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Become ready to eat pie prepared in service (5) | RIPEN | Definition: Become ready to eat
**Anagram of**(… prepared) PIE **contained in**(in) RN(abbrev. for the Royal Navy, a service in the British military). |
Unstable minerals, with oxygen, return to standard state (9) | NORMALISE | Definition: return to standard state
**Anagram of**(Unstable) [MINERALS **plus**(with) O(symbol for the chemical element, oxygen) ]. |
Care for little flower's endless shoot (7) | TENDRIL | Definition: shoot
TEND(to care for/to look after) + "rill"(a little flower/a small stream that, obviously, flows) **minus ****its last letter**(…'s endless). |
Spectral maiden on horse in Xmas show (7) | PHANTOM | Definition: Spectral
M(abbrev. for "maiden", in cricket scores) **placed after**(on) [ H(abbrev. for for "heroin" or "horse" in drug slang) **contained in**(in) PANTO(short for "pantomime", a show traditionally performed at Xmas) ]. |
Picture defeat by France (5) | FLICK | Definition: Picture
LICK(to defeat decisively/to outclass) **placed after**(by) F(International Vehicle Registration code for "France").
Defn: Informal term for a …/a cinema film. |
Allow some crocodile tears (3) | LET | Definition: Allow
**Hidden in**(some) "crocodile tears". |
Strange passion returning in midweek? (5) | EERIE | Definition: Strange
**Reversal of**(… returning) IRE(a passion/a strong emotion, in this case, of anger) **contained in**(in) **middle 2 letters of**(mid) "week". |
Animal doctor near frisky warhorse (7) | VETERAN | Definition: warhorse
VET(short for "veterinarian", a doctor treating animals) + **anagram of**(… frisky) NEAR.
Defn: …/a soldier who has fought in many campaigns. |
Economical water supplier to contact on phone (7) | SPARING | Definition: Economical
SPA(a spring that supplies mineral-rich water) + RING(to contact another on the phone). |
What held up Greek fleet en route to Troy? (6,3) | AEGEAN SEA | Definition: What held up Greek fleet en route to Troy
Cryptic defn: What the Greek fleet of warships floated on/was held up by, on the way to attack Troy. |
Daughter taking bucket down to sink (5) | DRAIN | Definition: sink
D(abbrev. for "daughter") **plus**(taking) RAIN(in this case, heavily/to bucket down).
Defn: …/to reduce to a lower level, say, of amount, as in "this will drain the respect they have for you". |
Communicate with influence (5) | REACH | Definition: Communicate with,influence
Double defn: 1st: To get in touch with; and 2nd: …/to succeed in having an effect on. |
Intensity in United game almost exploded (9) | MAGNITUDE | Definition: Intensity
**Anagram of**(… exploded) [UNITED + "game" **minus ****its last letter**(almost) ]. |
Impressionist perhaps with it, given drink before dinner (8) | APERITIF | Definition: drink before dinner
APER(what you might/perhaps call an impressionist/one who acts out an imitation of/apes somebody) **plus**(with) IT + IF(given that/supposing, as in "Given that he wins, what would you do?"). |
Old head saw parent off (6) | TREPAN | Definition: Old head saw
**Anagram of**(… off) PARENT.
In the old days, these were used:
if you needed a hole in your head: |
Lowly man ruined, ending in gutter (10) | PAWNBROKER | Definition: Lowly man ruined, ending in gutter
PAWN(a lowly man/one with low status and used by others) + BROKE(ruined/bankrupt) + **last letter of**(ending in) "gutter".
Defn: A cryptic definition, I presume, with the solution being the one who did the ruining of others. |
Extraordinary gesture (6) | SIGNAL | Definition: Extraordinary,gesture
Double defn: 1st: …/outstanding; and 2nd: … to convey information. |
Salesperson in ground cited as feeble (8) | DECREPIT | Definition: feeble
REP(short for a sales representative/salesperson) **contained in**(in) **anagram of**(ground) CITED. |
Convict recalled having a field day? (4) | GALA | Definition: field day
**Reversal of**(… recalled) LAG(a convict) **plus**(having) A.
Defn: …/a festive occasion, in this case, held outdoors. |
Second line in menacing playwright's sharp piece (8) | SPLINTER | Definition: sharp piece
S(abbrev. for "second" in time notation) + [ L(abbrev. for "line") **contained in**(in) PINTER(Harold, playwright, some of whose works are described as "comedy of menace") ]. |
Italian monk in Le Mans making move (6) | ANSELM | Definition: Italian monk
**Anagram of**(… making move) LE MANS.
Answer: Italian monk who once held the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. |
Lady Ogilvy perhaps drinking one's port (10) | ALEXANDRIA | Definition: port
ALEXANDRA(possibly/perhaps, the Princess titled The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, a member of the British royal family) **containing**(drinking) I(Roman numeral for "one").
Defn: … in Egypt. |
Elected, given ample time for U-turn as necessary? (8) | INTEGRAL | Definition: necessary
IN(elected/voted in) **plus**(given) **reversal of**(… for U-turn) [ LARGE(ample/substantial) + T(abbrev. for "time") ].
Defn: … to make a whole. |
One's honour in life less if solitary (8) | LONESOME | Definition: solitary
[ ONE'S + OM(abbrev. for the "Order of Merit", a conferred award/honour) ] **contained in**(in) "life" **minus**(less) "if". |
Odd couple from Eire seen with motor mechanic (8) | ENGINEER | Definition: mechanic
**1st and 3rd letters of**(Odd couple from) "Eire" **placed below**(seen with) ENGINE(a motor/a machine converting one form of energy into motion). |
Sex and the City — it has one staying up (6) | VIAGRA | Definition: it has one staying up
VI(Roman numeral for "six", represented by the English prefix "sex-", as in "sexcentenary") **plus**(*and*) AGRA(the city in N. India – where many go to see one of man's – or one man's – greatest erection for a favourite wife).
Defn: …, ie. that which lets one stay up/erect. |
Like cormorant? Not well groomed (6) | SHAGGY | Definition: Not well groomed
SHAG(a cormorant, any of a family of species of aquatic birds) –GY(suffix denoting "like"/having the same characteristics).
… naturally. |
Ancient high-flier involved in crash (6) | ICARUS | Definition: Ancient high-flier involved in crash
Cryptic defn: In Greek mythology, the one who flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax holding his artificial wings, causing him to crash into the sea. |
Long article by Ernesto Guevara? (4) | ACHE | Definition: Long
A(an article in grammar) **plus**(by) CHE(nickname of Ernesto Guevara, Argentinian revolutionary).
Defn: …/yearn for. |
On trial for breaking with my routine (9) | NORMALITY | Definition: routine
**Anagram of**(… for breaking …) [ON TRIAL **plus**(with) MY]. |
Look back on grabbing Simpson's drink (5) | RIOJA | Definition: drink
**Reversal of**(… back on) AIR(the look/appearance given by someone or something) **containing**(grabbing) OJ(initials of Orenthal James Simpson, former American footballer).
Defn: …, specifically from the vineyards in the Spanish region of the same name:
And OJ also stands for another drink, orange juice. |
Pound gets eastern family food dish (7) | RAMEKIN | Definition: food dish
RAM(to pound/hit hard) **plus**(gets) E(abbrev. for "Eastern") + KIN(family/relatives).
Defn: A small bowl: |
Insert rock star Robert's introduction (7) | IMPLANT | Definition: Insert
[I'M PLANT](as in:
… "I'm Plant, Robert Plant, rock star" and lead singer of Led Zeppelin). |
Take unfair advantage of a private draw organised by Kelvin? (4,4) | PULL RANK | Definition: Take unfair advantage of a private
PULL(to draw/to exert a force that causes movement) + RAN(organised/managed by) K(symbol for the kelvin, the unit of temperature in the Kelvin temperature scale).
Defn: To take advantage of one's superior position/rank over another, possibly a lowly private in the military. |
Accounting category for rigged prices (5,5) | FIXED COSTS | Definition: Accounting category
FIXED(rigged/managed an outcome by fraudulent or underhand means) + COSTS(the prices paid for goods or services). |
Salmon's head right in net — pull out (7) | SCRATCH | Definition: pull out
**1st letter of**(…'s head) "Salmon" + [ R(abbrev. for "right") **contained in**(in) CATCH(to net/to capture using, well, a net) ].
Defn: … of an event, such as a race. |
Until a pianist covers Fish (7) | TILAPIA | Definition: Fish
**Hidden in**(… covers) "Until a pianist". |
At risk of death and really annoyed! (10) | ENDANGERED | Definition: At risk
END(the cessation/death of something) **plus**(and) ANGERED(really/totally annoyed/irritated). |
Group of doctors show off info about worthy folk (4,3) | WHO’S WHO | Definition: info about worthy folk
WHO(abbrev. for the World Health Organisation, the group responsible for international public health under the UN) + **anagram of**(… off) SHOW. |
Island has significant area bordering sea, we hear (7) | MAJORCA | Definition: Island
[ MAJOR(significant/important) + A(abbrev. for "area") ] **containing**(bordering) "C"(pronounced/we hear, the same as "sea") . |
Press endlessly saying things without meaning them (4) | IRON | Definition: Press
"irony"(saying things that you don't really mean) **minus ****its last letter**(endlessly …).
Defn: … clothes, say. |
Ultimately, Aquinas and Catholics disseminated such philosophy? (10) | SCHOLASTIC | Definition: such philosophy
**Last letter of**(Ultimately) "Aquinas" **plus**(and) **anagram of**(… disseminated) CATHOLICS. |
Heartless decrees by working president once (6) | WILSON | Definition: president once
"wills"(decrees/specific instructions) **minus its middle letter**(Heartless …) **plus**(by) ON(working).
Defn: … in the USA. |
Everton and Derby's first team clothes not changed (8) | UNEDITED | Definition: not changed
[**1st letter of**(…'s first) "Everton" and "Derby"] **contained in**(… clothes) UNITED(as used in the names of teams, like Manchester United). |
Relative somewhere in the UK swallows indefinite number of drinks (5,4) | BROWN ALES | Definition: drinks
BRO(short for "brother", a relative) + WALES(part of/somewhere in the UK) **containing**(swallows) N(in maths, symbol for an indefinite number). |
Always entertained by bishop, say, of old civilisation (5) | MAYAN | Definition: old civilisation
AY(a poetic form of "always") **contained in**(entertained by) MAN(a piece on a chess board, in this case/say, the bishop). |
Son given either end of tasty pork pie (5) | STORY | Definition: pork pie
S(abbrev. for "son") **plus**(given) (T OR Y)[either the front end or back end of "tasty").
Defn: A lie, or … in rhyming slang. |
Birds with wit circling good spot to the west (4,5) | WILD GEESE | Definition: Birds
WILDE(Oscar, the Irish wit) **containing**(circling) [ G(abbrev. for "good") + **reversal of**(… to the west, in an across clue) SEE(to spot/to look). |
Large drop drunk by that guy, one capital port (8) | HELSINKI | Definition: capital port
[L(abbrev. for "large") + SINK(to drop/come to a lower level)] **contained in**(drunk by) [ HE(that guy) + I(Roman numeral for "one") ]. |
Keeping poles apart, joined European country (6) | SWEDEN | Definition: country
SN(abbrev. for "south" and "north" poles) **contained in**(Keeping … apart …) [WED(joined in matrimony) + E(abbrev. for "European") ]. |
Patience, say, I manage to keep in company, getting arm twisted (5,5) | COMIC OPERA | Definition: Patience, say
[ I + COPE(to manage/to deal with effectively)] **contained in**(to keep in) [ CO(abbrev. for "company") **plus**(getting) **anagram of**(… twisted) ARM.
Defn: An example of which/say is "Patience", by Gilbert and Sullivan. |
eg 1st of December, 2nd of May, 6th of August, 4th of June? (4) | DATE | Definition: eg 1st of December, 2nd of May, 6th of August, 4th of June
**1st letter of**(1st of) "December" + **2nd letter of**(2nd of) "May" + **6th letter of** (6th of) "August" + **4th letter of** (4th of) "June".
Defn: Of which examples are/… |
Work hard in fact to return formal attire (3,4) | TOP HATS | Definition: formal attire
[OP(abbrev. for "opus", a literary or musical work) + H(abbrev. for "hard") ] **contained in**(in) **reversal of**(… to return) STAT(short for "statistic"/a fact). |
Release a lot of mendacious fascists (7) | UNTRUSS | Definition: Release
"untrue"(mendacious/lying) **minus ****its last letter**(a lot of …) SS(Schutzstaffel, the fascist organisation of the Nazi Party. |
Runner has day for run, showing more endurance (7) | HARDIER | Definition: showing more endurance
"harrier"(a cross-country runner) **with** "d"(abbrev. for "day") **replacing**(has … for) "r"(abbrev. for "run" in cricket scores). |
Channel goes wrong about rating given to film (5) | SINUS | Definition: Channel
SINS(goes wrong/commits an immoral act) **containing**(about) U(one of the ratings in the classification system of film).
Defn: … in the body. |
Pavlova with hot topping getting huge praise (7) | HOSANNA | Definition: praise
ANNA(Pavlova, famed ballerina) **placed below**(with … topping, in a down clue) [ H(abbrev. for "hot") **plus**(getting) OS(abbrev. for "outsize"/huge) ]. |
Oblivious to the world, like flipping British PM (6) | ASLEEP | Definition: Oblivious to the world
AS(like/having similar characteristics) **reversal of**(flipping) PEEL(once British Prime Minister). |
Wilful child mostly climbing, say, around home (9) | OBSTINATE | Definition: Wilful
**Reversal of**(… climbing, in a down clue) "boy"(child) **minus ****its last letter**(mostly) + STATE(to say/to declare) ] **containing**(around) IN(at home, as in "I'm home if you want to visit"). |
Caught that chap about to bring up adult fantasy (7) | CHIMERA | Definition: fantasy
C(abbrev. for "caught" in cricket scores) + HIM(that chap) + **reversal of**(… to bring up, in a down clue) RE(about/with reference to) + A(abbrev. for "adult"). |
One cannot stand Bill going round hideous dive drunk (with 10 members of 9 to be found in the grid) (1,5,7) | A HOUSE DIVIDED | Definition: One cannot stand
AD(abbrev. for "advertisement", of which a bill/poster is an example) **containing**(going round) **anagram of**(… drunk) HIDEOUS DIVE.
Defn: From Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. |
Extremely devious setter's rising in value — Logodaedalus, say (9) | WORDSMITH | Definition: Logodaedalus, say
[ **1st and last letters of**(Extremely) "devious" + **reversal of**(…'s rising) I'M(setter is/I am, with the setter using the self-referential pronoun)] **contained in**(in) WORTH(value/merit).
Defn: An example of which/say, is Logodaedalus, a crossword setter. |
Italian who drew one game after another (7) | TIEPOLO | Definition: Italian who drew
POLO(a game/sport played on horseback) **placed under**(… after another, in a down clue) TIE(a game/sports match between individuals or teams in a knock-out competition)
Answer: Giovanni Battista …, an Italian artist. |
Pooh-pooh bust said to interrupt boom, perhaps (7) | DISDAIN | Definition: Pooh-pooh
**Anagram of**(bust) SAID **contained in**(to interrupt) DIN(a noise, an example of which/perhaps is Boom!). |
Covers of special celeb mag keep mum in a spin (7) | SHEATHS | Definition: Covers
S(abbrev. for "special") + HEAT(an English entertainment magazine/a celeb mag) + **reversal of**(… in a spin) SH!(keep mum/quiet). |
Like hikers taking fellow as well towards the top (2,4) | ON FOOT | Definition: Like hikers
ON(taking, as in "are you on medication?") + F(abbrev. for "fellow") + **reversal of**(… towards the top, in a down clue) TOO(as well/also). |
Engineers fail to turn down supplier (5) | EIDER | Definition: down supplier
**Reversal of**(… to turn) [ RE(abbrev. for the Royal Engineers in the British military) + DIE(to fail/to cease of work, as with machinery) ].
Defn: …, duck feathers, that is. |
Leo possibly seeing good chieftains travelling around end of Suez (4,2,3,6) | SIGN OF THE ZODIAC | Definition: Leo possibly
**Anagram of**(… travelling) GOOD CHIEFTAINS **containing**(around) **last letter of**(end of) "Suez".
Defn: Of which an example/possibly is …. |
Owning commercial US college can gratify leader (9) | ADMITTING | Definition: Owning
AD(short for "advertisement", a commercial/promotional material) + MIT(abbrev. for Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a US college) + TIN(can/a cylindrical container of metal) + **1st letter of**(… leader) "gratify".
Defn: …/acknowledging responsibility for. |
Quickly visit Post Office to get code for debit card (3,2) | POP IN | Definition: Quickly visit
PO(abbrev. for "Post Office") **plus**(to get) PIN(abbrev. for "personal identification number", a code used to validate a debit card transaction). |
Group support for an unfortunate event (7) | SETBACK | Definition: an unfortunate event
SET(a group of similar items) + BACK(to support/to champion). |
Agent and setter returning alternative ruler (7) | EMPEROR | Definition: ruler
**Reversal of**(… returning) [ REP(short for "representative", an agent) **plus**(and) ME(the setter of this crossword using the self-referential pronoun) ] + OR(introducing an alternative/giving a choice). |
Consume repasts regularly (3) | EAT | Definition: Consume
**2nd, 4th and 6th letters of**(… regularly) "repasts". |
A fellow repeatedly found in home is most uncool (7) | NAFFEST | Definition: most uncool
A + FF(2x/repeatedly, abbrev. for "fellow") **contained in**(found in) NEST(a home/a place where, say, an insect breeds or shelters).
Defn: …/lacking taste or style. |
Employee in rowdy taverns (7) | SERVANT | Definition: Employee
**Anagram of**(rowdy) TAVERNS. |
Celebration of son getting back ending finally after one (7) | SHINDIG | Definition: Celebration
S(abbrev. for "son") **plus**(getting) HIND(situated at the back part of the body) + [ **last letter of**(… finally) "ending" **placed after**(after) I(Roman numeral for "one") ].
Defn: A lively party as a celebration. |
Revolting jerk taking part in genuine performance (7) | RECITAL | Definition: performance
**Reversal of**(Revolting) TIC(a jerk/a spasm) **contained in**(taking part in) REAL(genuine/authentic). |
Eggs in line for auditor (3) | ROE | Definition: Eggs
**Homophone of**(… for auditor) "row"(a line/a number of things arranged in a line). |
Drink sprayed initially in part of eye (7) | RETSINA | Definition: Drink
**1st letter of**(… initially) "sprayed" **contained in**(in) RETINA(that part of the eye consisting of a layer of light-sensitive cells).
Defn: …, specifically a Greek wine flavoured with resin. |
Section of choir on outing showing resolve (4,3) | IRON OUT | Definition: resolve
**Hidden in**(Section of) "choir on outing".
Defn: To …/to come to a settlement. |
Fruit left for gem of a girl (5) | PEARL | Definition: gem,a girl
PEAR(a fruit) + L(abbrev. for "left"). Double defn: 1st: A spherical mass formed within the shell of a pearl oyster, prized as a gem; and 2nd: A girl's name. |
Outlaw party involving especially long time with Duke (9) | DESPERADO | Definition: Outlaw
DO(a party/a social function) **containing**(involving) [ ESP(abbrev. for "especially") + ERA(a long time period) **plus**(with) D(abbrev. for "Duke") ]. |
Dame's new fantasy sadly amounts to nothing (5,5,5) | SWEET FANNY ADAMS | Definition: nothing
**Anagram of**(… sadly) DAME'S NEW FANTASY. |
Spartan's strides to falter and flag (5,3,7) | STARS AND STRIPES | Definition: flag
**Anagram of**(… to falter) SPARTAN'S STRIDES.
Defn: The US national …. |
Reach old woman in boat returning (5) | GAMUT | Definition: Reach
**Reversal of**(… returning) [ MA(informal term for one's mother, an old woman presumably) **contained in**(in) TUG(a powerful boat used to tow and push larger boats or ships) ].
Defn: …/extent. |
Shock from power failure around end of October (7) | OUTRAGE | Definition: Shock
OUTAGE(a power failure/unscheduled shutdown) **containing**(around) **last letter of**(end of) "October". |
Knitter modified knick-knack (7) | TRINKET | Definition: knick-knack
**Anagram of**(… modified) KNITTER. |
Young flyers, say, holding adult licences (7) | EAGLETS | Definition: Young flyers
EG(abbrev. for "exempli gratia"/for example/say) **containing**(holding) A(abbrev. for "adult") + LETS(allows/licences – is the distinction between "licence" and "license" a thing of the past?) |
In theory working daily (2,5) | ON PAPER | Definition: In theory
ON(working/functioning, as with an electrical appliance, say) + PAPER(an example of which is the daily, a newspaper printed daily). |
Bring in worker for chief (9) | IMPORTANT | Definition: chief
IMPORT(to bring into one's country products bought in another country) + ANT(a social insect, one of whose castes is the worker). |
Take drugs, emaciated, drawn, shabby (3-5) | DOG-EARED | Definition: shabby
[DO GEAR](take/use illegal drugs/gear) + "emaciated" **minus all its inner letters **(drawn/drained from). |
in Paris — time to find one's correct position (6) | ORIENT | Definition: to find one's correct position
O(letter representing 0) **plus**(–/hyphen) RIEN(as spoken in Paris, French for "nothing"/0) + T(abbrev. for "time"). |
Make even draw around about 7 (5,2) | LEVEL UP | Definition: Make even
**Reversal of**(… about) PULL(to draw/to tow) **containing**(about) EVE(answer to 7 down). |
State former President beginning to struggle (7) | EXPRESS | Definition: State
EX-(prefix signifying former/once) PRES(abbrev. for "President") + **1st letter of**(beginning to) "struggle". |
Caught touchy setter stripping off for bed (9) | COUCHETTE | Definition: bed
C(abbrev. for "caught" in cricket scores) + "touchy setter" **minus the respective 1st and last letters**(stripping off).
Was the setter responding to this question (just wondering): |
Thing coming out after dark? (5) | NIGHT | Definition: after dark
**Anagram of**(… coming out) THING. |
Extra incentive to board public transport? (5) | TRAIN | Definition: public transport
**Hidden in**(… to board/to cover) "Extra incentive". |
Intently looking around, very hungry (8) | STARVING | Definition: hungry
STARING(intently looking with one's eyes wide open) **containing**(around) V(abbrev. for "very"). |
Moles which are found under the tracks? (8) | SLEEPERS | Definition: Moles,which are found under the tracks
Double defn: 1st: …/spies who are in sensitive positions in a country's security organisations; and 2nd: Beams … of a railway. |
African animal area located between two major US cities (5) | NYALA | Definition: African animal
A(abbrev. for "area") **contained in**(located between) NY,LA(abbrev. for New York and Los Angeles respectively, 2 major cities in the US).
The female: and male: |
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