Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Left crew cuddling redhead? Exactly! (5,5) | QUITE RIGHT | Left crew cuddling redhead? Exactly! (5,5)
QUIT E(R)IGHT |
Entertainer has support crumble (7) | PIERROT | Entertainer has support crumble (7)
PIER ROT |
Boat's propeller is better (6) | PUNTER | Boat's propeller is better (6)
Double definition – one propelling a punt and one putting on a bet |
Parishioner put down fiancé (6) | LAYMAN | Parishioner put down fiancé (6)
LAY MAN |
Militia protecting our weapons store (7) | ARMOURY | Militia protecting our weapons store (7)
ARM(OUR)Y |
A rector in delirium is unhealthy (10) | INSANITARY | A rector in delirium is unhealthy (10)
INSANIT (A R) Y |
God has a name that has a point (5) | THORN | God has a name that has a point (5)
THOR-N |
Caught in increasing dependence (9) | ADDICTION | Caught in increasing dependence (9)
ADDI(C)TION |
Penny steered badly when driven round the bend (8) | PESTERED | Penny steered badly when driven round the bend (8)
P *(steered) |
More enthusiastic mourner (6) | KEENER | More enthusiastic mourner (6)
Double definition |
Look in skip for meat (8) | ESCALOPE | Look in skip for meat (8)
ESCA(LO)PE |
Flattery works in drama (4,5) | SOAP OPERA | Flattery works in drama (4,5)
SOAP = "flattery OPERA (plural of OPUS) |
German gets away from Mediterranean smell (4) | REEK | German gets away from Mediterranean smell (4)
G removed from GREEK |
Poteen's brewed for the dance (3-4) | ONE-STEP | Poteen's brewed for the dance (3-4)
*(poteen's) |
Good science provides good food (10) | GASTRONOMY | Good science provides good food (10)
G-ASTRONOMY |
Poor girl's obsession (5) | THING | Poor girl's obsession (5)
THIN – G
G for GIRL; trying to think if I've ever seen that? |
Rodent tucked into food for Rover (6) | PIRATE | Rodent tucked into food for Rover (6)
PI(RATE)E |
Vehicle in process of decay? Tough! (6) | ROBUST | Vehicle in process of decay? Tough! (6)
RO(BUS)T |
Fame for coppers capturing errant minor (10) | PROMINENCE | Fame for coppers capturing errant minor (10)
P (*minor) ENCE |
Publication about sport shows scholarship (9) | ERUDITION | Publication about sport shows scholarship (9)
E(RU)DITION, where RU = Rugby Union |
Examine vessel for cosmetic (8) | EYELINER | Examine vessel for cosmetic (8)
EYE-LINER |
Fool can't use production (7) | NUTCASE | Fool can't use production (7)
*(cant use) |
Wear down a nail with emery initially (6) | ABRADE | Wear down a nail with emery initially (6)
A BRAD E(mery) |
Class overturn child's toy (6) | TIPTOP | Class overturn child's toy (6)
TIP TOP |
Society has a lot of problems (5) | SPOTS | Society has a lot of problems (5)
S POTS |
High point is when one embraces maiden (4) | ACME | High point is when one embraces maiden (4)
AC(M)E |
Will and son taking flat, occupying temporary accommodation (9) | TESTAMENT | Will and son taking flat, occupying temporary accommodation (9)
TE(S-TAME)NT |
French art in a work from storyteller (5) | AESOP | French art in a work from storyteller (5)
A(ES)OP
"es" as in French "tu es" = "thou art" |
A bit holy? Last thing with the Established Church! (5) | PIECE | A bit holy? Last thing with the Established Church! (5)
PI-(th)E-CE
E = "last thing with the" (ie last letter of "the") and CE = Church of England |
Charming belle acted naughtily (10) | DELECTABLE | Charming belle acted naughtily (10)
*(belle acted) |
Pusillanimous folk – not initially troublemakers (4) | IMPS | Pusillanimous folk – not initially troublemakers (4)
(w)IMPS |
Great sportsman in Brazil, promoter of products (7) | BRADMAN | Great sportsman in Brazil, promoter of products (7)
BR-ADMAN
Don Bradman, the legendary Australian cricketer, who provided Mr Manley with one of is alter egos. |
Number in uniform in place of debauchery (7) | SEVENTY | Number in uniform in place of debauchery (7)
S(EVEN)TY |
More than one creature becomes weak outside beastly home (7) | RODENTS | More than one creature becomes weak outside beastly home (7)
RO(DEN)TS |
Oaf, in essence, somewhat lacking in tact (7) | FINESSE | Oaf, in essence, somewhat lacking in tact (7)
Hidden in "oaF IN ESSEnce", indicated by "somewhat lacking". |
Guy in loose dress Society turned away (4) | MOCK | Guy in loose dress Society turned away (4)
(s)MOCK
An uncommon meaning og "to guy" is to "to make fun of" |
Such as could be turning "terra" into lake? (10) | TORRENTIAL | Such as could be turning "terra" into lake? (10)
*(terra into L)
An &lit |
Red meat to go off on account of worm (9) | TREMATODE | Red meat to go off on account of worm (9)
*(red meat to)
Personally, I think the "on account of" is superfluous. |
Nymph offering love divine? (5) | OREAD | Nymph offering love divine? (5)
O-READ
O = nothing = "love" and READ ="divine" as "to read omens" |
City's final wish being broadcast (5) | RIPON | City's final wish being broadcast (5)
R.I.P.-ON |
Army in break penetrating enemy – sign of things to come (9) | FORETASTE | Army in break penetrating enemy – sign of things to come (9)
FO(RE(TA)ST)E |
Bound to record illegally, journalist? (5) | TAPED | Bound to record illegally, journalist? (5)
TAP-ED |
Weighing-machine registering stones and pounds kept by special dealer (9) | STEELYARD | Weighing-machine registering stones and pounds kept by special dealer (9)
ST – *(dealer) keeping Y
Why does Y equal "POUNDS"? |
A male ruler to fix fine historically (10) | AMERCEMENT | A male ruler to fix fine historically (10)
A-M-ER-CEMENT
An old word for a monetary penalty ("FINE") |
Account for level land once being higher (7) | EXPLAIN | Account for level land once being higher (7)
EX-PLAIN
The setter appears to be proposing that land which was once high would have been a plain (I don't agree with that assumption, though) |
Places of worship established by two occupants of Lambeth Palace (7) | TEMPLES | Places of worship established by two occupants of Lambeth Palace (7)
Don't know why, though? |
Not here always, a couple of characters out of sight (4) | AWAY | Not here always, a couple of characters out of sight (4)
A(L)WAY(S)
The couple of characters out of sight are ther L and the S – lazy cluing, in my opinion. |
Outburst from Sergeant Major full of upsetting rubbish (5) | STORM | Outburst from Sergeant Major full of upsetting rubbish (5)
S(<=ROT)M |
Fairy with elegance in architectural feature (9) | PERISTYLE | Fairy with elegance in architectural feature (9)
PERI-STYLE
A Peri is a fairy in Persian mythology, and a persityle is a rank of columns surrounding a building |
Maybe a night on the tiles is becoming normal (7,3) | EVENING OUT | Maybe a night on the tiles is becoming normal (7,3)
Double definition |
In pub see the (not hard to spot) weather guide (9) | BAROMETER | In pub see the (not hard to spot) weather guide (9)
Help – I can't parse this one! |
Name wine that goes to the head – not a pleasant quality (9) | NASTINESS | Name wine that goes to the head – not a pleasant quality (9)
N-ASTI-NESS |
Reason why theatregoers can't go and swank (4-3) | SHOW OFF | Reason why theatregoers can't go and swank (4-3)
Double definition |
Desist from supporting one type of share-seller (7) | FORBEAR | Desist from supporting one type of share-seller (7)
FOR-BEAR
A bear is a pessimistic shares dealer, as opposed to the optimistic bull |
Cry comes from cold Dickensian character (5) | CHEEP | Cry comes from cold Dickensian character (5)
C-HEEP
Uriah Heep, the ever so 'umble character from "David Copperfield" |
Projection given by account book not right (5) | LEDGE | Projection given by account book not right (5)
LEDGE(r)
A ledge projects, so is a "PROJECTION" |
Be gushy, as one with enthusiasm hugging wife (4) | FAWN | Be gushy, as one with enthusiasm hugging wife (4)
FA(W)N |
Commit to pen when mail crashed (4,4) | SEND DOWN | Commit to pen when mail crashed (4,4)
I can see where the setter is coming from here, but it's a wee bit of a stretch. |
Unruffled about going in tartan (6) | PLACID | Unruffled about going in tartan (6)
PLA(C)ID |
Showed off and took flight with relative on board (8) | FLAUNTED | Showed off and took flight with relative on board (8)
FL(AUNT)ED |
Brew which is fashionable? Fine with milk (6) | INFUSE | Brew which is fashionable? Fine with milk (6)
IN-F-USE
Don't think I've seen MILK = USE before, but Chambers has "manipulate" as a synonym, so should be OK. |
Sneak is utter whopper (8) | TELLTALE | Sneak is utter whopper (8)
TELL TALE |
Cinders associates with maiden over leaving (6) | EMBERS | Cinders associates with maiden over leaving (6)
(M)EMBERS |
Husband with cocked derringer causes distraction (3,7) | RED HERRING | Husband with cocked derringer causes distraction (3,7)
*(h derringer)
Personally not a fan of these split anagrams. Would have preferred the h to have been indicated as being IN the anagram rather than WITH it. |
Something to connect cloth I've torn in church (5,5) | CLOVE HITCH | Something to connect cloth I've torn in church (5,5)
C *(cloth ive) E
I wasn't a boy scout, but it's handy to know the names of common knots to solve crosswords. |
Leave sweet having cleaned out its centre (6) | DESERT | Leave sweet having cleaned out its centre (6)
DES(s)ERT |
What promoters want – somewhat less returning yobs (8) | SELLOUTS | What promoters want – somewhat less returning yobs (8)
<=LES(s) LOUTS |
A flock of crows eat voraciously (6) | MURDER | A flock of crows eat voraciously (6)
Double definition – a murder of crows and murder as in "I could murder a burger right now" |
Fellow ordered carpaccio but not third or fourth slices of bread (8) | FOCACCIA | Fellow ordered carpaccio but not third or fourth slices of bread (8)
F *(caaccio) – removing the third and fourth slices of caRPaccio. |
Conservative bar is bright (6) | CLEVER | Conservative bar is bright (6)
C-LEVER |
Famously isolated place where the lanes are windy (2,6) | ST HELENA | Famously isolated place where the lanes are windy (2,6)
*(the lanes)
When parsing this, I find it difficult to justify the "are" in this clue, but could be convinced otherwise? |
Talk about fair cut in refuge (6) | SAFETY | Talk about fair cut in refuge (6)
SA (FET(e) Y
See my preamble. |
Almost noon and still morning? (6) | NEARLY | Almost noon and still morning? (6)
N EARLY |
Give in playing during engagement (6) | DONATE | Give in playing during engagement (6)
D(ON)ATE
See my preamble |
With tilt, that is, rubbish leaves this (7,3) | WHEELIE BIN | With tilt, that is, rubbish leaves this (7,3)
W-HEEL-i.e.-BIN
This only works if "RUBBISH" and "BIN" are synonymous, which they aren't. |
Well-known feature left with a blemish (8) | LANDMARK | Well-known feature left with a blemish (8)
L-AND MARK
The "a" before "blemish" in the clue is superfluous. See my preamble. |
Energy source would be cloudier if unrefined (5,3) | CRUDE OIL | Energy source would be cloudier if unrefined (5,3)
*(crude oil) |
Duke with reservation knowing equestrian event (8) | DRESSAGE | Duke with reservation knowing equestrian event (8)
D-RES-SAGE |
Duck and another bird set free? (7,3) | CHICKEN OUT | Duck and another bird set free? (7,3) |
Scholar of no practical relevance (8) | ACADEMIC | Scholar of no practical relevance (8)
Double definition |
Safeguard lags before ever getting fixed (8) | CONSERVE | Safeguard lags before ever getting fixed (8)
CONS *(ever) |
Rider is off and on before being behind (8) | DERRIERE | Rider is off and on before being behind (8)
*(rider) ERE |
Place with quiet charm (6) | PLEASE | Place with quiet charm (6)
PL-EASE |
Might section with canine get into drug-runner? (6) | MUSCLE | Might section with canine get into drug-runner? (6)
MU (S C) LE
I assume dentists may use C as shorthand for "CANINE" but I can't find reference to it in Chambers or online. |
Where to get tortilla?! Especially with an adult (6) | ESPANA | Where to get tortilla?! Especially with an adult (6)
ESP-AN-A
In Spain, a tortilla is an omelette, not to be confused with the Latin America tortilla. |
Pushes into corridors (7) | LOBBIES | Definition: Pushes
Double definition |
Valuable assets in French art gallery (6) | ESTATE | Definition: Valuable assets
ES-TATE
ES = art (as in "thou art") in French |
Effusive lecture on musical recalled (9) | TALKATIVE | Definition: Effusive
TALK <=EVITA |
Compiler is in debt and covered in frost (5) | RIMED | Definition: covered in frost
R(I'M)ED
I can see what the setter is trying to do, and I applaud him for it, but in debt is IN **THE** RED, is it not? |
Sacrifice to endlessly simulate love (5) | FORGO | Definition: Sacrifice
FORG(e) O |
Content to sharpen tag on serrated shapes (9) | PENTAGONS | Definition: shapes
Hidden in "sharPEN TAG ON Serrated" |
Understood vase was reserved (8) | TACITURN | Definition: reserved
TACIT-URN |
Goddess sits on aluminium base (6) | ALKALI | Definition: base
AL-KALI
KALI is a significant Hindu goddess |
Team of elves carry Elrond's head (6) | ELEVEN | Definition: Team
EL(E)VEN
Elrond is a half-elven character from "Lord of the Rings" |
Overturned ruling on medical equipment (4,4) | IRON LUNG | Definition: medical equipment
*(ruling on) |
Routed above and beyond by radio (9) | OVERTHREW | Definition: Routed
OVER – homophone of THROUGH |
Teacher nearly useless at sport (5) | RABBI | Definition: Teacher
RABBI(t)
Have come across RABBIT as a tail-ender in cricket. Does it apply to other sports? |
Broken stick – a putter – is glued together and trimmed (5) | KAPUT | Definition: Broken
Hidden in "sticK A PUTter"
Clue's a bit long-winded. |
I'd book Hunger Games for northern city (9) | EDINBURGH | Definition: northern city
(*I'd B Hunger)
Games as an anagrind? |
Defence sector undergoes reconstruction (6) | ESCORT | Definition: Defence
*(sector) |
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