal serves sandwiches quietly for evening gathering at church (7)	VESPERS	Definition: evening gathering at church Anagram of(Criminal) SERVES containing(sandwiches) P(abbrev. for "piano", direction to play music softly/quietly).
Changes statement claiming success of divinity course? (7)	REWORKS	Definition: Changes [RE(abbrev. for "religious education"/a divinity course) WORKS(is successful/achieves the desired effect)](a statement claiming success of divinity course).
Sicilian perhaps admitting to defamation (8)	ISLANDER	Definition: Sicilian perhaps [I SLANDER](I am admitting to definition). Defn: An example of which/perhaps is one from the island of Sicily.
Treat former-PM with contempt and consternation (6)	DISMAY	Definition: consternation DIS(to treat with contempt/to speak of disrespectfully) MAY(Theresa, former UK Prime Minister).
Unclear VAR arrangement results in facetious swearing (10)	VERNACULAR	Definition: facetious swearing Anagram of(… arrangement) UNCLEAR VAR. Defn: Facetiously excusing swearing as common language, as in "what the f***, to use the vernacular".
You heard expression of disapproval about short skirt (4)	TUTU	Definition: short skirt Reversal of(… about) [homophone of(… heard expression) "you" + TUT(an expression of disapproval) ]. From the sublime: … to the ridiculous:
Nude dancing clubs entertained one popularly sitting in the corner (5)	DUNCE	Definition: one popularly sitting in the corner Anagram of(… dancing) NUDE containing(… entertained) C(abbrev. for "clubs", the suit in a deck of p laying cards). Defn: Formerly, one considered disruptive or slow in learning and who was therefore punished by having to stand in a corner of the classroom. And the eponymous headwear that goes with it:
Delivery from trend-setting crew – street clothes? (8)	SHIPMENT	Definition: Delivery [ HIP(fashionable/trend-setting) + MEN(crew/a group of people who work closely together) ] contained in(… clothes) ST(abbrev. for "street").
An element of Spooner's naked wash? (8)	CHLORINE	Definition: An element Spoonerism of [ "raw"(naked/undisguised) + "clean"(to wash/to rid of dirt, marks or stains) ].
Requests a reserved section for VIP (4)	TSAR	Definition: VIP Hidden in(… section) "Requests a reserved". Defn: …, an emperor of Russia, formerly.
Rovers' hero tackling player of Wanderers (6)	ROMANY	Definition: of Wanderers ROY(hero in the British comic strip, Roy of the Rovers) containing(tackling) MAN(a player/a member of, say, a football team). Defn: …/describing things related to the Romany, a people originating in South Asia, having an itinerant/wandering way of life. And "Rovers" and "Wanderers" are found in the names of some football clubs.
Busy person, with twist of fate, produces energy drink (4,3)	BEEF TEA	Definition: energy drink BEE(a busy person, from "as busy as a bee") plus(with) anagram of(twist of) FATE.
Temporarily pause Parliament in favour of unprincipled character (8)	PROROGUE	Definition: Temporarily pause Parliament PRO(in favour of, as opposed to "con") + ROGUE(an unprincipled character/a villain). Defn: …/to discontinue Parliamentary meetings without dissolving it.
The ups and downs of many a London commuter? (10)	ESCALATORS	Definition: The ups and downs of many a London commuter Cryptic defn: The mechanical stairs going up and down used by the many London commuters in the Tube/underground rail system.
Operatic lead is getting on with performance finally (6)	ISOLDE	Definition: Operatic lead IS + OLD(getting on in years/aged) plus(with) last letter of(… finally) "performance". Defn: Leading character in the opera "Tristan and Isolde" by Richard Wagner.
Making sense of cutback taking place in gin supply (10)	EXPLAINING	Definition: Making sense of Reversal of(…back) AXE(to cut/to chop off, literally or figuratively) containing(taking) PL(abbrev. for "place", a short street) + anagram of(… supply/with suppleness/flexibility) IN GIN.
Blanked out as wine took effect (8)	REDACTED	Definition: Blanked out RED(short for a red wine) + ACTED(took effect/worked, as in "the medicine took effect immediately").
King leads fight with tense English ex-Chancellor (8)	KWARTENG	Definition: ex-Chancellor K(symbol for "king" in chess notation) plus(leads) WAR(a fight/a conflict) plus(with) T(abbrev. for "tense" in grammar) + ENG(abbrev. for "English"). Answer: Kwasi, most recent ex-UK Chancellor.
Lacking guile and disastrously two down hosting the French (7)	ARTLESS	Definition: Lacking guile Anagram of(disastrously) TSAR(solution to 2 down in this crossword) containing(hosting) LES(article "the" in French grammar).
NASA's Deep Space Center boosted careers (6)	SPEEDS	Definition: careers Reversal of(… boosted, in a down clue) 6 middle letters of("centre"/Center, in NASA's language) "NASA's Deep Space".
Upset as a result of cover-up over a long period (6)	DERAIL	Definition: Upset Reversal of(…-up) LID(a cover/a cap) containing(over) ERA(a long period of time).
The fourth Doctor W's memorial? (4)	TOMB	Definition: memorial [TOM B](name, a la "Doctor W", of the actor who played the fourth Doctor Who, Tom Baker).
Move back in line at the same time (8)	TOGETHER	Definition: at the same time Reversal of(… back) GO(to move) contained in(in) TETHER(a line/a rope or chain to which an animal is tied).
Contact a church pursuing religious education (5)	REACH	Definition: Contact [ A + CH(abbrev. for "church") ] placed after(pursuing) RE(abbrev. for "religious education").
Pops round for car ride (4)	SPIN	Definition: car ride Reversal of(… round) NIPS(pops in/drops in for a quick visit).
Novel with overriding passion for country (3,7)	NEW ZEALAND	Definition: country [ NEW(novel/original) + AND(with/in addition to) ] containing(overriding) ZEAL(passion/great energy and enthusiasm for a cause or objective).
Finally take in hand young becoming quarrelsome (6)	FEISTY	Definition: quarrelsome Last letter of(Finally) "take" contained in(in) FIST(one's clenched hand) + Y(abbrev. for "young").
Jotted down 'Tenner added on to fine' (4,4)	TOOK NOTE	Definition: Jotted down NOTE(eg. a £10 note/a tenner) placed after(added on to) [ TO + OK(okay/fine/no objection to) ]. "to" doing double duty?
Soldiers besieging southern capital retired in shame … (7)	REMORSE	Definition: shame RE(abbrev. for the Royal Engineers, a unit of soldiers in the British military) containing(besieging) reversal of(… retired) [ S(abbrev. for "southern") + ROME(capital city of Italy) ].
certainly bound to condemnation (2,5)	NO DOUBT	Definition: certainly Anagram of(… condemnation) BOUND TO.
In Paris, I get fine on Metro regularly as someone selling trinkets (8)	JEWELLER	Definition: someone selling trinkets JE(as spoken in Paris, French for the pronoun "I") plus(get) WELL(fine/excellent) plus(on) 2nd and 4th letters of(… regularly) "Metro". … not in Paris though.
Sorry when 60% of funds lost during revolutionary rule (6)	RUEFUL	Definition: Sorry 3 out of 5 letters deleted from(60% of … lost) "funds" contained in(during) anagram of(revolutionary) RULE. Defn: …/remorseful.
Score with cover song (5,5)	SHEET MUSIC	Definition: Score SHEET(a cover/a piece of material or fabric placed over something) + MUSIC(a piece of which could be a song). Sheet music by numbers:
Style of decoration reflected hollow decadence (4)	MODE	Definition: Style Reversal of(… reflected) OM(abbrev. for "Order of Merit", a particular decoration/ award conferred as an honour) + "decadence" minus all its inner letters(hollow …).
First woman to enter students' flat! (5)	LEVEL	Definition: flat EVE(the Biblical first woman) contained in(to enter) LL(2 x letter displayed by a learner/student driver).
Apples and pears up ahead on floor above (8)	UPSTAIRS	Definition: on floor above STAIRS(for which "apples and pears" is the rhyming slang) placed after(… ahead) UP.
Finish challenge that's over long (8)	COMPLETE	Definition: Finish COMPETE(to challenge/to be in a contest against others) containing(that's over) L(abbrev. for "long").
Picked up self-satisfied mood (4)	VEIN	Definition: mood Homophone of(Picked up) "vain"(self-satisfied/to be proud about oneself). Defn: …/a temporary attitude or state of mind, as in "he opened his speech in a lighter vein".
Fake ring has ruby with no shine (6)	PHONEY	Definition: Fake PHONE(to ring/call on the phone) plus(has) "ruby" minus(with no) "rub"(to shine/to polish a surface by rubbing it).
Attracted by doctor's circle, desperately want to be involved (5,2)	DRAWN TO	Definition: Attracted by [ DR(abbrev. for "Doctor") + O(letter representing a circle) ] containing(… to be involved) anagram of(desperately) WANT.
May leave liberal West African country (4,2,2)	FREE TO GO	Definition: May leave FREE(liberal/unrestricted) + TOGO(West African country). Defn: You …, if you so wish.
Come to feel affection for fellow totally live on broadcast (4,2,4)	FALL IN LOVE	Definition: Come to feel affection for F(abbrev. for "fellow") + ALL(totally/without exception) + anagram of(… broadcast) LIVE ON.
No reason to refuse theatre award Henry Winkler initially rejected (3,3)	WHY NOT	Definition: No reason to refuse Reversal of(… rejected) [ TONY(short for the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre) + 1st letters, respectively, of(… initially) "Henry Winkler", The Fonz ].
Holiday sailor can take on land, or else have at sea (5,5)	SHORE LEAVE	Definition: Holiday sailor can take on land Anagram of(… at sea) OR ELSE HAVE.
Seriously cunning catching mole (foreign nationalist) (8)	SOLEMNLY	Definition: Seriously SLY(cunning/wily) containing(catching) [ anagram of(… foreign) MOLE + N(abbrev. for "nationalist") ]
One year's hedging right behind spring border (8)	BOUNDARY	Definition: border {[ A(article in grammar for one in quantity) + Y(abbrev. for "year") ] containing(…'s hedging) R(abbrev. for "right")} placed after(behind) BOUND(spring/leap).
Dash briefly in B&Q, uncle's outside being surly (7)	BRUSQUE	Definition: surly "rush"(to dash/to move quickly) minus its last letter(briefly) contained in(in) B&Q + 1st and last letters of(…'s outside) "uncle".
Breathe old beer covering husband (6)	EXHALE	Definition: Breathe [ EX-(prefix signifying "old"/former) + ALE(a type of beer) ] containing(covering) H(abbrev. for "husband"). Defn: … out.
Screen abridged play with small intermission (6)	RECESS	Definition: intermission Anagram of(… play) "Screen" minus its last letter(abridged) + plus(with) S(abbrev. for "small"). Defn: …/a temporary suspension of formal proceedings.
Crazy about energy drink (4)	MEAD	Definition: drink MAD(crazy/insane) containing(about) E(symbol for "energy" in physics). Defn: An alcoholic … of fermented honey and water. Aka honey-wine:
Afterthought to take in concerning old forecast (8)	PRESAGED	Definition: forecast PS(abbrev. for "postscript", an afterthought/an additional remark at the end of a letter or an extra piece of information after the event) containing(to take in) RE(with reference to/concerning) + AGED(old/matured).
Resistance to backing figure that's bad (6)	ROTTEN	Definition: bad R(symbol for electrical resistance in physics) + reversal of(… backing) TO + TEN(the figure/number 10).
Answer really loudly and declare business (6)	AFFAIR	Definition: business A(abbrev. for "answer", as in "Q and A") + FF(abbrev. for "fortissimo", a musical direction to play very loudly) plus(and) AIR(to declare/to say openly). Defn: One's …/concern.
Destroy vessel crossing river with unlimited brio (8)	VAPORISE	Definition: Destroy VASE(a vessel/jar used for holding cut flowers or as an ornament) containing(crossing) [ PO(river in Italy) plus(with) "brio" minus its 1st and last letters(unlimited …) ]. Defn: To … something by turning it into gas through extreme heat.
Anguish for gent regularly overlooked (4)	FRET	Definition: Anguish "for gent" minus its 2nd, 4th and 6th letters(regularly overlooked).
Close attention by chaps, tons giving affection (10)	ENDEARMENT	Definition: affection END(to close/to finish) + EAR(attention/willingness to listen to others) plus(by) MEN(chaps/fellows) + T(abbrev. for "tons").
Sign with tip of nettle that one's a stinger (8)	SCORPION	Definition: a stinger SCORPIO(one of the zodiac's twelve signs, symbolised by a stinger) plus(with) 1st letter of(tip of) "nettle".
Lose footing after lager's knocked back (4)	SLIP	Definition: Lose footing Reversal of(…'s knocked back) PILS(a type of lager beer).
Returning rook feeding young bird (4)	WREN	Definition: bird Reversal of(Returning) [ R(abbrev. for "rook", in chess notation) contained in(feeding) NEW(young/of recent origin) ].
Monstrosity of old yard covered in swill (8)	GARGOYLE	Definition: Monstrosity [ O(abbrev. for "old") + Y(abbrev. for "yard", as a unit of distance) ] contained in(covered in) GARGLE(to swill/to wash and rinse, in this case, one's mouth, with liquid).
So careless breaking dishes (10)	CASSEROLES	Definition: dishes Anagram of(… breaking) SO CARELESS. A casserole cooked in a casserole:
Hollow space dry home for animal (4)	SETT	Definition: home for animal "space" minus all its inner letters(Hollow …) + TT(dry/abstaining from alcoholic drinks).
Being in the grip of virus, large strain for country (8)	BULGARIA	Definition: country BUG(a virus/a microorganism harmful to one's health) containing(Being in the grip of …) L(abbrev. for "large") + ARIA(a strain/a song, in this case, in an opera).

Media's topical content is concerning (2,2)

AS TO

Definition: concerning **Hidden in**(… content) "Media's topical". Defn: …/regarding.

Military Intelligence backed sanctions ending early deadlock (7)

IMPASSE

Definition: deadlock **Reversal of**(… backed) MI(abbrev. for "Military Intelligence", as in "MI5") + "passes"(sanctions/approves) **minus ****its last letter**(ending early).

Make subject in French school extremely welcome to classicists (7)

ENSLAVE

Definition: Make subject EN(French for "in") + **1st and last letters of**(… extremely) "school" + AVE("welcome" to classicists studying Latin).

Starters of buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk (5)

BLINI

Definition: Starters of buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk **1st letters, respectively, of**(Starters of) "buckwheat liked in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk". Defn: Pancakes made from buckwheat flour, originally from Russia where Novosibirsk and Irkutsk are located.

She could produce The Mousetrap (9)

DAIRYMAID

Definition: She could produce The Mousetrap Cryptic defn: ~~Presumably a reference to the nursery rhyme, "Three Blind Mice", in which the rodents ran after the farmer's wife who used a carving knife …. The whole drama could have been averted if the farmer's employee had produced a mousetrap (not the famous Agatha Christie play, of course).~~ Per &2: One who could make/produce a third-grade flavourless or textureless version of any particular cheese, the former derogatively called a "mousetrap cheese".

Investor holding the cards dealt a blow (4-6)

BACK-HANDER

Definition: a blow BACKER(one who backs, financially/an investor) **containing**(holding) HAND(the cards dealt to any one of the players in a card game like bridge or poker).

Retreat from PM losing face (4)

LAIR

Definition: Retreat "Blair"(Tony, former UK PM) **minus its 1st letter**(losing face). Defn: …/a refuge to retreat to for privacy or safety.

Led sister astray with notion of paradise? (6,6)

DESERT ISLAND

Definition: notion of paradise **Anagram of**(… astray) LED SISTER + AND(with/plus). Defn: …/a place representing freedom from worldly cares and woes.

Novel feature of Attic civilisation (4,2,3,3)

ROOM AT THE TOP

Definition: Novel Cryptic defn: What would be an item/feature of a hypothetical civilisation living in attics.

Couple conclude proceedings on board (4)

MATE

Definition: Couple,conclude proceedings on board Double defn: 1st: …/to engage in sexual intercourse; and 2nd: … or checkmate, to end/conclude proceedings on board/a game on a chessboard with a winning move.

Rude character that is not apparent in Michael Caine's performance (10)

MECHANICAL

Definition: Rude character **Anagram of**(…'s performance) [ "Michael Caine" **minus**(… not apparent) "i.e."(abbrev. for "id est"/that is) ]. Defn: In Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", one of the 6 amateur actors called "rude mechanicals" by Puck, in reference to their occupations as manual labourers.

Kent's one comic figure? (9)

SUPERHERO

Definition: comic figure Superman, the alter ego of Clark Kent, was one such in the series of comics.

Unfit setter dozed in audition (5)

INAPT

Definition: Unfit I(the setter of this crossword using the self-referential pronoun) + **homophone of**(… in audition) "napped"(dozed/slept for a while).

Excess of devoutness — not the first — on Jewish Sabbath (7)

SATIETY

Definition: Excess "piety"(devoutness/religiousness or reverence) **minus ****its 1st letter**(not the first) **placed after**(on) SAT(abbrev. for "Saturday" in the civil calendar, on which the Jewish Sabbath/day of rest falls). Defn: …/surfeit.

Obsession with Paddington? It could merit a hard stare (7)

BUGBEAR

Definition: It could merit a hard stare BUG(an obsession/an enthusiastic interest in something) **plus**(with) BEAR(an example of which is Paddington Bear, a fictional character in children's literature). Defn: "It" being an imaginary character invoked to frighten children/a bogeyman.

Medic stops team leaders from buying extra drink (6)

IMBIBE

Definition: drink MB(abbrev. for "Medicinae Baccalaureus", a doctor/a medic) **contained in**(stops) II(or 11/eleven, with the respective Roman numeral substitutions, a sports team of 11 players, as with a cricket team, say) + **1st letters, respectively, of**(leaders from) "buying extra". Defn: To ….

Entertainer who sang for the young Elvis? (6)

PRINCE

Definition: Entertainer who sang What you might call Elvis Presley, dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" when he was young and before being "crowned".

Masquerading sheikhs and bishops enthralling a dish (5,5)

SHISH KEBAB

Definition: dish **Anagram of**(Masquerading) SHEIKHS **plus**(and) B,B(2 x abbrev. for "bishop") **containing**(enthralling) A.

Author lying about haunt of vice in German port (5)

EMDEN

Definition: German port **Reversal of**(… lying about) ME(author/setter of this crossword using the self-referential pronoun) + DEN(a haunt of vice/a secluded place for illegal activities).

Rest in peace? Not a second of it, unfortunately, here (9)

EPICENTRE

Definition: Rest in peace? Not a second of it, unfortunately, here **Anagram of**(unfortunately) "Rest in peace" **minus**(Not … of it,) "[ A + "s"(abbrev. for "second" in time notation) ]. Defn: The geographical point vertically above the focus of an earthquake, and where its force is the greatest. By extension, also the central point of any disturbance or difficult situation.

Well over 25% of yakitori is protein (4)

SOYA

Definition: protein SO(well/extremely, as in "he was well/so out of it") **placed above**(over, in a down clue) **1st 2 out of 8 letters of**(25% of) "yakitori". Defn: … derived from the beans of the same name.

Seaweed repeatedly gathered from prime locations in La Guaira (4-4)

AGAR-AGAR

Definition: Seaweed **2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th letters of**(gathered from prime locations in/letters in the 1st 4 prime number positions) "La Guaira" **x 2**(repeatedly …)

Con-artist's seldom discovered casing wealthy place (2,6)

EL DORADO

Definition: wealthy place [ DO(to con/to swindle) + RA(abbrev. for a member of the Royal Academy of Arts/an artist) ] **contained in**(… casing) "seldom" **minus ****its 1st and last letters**(discovered). Defn: A legendary … where precious stones and gold coins were found in abundance.

Staggering… so daunting, but surprisingly impressive! (10)

ASTOUNDING

Definition: surprisingly impressive **Anagram of**(Staggering…) SO DAUNTING.

Very, very French — almost all attending Mass in old cathedral city (9)

EXTREMELY

Definition: Very ["tres"(French for very/exceedingly) **minus ****its last letter**(almost all) **plus**(attending) M(symbol for "mass" in physics) ] **contained in**(in) [ EX-(prefix signifying "old"/former) + ELY(a cathedral city in England) [.

Propositions put before half-hearted females (8)

PREMISES

Definition: Propositions PRE-(prefix signifying "before" in time, place, etc.) + "misses"(unmarried women/females) **minus its central letter**(hearted …). Defn: … from which another is inferred or concluded.

Notice contains nothing on our weakness (4,4)

SOFT SPOT

Definition: weakness SPOT(to notice/to perceive) **containing**(contains) [ O(letter representing 0/nothing) + FT'S(our, a first person possessive pronoun/belonging to the paper printing this crossword, the Financial Times, or FT) ].

Raise eco-tax within eight days (6)

OCTAVE

Definition: eight days **Reversal of**(Raise, in a down clue) [ ECO **containing**(… within) VAT(abbrev. for "value added tax") ]. Defn: A period of … starting with the day of a Church festival.

Governor tipped to take centre of industrial province (6)

ULSTER

Definition: province "ruler"(governor/head) **minus ****its 1st letter**(tipped /with an end/tip removed) **containing**(to take) **central 2 letters of**(centre of) "industrial". Defn: Traditional Irish ….

Potential killer needs to extract drug from hard sweet (1-4)

H-BOMB

Definition: Potential killer "E"(abbrev. for the drug Ecstasy) **deleted from**(extract … from) [ H(abbrev. for "hard") + "bombe"(a frozen dome-shaped dessert/sweet) ].

Genuine grandeur that's to some extent receding (4)

TRUE

Definition: Genuine **Hidden in**(… to some extent) **reversal of**(… receding) "grandeur that's".

Church dignitary that's opposed to 15 (8)

CARDINAL

Definition: Church dignitary,that's opposed to 15 Double defn: 1st: Leading … in the Roman Catholic Church, nominated by the Pope; and 2nd: A number denoting quantity(1, 2, 3, etc.) as opposed to an "ordinal"(answer to 15 across).

So, these tenors transformed Madchester band (3,5,5)

THE STONE ROSES

Definition: Madchester band **Anagram of**(… transformed) SO, THESE TENORS.

Fundamentally, rock and roll comprises nothing but loud noise (4)

ROAR

Definition: loud noise **1st letters, respectively, of**(Fundamentally) "rock and roll" **containing**(comprises) O(letter signifying 0/nothing).

Ring road in pleasant surroundings is within budget (10)

AFFORDABLE

Definition: within budget [ O(letter representing a circle/a ring) + RD(abbrev. for "road") ] **contained in**(in … surroundings) AFFABLE(pleasant/friendly).

Vivid railway worker's uniform (6)

LIVERY

Definition: worker's uniform LIVE(vivid/intensely bright) + RY(abbrev. for "railway"). Unisex livery:

One out to deeply impress uninhibited Penge party-goer (8)

ENGRAVER

Definition: One out to deeply impress **1st and last letters deleted from**(uninhibited) "Penge" + RAVER(one who attends/goes to a rave/a lively drinking and dancing party). Defn: …/to cut words or designs into stone, metal, wood, etc.

Criminal serves sandwiches quietly for evening gathering at church (7)

VESPERS

Definition: evening gathering at church **Anagram of**(Criminal) SERVES **containing**(sandwiches) P(abbrev. for "piano", direction to play music softly/quietly).

Changes statement claiming success of divinity course? (7)

REWORKS

Definition: Changes [RE(abbrev. for "religious education"/a divinity course) WORKS(is successful/achieves the desired effect)](a statement claiming success of divinity course).

Sicilian perhaps admitting to defamation (8)

ISLANDER

Definition: Sicilian perhaps [I SLANDER](I am admitting to definition). Defn: An example of which/perhaps is one from the island of Sicily.

Treat former-PM with contempt and consternation (6)

DISMAY

Definition: consternation DIS(to treat with contempt/to speak of disrespectfully) MAY(Theresa, former UK Prime Minister).

Unclear VAR arrangement results in facetious swearing (10)

VERNACULAR

Definition: facetious swearing **Anagram of**(… arrangement) UNCLEAR VAR. Defn: Facetiously excusing swearing as common language, as in "what the f***, to use the vernacular".

You heard expression of disapproval about short skirt (4)

TUTU

Definition: short skirt **Reversal of**(… about) [**homophone of**(… heard expression) "you" + TUT(an expression of disapproval) ]. From the sublime: … to the ridiculous:

Nude dancing clubs entertained one popularly sitting in the corner (5)

DUNCE

Definition: one popularly sitting in the corner **Anagram of**(… dancing) NUDE **containing**(… entertained) C(abbrev. for "clubs", the suit in a deck of p laying cards). Defn: Formerly, one considered disruptive or slow in learning and who was therefore punished by having to stand in a corner of the classroom. And the eponymous headwear that goes with it:

Delivery from trend-setting crew – street clothes? (8)

SHIPMENT

Definition: Delivery [ HIP(fashionable/trend-setting) + MEN(crew/a group of people who work closely together) ] **contained in**(… clothes) ST(abbrev. for "street").

An element of Spooner's naked wash? (8)

CHLORINE

Definition: An element **Spoonerism of** [ "raw"(naked/undisguised) + "clean"(to wash/to rid of dirt, marks or stains) ].

Requests a reserved section for VIP (4)

TSAR

Definition: VIP **Hidden in**(… section) "Requests a reserved". Defn: …, an emperor of Russia, formerly.

Rovers' hero tackling player of Wanderers (6)

ROMANY

Definition: of Wanderers ROY(hero in the British comic strip, Roy of the Rovers) **containing**(tackling) MAN(a player/a member of, say, a football team). Defn: …/describing things related to the Romany, a people originating in South Asia, having an itinerant/wandering way of life. And "Rovers" and "Wanderers" are found in the names of some football clubs.

Busy person, with twist of fate, produces energy drink (4,3)

BEEF TEA

Definition: energy drink BEE(a busy person, from "as busy as a bee") **plus**(with) **anagram of**(twist of) FATE.

Temporarily pause Parliament in favour of unprincipled character (8)

PROROGUE

Definition: Temporarily pause Parliament PRO(in favour of, as opposed to "con") + ROGUE(an unprincipled character/a villain). Defn: …/to discontinue Parliamentary meetings without dissolving it.

The ups and downs of many a London commuter? (10)

ESCALATORS

Definition: The ups and downs of many a London commuter Cryptic defn: The mechanical stairs going up and down used by the many London commuters in the Tube/underground rail system.

Operatic lead is getting on with performance finally (6)

ISOLDE

Definition: Operatic lead IS + OLD(getting on in years/aged) **plus**(with) **last letter of**(… finally) "performance". Defn: Leading character in the opera "Tristan and Isolde" by Richard Wagner.

Making sense of cutback taking place in gin supply (10)

EXPLAINING

Definition: Making sense of **Reversal of**(…back) AXE(to cut/to chop off, literally or figuratively) **containing**(taking) PL(abbrev. for "place", a short street) + **anagram of**(… supply/with suppleness/flexibility) IN GIN.

Blanked out as wine took effect (8)

REDACTED

Definition: Blanked out RED(short for a red wine) + ACTED(took effect/worked, as in "the medicine took effect immediately").

King leads fight with tense English ex-Chancellor (8)

KWARTENG

Definition: ex-Chancellor K(symbol for "king" in chess notation) **plus**(leads) WAR(a fight/a conflict) **plus**(with) T(abbrev. for "tense" in grammar) + ENG(abbrev. for "English"). Answer: Kwasi, most recent ex-UK Chancellor.

Lacking guile and disastrously two down hosting the French (7)

ARTLESS

Definition: Lacking guile **Anagram of**(disastrously) TSAR(solution to 2 down in this crossword) **containing**(hosting) LES(article "the" in French grammar).

NASA's Deep Space Center boosted careers (6)

SPEEDS

Definition: careers **Reversal of**(… boosted, in a down clue) **6 middle letters of**("centre"/Center, in NASA's language) "NASA's Deep Space".

Upset as a result of cover-up over a long period (6)

DERAIL

Definition: Upset **Reversal of**(…-up) LID(a cover/a cap) **containing**(over) ERA(a long period of time).

The fourth Doctor W's memorial? (4)

TOMB

Definition: memorial [TOM B](name, a la "Doctor W", of the actor who played the fourth Doctor Who, Tom Baker).

Move back in line at the same time (8)

TOGETHER

Definition: at the same time **Reversal of**(… back) GO(to move) **contained in**(in) TETHER(a line/a rope or chain to which an animal is tied).

Contact a church pursuing religious education (5)

REACH

Definition: Contact [ A + CH(abbrev. for "church") ] **placed after**(pursuing) RE(abbrev. for "religious education").

Pops round for car ride (4)

SPIN

Definition: car ride **Reversal of**(… round) NIPS(pops in/drops in for a quick visit).

Novel with overriding passion for country (3,7)

NEW ZEALAND

Definition: country [ NEW(novel/original) + AND(with/in addition to) ] **containing**(overriding) ZEAL(passion/great energy and enthusiasm for a cause or objective).

Finally take in hand young becoming quarrelsome (6)

FEISTY

Definition: quarrelsome **Last letter of**(Finally) "take" **contained in**(in) FIST(one's clenched hand) + Y(abbrev. for "young").

Jotted down 'Tenner added on to fine' (4,4)

TOOK NOTE

Definition: Jotted down NOTE(eg. a £10 note/a tenner) **placed after**(added on to) [ TO + OK(okay/fine/no objection to) ]. "to" doing double duty?

Soldiers besieging southern capital retired in shame … (7)

REMORSE

Definition: shame RE(abbrev. for the Royal Engineers, a unit of soldiers in the British military) **containing**(besieging) **reversal of**(… retired) [ S(abbrev. for "southern") + ROME(capital city of Italy) ].

certainly bound to condemnation (2,5)

NO DOUBT

Definition: certainly **Anagram of**(… condemnation) BOUND TO.

In Paris, I get fine on Metro regularly as someone selling trinkets (8)

JEWELLER

Definition: someone selling trinkets JE(as spoken in Paris, French for the pronoun "I") **plus**(get) WELL(fine/excellent) **plus**(on) **2nd and 4th letters of**(… regularly) "Metro". … not in Paris though.

Sorry when 60% of funds lost during revolutionary rule (6)

RUEFUL

Definition: Sorry **3 out of 5 letters deleted from**(60% of … lost) "funds" **contained in**(during) **anagram of**(revolutionary) RULE. Defn: …/remorseful.

Score with cover song (5,5)

SHEET MUSIC

Definition: Score SHEET(a cover/a piece of material or fabric placed over something) + MUSIC(a piece of which could be a song). Sheet music by numbers:

Style of decoration reflected hollow decadence (4)

MODE

Definition: Style **Reversal of**(… reflected) OM(abbrev. for "Order of Merit", a particular decoration/ award conferred as an honour) + "decadence" **minus all its inner letters**(hollow …).

First woman to enter students' flat! (5)

LEVEL

Definition: flat EVE(the Biblical first woman) **contained in**(to enter) LL(2 x letter displayed by a learner/student driver).

Apples and pears up ahead on floor above (8)

UPSTAIRS

Definition: on floor above STAIRS(for which "apples and pears" is the rhyming slang) **placed after**(… ahead) UP.

Finish challenge that's over long (8)

COMPLETE

Definition: Finish COMPETE(to challenge/to be in a contest against others) **containing**(that's over) L(abbrev. for "long").

Picked up self-satisfied mood (4)

VEIN

Definition: mood **Homophone of**(Picked up) "vain"(self-satisfied/to be proud about oneself). Defn: …/a temporary attitude or state of mind, as in "he opened his speech in a lighter vein".

Fake ring has ruby with no shine (6)

PHONEY

Definition: Fake PHONE(to ring/call on the phone) **plus**(has) "ruby" **minus**(with no) "rub"(to shine/to polish a surface by rubbing it).

Attracted by doctor's circle, desperately want to be involved (5,2)

DRAWN TO

Definition: Attracted by [ DR(abbrev. for "Doctor") + O(letter representing a circle) ] **containing**(… to be involved) **anagram of**(desperately) WANT.

May leave liberal West African country (4,2,2)

FREE TO GO

Definition: May leave FREE(liberal/unrestricted) + TOGO(West African country). Defn: You …, if you so wish.

Come to feel affection for fellow totally live on broadcast (4,2,4)

FALL IN LOVE

Definition: Come to feel affection for F(abbrev. for "fellow") + ALL(totally/without exception) + **anagram of**(… broadcast) LIVE ON.

No reason to refuse theatre award Henry Winkler initially rejected (3,3)

WHY NOT

Definition: No reason to refuse **Reversal of**(… rejected) [ TONY(short for the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre) + **1st letters, respectively, of**(… initially) "Henry Winkler", The Fonz ].

Holiday sailor can take on land, or else have at sea (5,5)

SHORE LEAVE

Definition: Holiday sailor can take on land **Anagram of**(… at sea) OR ELSE HAVE.

Seriously cunning catching mole (foreign nationalist) (8)

SOLEMNLY

Definition: Seriously SLY(cunning/wily) **containing**(catching) [ **anagram of**(… foreign) MOLE + N(abbrev. for "nationalist") ]

One year's hedging right behind spring border (8)

BOUNDARY

Definition: border {[ A(article in grammar for one in quantity) + Y(abbrev. for "year") ] **containing**(…'s hedging) R(abbrev. for "right")} **placed after**(behind) BOUND(spring/leap).

Dash briefly in B&Q, uncle's outside being surly (7)

BRUSQUE

Definition: surly "rush"(to dash/to move quickly) **minus ****its last letter**(briefly) **contained in**(in) B&Q + **1st and last letters of**(…'s outside) "uncle".

Breathe old beer covering husband (6)

EXHALE

Definition: Breathe [ EX-(prefix signifying "old"/former) + ALE(a type of beer) ] **containing**(covering) H(abbrev. for "husband"). Defn: … out.

Screen abridged play with small intermission (6)

RECESS

Definition: intermission **Anagram of**(… play) "Screen" **minus its last letter**(abridged) + **plus**(with) S(abbrev. for "small"). Defn: …/a temporary suspension of formal proceedings.

Crazy about energy drink (4)

MEAD

Definition: drink MAD(crazy/insane) **containing**(about) E(symbol for "energy" in physics). Defn: An alcoholic … of fermented honey and water. Aka honey-wine:

Afterthought to take in concerning old forecast (8)

PRESAGED

Definition: forecast PS(abbrev. for "postscript", an afterthought/an additional remark at the end of a letter or an extra piece of information after the event) **containing**(to take in) RE(with reference to/concerning) + AGED(old/matured).

Resistance to backing figure that's bad (6)

ROTTEN

Definition: bad R(symbol for electrical resistance in physics) + **reversal of**(… backing) TO + TEN(the figure/number 10).

Answer really loudly and declare business (6)

AFFAIR

Definition: business A(abbrev. for "answer", as in "Q and A") + FF(abbrev. for "fortissimo", a musical direction to play very loudly) **plus**(and) AIR(to declare/to say openly). Defn: One's …/concern.

Destroy vessel crossing river with unlimited brio (8)

VAPORISE

Definition: Destroy VASE(a vessel/jar used for holding cut flowers or as an ornament) **containing**(crossing) [ PO(river in Italy) **plus**(with) "brio" **minus its 1st and last letters**(unlimited …) ]. Defn: To … something by turning it into gas through extreme heat.

Anguish for gent regularly overlooked (4)

FRET

Definition: Anguish "for gent" **minus ****its 2nd, 4th and 6th letters**(regularly overlooked).

Close attention by chaps, tons giving affection (10)

ENDEARMENT

Definition: affection END(to close/to finish) + EAR(attention/willingness to listen to others) **plus**(by) MEN(chaps/fellows) + T(abbrev. for "tons").

Sign with tip of nettle that one's a stinger (8)

SCORPION

Definition: a stinger SCORPIO(one of the zodiac's twelve signs, symbolised by a stinger) **plus**(with) **1st letter of**(tip of) "nettle".

Lose footing after lager's knocked back (4)

SLIP

Definition: Lose footing **Reversal of**(…'s knocked back) PILS(a type of lager beer).

Returning rook feeding young bird (4)

WREN

Definition: bird **Reversal of**(Returning) [ R(abbrev. for "rook", in chess notation) **contained in**(feeding) NEW(young/of recent origin) ].

Monstrosity of old yard covered in swill (8)

GARGOYLE

Definition: Monstrosity [ O(abbrev. for "old") + Y(abbrev. for "yard", as a unit of distance) ] **contained in**(covered in) GARGLE(to swill/to wash and rinse, in this case, one's mouth, with liquid).

So careless breaking dishes (10)

CASSEROLES

Definition: dishes **Anagram of**(… breaking) SO CARELESS. A casserole cooked in a casserole:

Hollow space dry home for animal (4)

SETT

Definition: home for animal "space" **minus all its inner letters**(Hollow …) + TT(dry/abstaining from alcoholic drinks).

Being in the grip of virus, large strain for country (8)

BULGARIA

Definition: country BUG(a virus/a microorganism harmful to one's health) **containing**(Being in the grip of …) L(abbrev. for "large") + ARIA(a strain/a song, in this case, in an opera).