Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Soothed by unending see saw (7) | SEDATED | Definition: Soothed
SE(e) DATED
Excellent clue |
Excuse to detonate article on pirate (3,3,3,4) | LET OFF THE HOOK | Definition: Excuse
LET Off = detonate
THE = artcle
HOOK = pirate in *Peter Pan |
Belt is naked and spicy, but not hard (7) | BALDRIC | Definition: Belt
BALD-RIC(h) |
What retired farmer might say in part of the Pacific northwest (5) | IDAHO | Definition: part of the Pacific northwest
Homophone of I'D A HOE |
Mariners find fish aboard ship (8) | SKIPPERS | Definition: Mariners
S-KIPPER-S |
They leave river before boat's bow is broken off (6) | EXEUNT | Definition: They leave
EXE (p)UNT |
Scientist plunges into lake in waterproof cloth (9) | TARPAULIN | Definition: waterproof cloth
TAR(PAULI)N |
Lob atom bomb? It's a lottery (7) | TOMBOLA | Lob atom bomb? It's a lottery (7)
*(lob atom) |
Famous get pointed out (13) | DISTINGUISHED | Definition: Famous
Double definition |
2 x 17 = gun (6-3) | TWENTY-TWO | Definition: gun
2 x ELEVEN (17a solution) = 22
A 22 is a .22 calibre handgun |
Before start of summer, have to slice into cheese cakes (8) | BROWNIES | Before start of summer, have to slice into cheese cakes (8)
BR(OWN)IE-S(ummer) |
Frees old European politicians – about time! (7) | EXEMPTS | Definition: Frees
EX-E-MP(T)S |
How one looks after too much tanning without opening suncream? Just the opposite! (7) | UNBURNT | Definition: How one looks after too much tanning
(s)UNBURNT |
Wild about a trend for reinvention (6) | ARDENT | Definition: Wild
*(a trend) |
Frenetic onslaught seizes bomber (5) | RABID | Definition: Frenetic
RA(B)ID |
Like writers, they branch out (6) | ASPENS | Like writers, they branch out (6)
AS-PENS |
The starting point in court proceedings (8) | BASELINE | The starting point in court proceedings (8)
Nice one!
The baseline is of course where a tennis player serves from, therefore starting proceedings on court. |
Former champion makes a couple of points about a claim to be sick (8) | WILLIAMS | Former champion makes a couple of points about a claim to be sick (8)
W(ILL I AM)S
Could be Serena or Venus Williams, both ex-champions at Wimbledon. |
A number in the band showing real enthusiasm (6) | RAVING | A number in the band showing real enthusiasm (6)
R(A-V)ING |
A spinner has a cute fringe arrangement (10) | CENTRIFUGE | A spinner has a cute fringe arrangement (10)
*(cute fringe) |
Swarm back to join up (4) | MEET | Swarm back to join up (4)
<=TEEM ("swarm") |
Releases popular short hit (8) | DROPSHOT | Releases popular short hit (8)
DROPS-HOT
The tennis theme continues. |
The French experiment is a la mode (6) | LATEST | The French experiment is a la mode (6)
LA ("The" in French)-TEST |
In one month, we hear, you are twice a champion (6) | MURRAY | In one month, we hear, you are twice a champion (6)
M(U R R)AY
I'm uncomfortable with the homophone here (see my comment for 6dn) |
Drive on the left or right (8) | FOREHAND | Drive on the left or right (8)
A tennis shot which could be played with the left or right hand, or indeed both.
The clue isn't specific enough for my liking, (a forehand doesn't need to be a drive (could be a lob, a drop shot etc)) and requires checking letters (could just as easily be backhand).
Again, you need to realise that the crossword has a theme for this one to work. |
Rome's mid-month show about to cause a minor diversion (4) | IDES | Rome's mid-month show about to cause a minor diversion (4)
s(IDES)how |
What finally emerges to stop a small professional channel (3,7) | END PRODUCT | What finally emerges to stop a small professional channel (3,7)
END PRO-DUCT |
Alternative place to cross a river in Suffolk (6) | ORFORD | Alternative place to cross a river in Suffolk (6)
OR-FORD
Orford is a town in Suffolk. A bit vague, but the wordplay will get you there. |
Comes back about outer limits (8) | REBOUNDS | Comes back about outer limits (8)
RE-BOUNDS |
The yachtsman's bar that reps read about (8) | SPREADER | The yachtsman's bar that reps read about (8)
*(reps read)
A spreader is a spar on a slaiboat (new one on me!) |
Designed to look like the ocean (6) | THEMED | Designed to look like the ocean (6)
THEMED
The Med is a sea, though, is it not? |
Direction followed by parasites to cut through (5) | SLICE | Direction followed by parasites to cut through (5)
S-LICE |
Lace first treated to produce a brilliant effect (5) | ECLAT | Lace first treated to produce a brilliant effect (5)
*(lace)-T |
Submissive like a mid-European (7) | SLAVISH | Submissive like a mid-European (7)
Like a Slav.
As Slavish isn't a word, I think a question amrk at the end of the clue may have been in order. |
Light brown unglazed pot (7) | BISCUIT | Light brown unglazed pot (7)
Double definition |
After first shouting you are sounding serious – that's bizarre! (7) | SURREAL | After first shouting you are sounding serious – that's bizarre! (7)
S-UR ("you are" sounding)-REAL
In my opinion, the "you are" is clumsy, as the clue doesn't include the homophone. If I'm being generous, it may be OK, becaause it is indicating the two individual letters U and R, but the "you are" sound doesn't form part of the answer. |
A successful doubles partnership (4,5) | LOVE MATCH | A successful doubles partnership (4,5)
This clue isn't cryptic. It may be thematic, if the general theme is "tennis", but "love match" in itself is not a tennis term. |
The invisible man? (3-6) | NON-PERSON | The invisible man? (3-6)
Not cryptic. One who is unseen or ignored is a non-person. Don't see what's cryptic about that. |
About to fall on a circular tour (5,4) | ROUND TRIP | About to fall on a circular tour (5,4)
ROUND-TRIP |
One for takng a view from below (9) | PERISCOPE | One for takng a view from below (9)
Cryptic definition |
Produced and given away (7) | YIELDED | Produced and given away (7)
Double definition |
A leading racketeer who dined with the Queen a couple of times (7) | FEDERER | A leading racketeer who dined with the Queen a couple of times (7)
FED-E.R.-E.R.
Roger, of course. |
Unusual tool to create a Celtic delicacy (7) | RAREBIT | Unusual tool to create a Celtic delicacy (7)
RARE-BIT
As in Welsh ("Celtic") rarebit |
The point at which an advantage always follows. (5) | DEUCE | The point at which an advantage always follows. (5)
Another tennis-themed clue. |
With business static a dreaded group of activists appear within (5) | CADRE | With business static a dreaded group of activists appear within (5)
Group of activists appearing in "statiC A DREaded".
The indicator of the hidden clue is too far from the fodder, though. |
New York indicator down; joined sex orgy (3,5,5) | DOW JONES INDEX | New York indicator down; joined sex orgy (3,5,5)
*(down joined sex) |
Fine female character (4) | FAIR | Fine female character (4)
F + AIR |
A dull queen frantic without peer (10) | UNEQUALLED | A dull queen frantic without peer (10)
*(a dull queen) |
Husband and wife upset the French (6) | COUPLE | Husband and wife upset the French (6)
COUP + LE
COUP is a good Scot's word for "spill" or "knock over" |
Good man I hired to obtain dagger (8) | STILETTO | Good man I hired to obtain dagger (8)
ST + I + LET + TO |
Report that such evidence is not admissble (7) | HEARSAY | Report that such evidence is not admissble (7)
Double definition, or cryptic defintion. It's neither in my book. |
Andersen, a Tory hosting American politician (7) | SENATOR | Andersen, a Tory hosting American politician (7)
hidden in ("hosting") AnderSEN A TORy |
Hunger for a pie – favourite tin-opener included (8) | APPETITE | Hunger for a pie – favourite tin-opener included (8)
A + P(PET)I (T)E
The wordplay in the clue doesn't work for me as it indicates A + (PET-T)IE |
Way before our first music equipment (6) | STEREO | Way before our first music equipment (6)
ST + ERE + O ("our first", i.e first letter of "our") |
Players share power cut (10) | CASTRATION | Players share power cut (10)
CAST + RATION |
Smooth bed lining (4) | SAND | Smooth bed lining (4)
Double definition
SAND = "use sandpaper" = "smooth", and is also the lining of a sand bed. |
Take part in an away match (5) | ELOPE | Take part in an away match (5)
Cryptic definition – like it! |
Cosmetic watch? Ship back (8) | EYELINER | Cosmetic watch? Ship back (8)
EYE + LINER |
Unconscious, comes to – a development (8) | COMATOSE | Unconscious, comes to – a development (8)
*(comes to a) |
A container partially open (4) | AJAR | A container partially open (4)
If I had a £ for every time I'd seen this clue… |
Last to be over river (6) | ENDURE | Last to be over river (6)
I may be missing something, but is "Last" doing double duty in this clue?
END = "Last" over URE ("river") |
When soft language is used to denigrate (7) | ASPERSE | When soft language is used to denigrate (7)
AS + P + ERSE |
Gunfire I redirected at idol (8) | FIGURINE | Gunfire I redirected at idol (8)
*(gunfire I) |
Water down ale? True, tad disturbing (10) | ADULTERATE | Water down ale? True, tad disturbing (10)
*(ale true tad) |
Specialist used to be cheeky (6) | EXPERT | Specialist used to be cheeky (6)
EX-PERT as in "was once pert" |
Ideal according to splinter group caught by some (10) | PERFECTION | Ideal according to splinter group caught by some (10)
PER + FECTION (homophone, supposedly, of FACTION).
Even with the qualifying "for some", I struggle with FECTION as a homophone fo FACTION, but then as a Scot, I hate a lot of homophone clues. |
Raving at maiden, bright- eyed and bushy-tailed (8) | ANIMATED | Raving at maiden, bright- eyed and bushy-tailed (8)
*(at maiden) |
O! Heroic lover of evergreen shrub (8) | OLEANDER | O! Heroic lover of evergreen shrub (8) |
Writer diving in river left a sound measure (7) | DECIBEL | Writer diving in river left a sound measure (7)
DE(<+BIC)E + L |
Pluto declassified as one representation film (6) | PLANET | Pluto declassified as one representation film (6)
PLAN + E.T. |
Rod Stewart, perhaps, to perform before her majesty (6) | SINGER | Rod Stewart, perhaps, to perform before her majesty (6)
SING before E.R
This is a lazy clue in my opinion. |
Moonraker, for one, put to sea (4) | SAIL | Moonraker, for one, put to sea (4)
Double definition (kind of!) |
Learned one tune to counter uncontrolled movement (7) | GNOSTIC | Definition: Learned
<=SONG + TIC |
Wise to get panties off (7) | SAPIENT | Definition: Wise
*(panties) |
Element in legalese judge denied (5) | ARGON | Definition: Element
(j)ARGON |
Schmaltzy book returned by student on Hebridean island (9) | EMOTIONAL | Definition: Schmaltzy
<=TOME + IONA-L |
One friend replaces husband in German city or town (9) | MUNICIPAL | Definition: town
MUNIC(h)-1 PAL |
A second pair sent from madhouse across centre (5) | ABEAM | Definition: across centre
A + BE(dl)AM |
Timeless band's backing track (5) | SPOOR | Definition: track
<=(t)ROOPS |
Edward Alleyn and a tiger run wild? (9) | TRAGEDIAN | Definition: Edward Alleyn
*(and a tiger) |
Surprisingly apt study contains chapter on unknown nursery- rhyme (5-4) | PATTY-CAKE | Surprisingly apt study contains chapter on unknown nursery- rhyme (5-4)
(*apt) +T(Y + C)AKE
*Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man.*
*Bake me a cake as fast as you can;*
*Roll it up, roll it up;*
*And throw it in a pan!*
*Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man |
One female artist carries box of bricks (5) | RHODA | Definition: carries
R(HOD)A
R.A. carrying HOD |
Snarl from King George hunting bird (5) | GROWL | Definition: Snarl
G.R. + OWL |
Chaps when old discuss Jack's impulse buy (9) | BEANSTALK | Definition: Jack's impulse buy
(old) BEANS + TALK
Technically, Jack bought beans… |
Mark left by mostly classical composer (9) | SCARLATTI | Mark left by mostly classical composer (9)
SCAR-L-ATTI(c) |
Manx beast shows inner personality (5) | ANIMA | Definition: inner personality
ANIMA(L) |
Some split hairs to update this language (7) | SIAMESE | Definition: this language
Hidden in "spliT HAIrs" is THAI, which is an update of Siamese. |
Aim to keep spirit and energy with driving power (7) | ENGINED | Definition: with driving power
EN(GIN-E)D |
G&S entertains me with stuff that has some weight (7) | GRAMMES | Definition: some weight
G(RAM-ME)S |
Church area unkempt for a long time (5,4) | ORGAN LOFT | Definition: Church area
*(for a long t)
The organ loft is a gallery in a church where the organ is played. |
Put to bed at home, got up after this? (5) | TONIC | Definition: this
=>C(IN)OT |
Ruler moved to palace across river (9) | CLEOPATRA | Definition: Ruler
*(to palace + r) |
Asian city European in spirit (5) | SEOUL | Asian city European in spirit (5)
S(E)OUL |
Ship corroded in stream under pressure (9) | PRIVATEER | Ship corroded in stream under pressure (9)
P-RIV(ATE)ER |
Man makes turn in drive-in restaurant (5) | ERNIE | Man makes turn in drive-in restaurant (5)
hidden backwards in "drivE-IN REstaurant" |
Ruler at Salamis might be 10 where 10's unseated (7) | TELAMON | Definition: Ruler at Salamis
*(emotional – io) |
Ultimately aristocratic blood this colour? (5,4) | ROYAL BLUE | Definition: this colour
The best I can do in parsing this is that aristocrats have blue blood and the ultmiate in aristocracy is royalty, so this is a mildly cryptic definition? |
Area surrounded by badgers outside compound (9) | ACETAMIDE | Area surrounded by badgers outside compound (9)
Sorry – this one had me beat, until Eileen came to the rescue (see Comment 1). |
Current loan is to supply withdrawal (9) | ISOLATION | Definition: withdrawal
I + *(loan is to)
*I* is the conventional symbol for electrical current |
Horse that flew sees winning post the way FT does (7) | PEGASUS | Horse that flew sees winning post the way FT does (7)
PEG + AS US
The post you hit at the end of a game of croquet is called the PEG, therefore "winning post" = PEG
The "AS US" bit is clumsy, in my opinion. |
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