Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Middle class independent is into discount measure (5) | CUBIT | Definition: measure
CU (B I)T
When classifying UK demographics, B is seen as "middle class" with A as "upper class" etc. |
Chester sounds like a singer (4) | DEVA | Definition: Chester
Homophone of DIVA ("singer") |
Tend to revolve around countryman's family, which is tough (5-7) | THICK-SKINNED | Tend to revolve around countryman's family, which is tough (5-7)
*(tend) around HICK'S KIN |
Media report on a logical exit strategy (5,7) | PRESS RELEASE | Definition: Media report
Double definition, one of which is slightly cryptic |
Line of long dresses reduced by a metre (4) | AXIS | Definition: Line
(m) AXIS |
Attempt to down drink after Mr Murray's gone, filled to the top (5) | ABRIM | Attempt to down drink after Mr Murray's gone, filled to the top (5)
A(BR(andy))IM
See comments below – I couldn't get this one without help from two fellow solvers. |
Go drinking; no disapproval heard (4) | ZING | Definition: Go
(boo)ZING |
Less challenging art I flog to the well-educated (8) | LITERATI | Definition: well-educated
LITE ("less challenging") + *(art I) |
Enthusiasm for combat is diminished – it's grim (6) | ARDOUR | Enthusiasm for combat is diminished – it's grim (6)
(w)AR + DOUR |
Is answer uncommon caution? (8) | WARINESS | Definition: caution
*(is answer) |
Route that's taken by one of the crew (6) | ROADIE | Definition: one of the crew
ROAD + I.E> |
Artist in Dad's place is a freeloader (8) | PARASITE | Artist in Dad's place is a freeloader (8)
PA(R.A.)SITE
The pedant in me thinks the apostrophe after Dad is superfluous. |
No thanks to naughty Tabitha, that's a vice (3,5) | BAD HABIT | Definition: a vice
At first I thought this was a reverse anagram.
(No thanks to Tabitha = (ta)BITHA, which is bad HABIT with bad as an anagrind.)
But that left me with "naughty" being superfluous.
So it would appear it is "naughty" = BAD + *(bitha). Clumsy, in my opnion. |
Vision seen through wide-angle lens (4) | IDEA | Definition: Vision
Hidden in "w**IDE-A**ngle" |
Produce an aphrodisiac? (7,5) | PASSION FRUIT | Definition: Produce
Double deifinition, one of which is cryptic |
Rave at display of lawlessness (4) | RIOT | Definition: Rave
Double defininition |
Sample treats are set out (6) | TASTER | Definition: Sample
*(treats) |
Everyone's inside in low spirits back in Texas (6) | DALLAS | Everyone's inside in low spirits back in Texas (6)
ALL in <=SAD
"in Texas" – some editors may find that weak as a definition. |
Sweat shops? (7,5) | TURKISH BATHS | Definition: Sweat shops
Cryptic definition |
Runner acquires the right apparel (5) | SKIRT | Definition: apparel
SKI + RT |
Welcome magazine publication (5) | HELLO | Definition: Welcome
Double definition |
A doctor in Welsh town can bloom (8) | MARIGOLD | Definition: bloom
M(A RIG)OLD
Mold is a town in Wales
Not sure of the definition – if it's "bloom", the "can" is redundant, and only there to make the surface work.
If it's "can bloom", I don't like it. |
Anchor by rocks, mainly to get food (8) | KEDGEREE | Definition: food
KEDGE + REE(f) |
She is depressed, jaundiced (6) | SALLOW | Definition: jaundiced
SAL ("She") + LOW
Don't like this at all. Would have preferred "girl" or something. |
Go on social network though there's no time (6) | WITTER | Definition: Go on
(t)WITTER
Poor clue, in my opinion, as there is still plenty of time (the two Ts in the middle) in WITTER |
Laugh at the end of Wagner opera (4) | GRIN | Definition: Laugh
(Lohen)GRIN
Is GRIN synonymous with "laugh"? "Smile" may have been better. |
3 rearranged 6 (4) | TRIO | Definition: 3
*(riot) (the anser to 6dn) |
Pedant thus restricts small children – only one left in charge (10) | SCHOLASTIC | Definition: Pedant
S(CH)O + LAST + I.C. |
Highland town one adding fuel to flame (4) | WICK | Definition: Highland town
Double definition, the latter cryptic |
Open party Ban Ki-moon gives? (4) | UNDO | Definition: Open
U.N. do – a party at the United Nations, hosted by Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General |
Commercial mail centre destroyed (10) | MERCANTILE | Definition: Commercial
*(mail centre) |
Deliver gold in horse-drawn carriage (6) | LANDAU | Definition: horse-drawn carriage
LAND + AU |
Sheep or small black ram we returned? (3,5) | EWE LAMBS | Definition: Sheep
<= S B MALE WE |
Magician puts sulphur in right hole (8) | PROSPERO | Definition: Magician
PRO(S)PER + O
A magician in *The Tempest |
Legal institutions in north and south (4) | INNS | Definition: Legal institutions
IN N + S |
Addict taken in because relapsed (4) | USER | Definition: Addict
Hidden in "becaUSE Relapsed" |
Say Latin may require thinner voice? (8) | NASALITY | Definition: thinner voice?
*(say latin) |
West's mishap having replaced leader (8) | OCCIDENT | Definition: West
O(a)CCIDENT |
After time in dust mum's wheezing (6) | ASTHMA | Definition: wheezing
AS(T)H + MA
Is "wheezing" a sufficient definition for ASTHMA?
Or is the whole clue an & lit.? |
Our tribe AC/DC rocked to the City and the World (4,2,4) | URBI ET ORBI | Definition: to the City and the World
*(our tribe) + BI(sexual) |
Hounds assembly that's correct (4) | MEET | Definition: Hounds assembly
Double definition |
Animals driven from Rio Xenxem (4) | OXEN | Definition: Animals
hidden in Ri**O XEN**xem |
Thrown at me, insult done at 23:59? (4-6) | LAST MINUTE | Definition: 23:59
Cryptic definition and *(at me insult) |
Horsey person brings coin to one ancient city (7) | CENTAUR | Definition: Horsey person
CENT + A + UR |
Roman poet holds ball shaped like rugger ball? (5) | OVOID | Definition: like rugger ball
OV(O)ID |
Lover's run inside with her topless military man (8) | ARMOURER | Definition: military man
A(R)MOUR +(h)ER |
Pretension and truth interchangeable in certain manoeuvres (5-5,5) | THREE-POINT TURNS | Definition: certain manoeuvres
*(pretension truth) |
Husband in robe left here to worship (6) | CHAPEL | Definition: here to worship
C(H)APE + L |
Humour and derisive exclamation given by Shakespeare vigorously (4,1,4) | WITH A WILL | Definition: vigorously
WIT + HA! + WILL |
Islander collapsed drain to stop Irish girl (9) | SARDINIAN | Definition: Islander
*(drain) in SIAN |
Travel in space is male fantasy (8) | ESCAPISM | Definition: fantasy
*(space) + IS + M |
Witch discontented Savoy Company getting artist cross (7) | SYCORAX | Witch discontented Savoy Company getting artist cross (7)
S(avo)Y + CO + R.A. + X
Sycorax is the mother of Caliban in *The Tempest*, although she doesn't appear in the play. |
English politician in tax storm (7) | TEMPEST | Definition: storm
T(E M.P.)EST |
Food given outside theatre off trolley (6) | MENTAL | Definition: off trolley
ME(N.T.)AL
N.T. is the National Theatre |
Athenian misanthrope has army doctor split money (5) | TIMON | Definition: Athenian misanthrope
TI(M.O.)N
M.O. stands for Medical Officer, and Timon is the protagonist in Shakespeare's *Timon of Athens. |
Nevertheless, is not to be satisfied with just part (5,3) | AFTER ALL | Nevertheless, is not to be satisfied with just part (5,3)
Double definition |
Spare part of a loaf for dinner (6) | AFFORD | Spare part of a loaf for dinner (6)
Hidden in lo**AF FOR D**inner
Def: spare |
A good conductor controls the beat (6) | COPPER | A good conductor controls the beat (6)
Double definition (metal and policeman) |
The eternal musical instrument? (8) | TRIANGLE | The eternal musical instrument? (8)
As in the Eternal Triangle |
Display stand (4) | BEAR | Display stand (4)
Double definition |
Study to gain knowledge and moral insight (10) | CONSCIENCE | Study to gain knowledge and moral insight (10)
CON + SCIENCE
Def: moral insight |
Senior churchmen easily shocked by a setback (8) | PRIMATES | Senior churchmen easily shocked by a setback (8)
PRIM + A + <=SET
Def: senior churchmen |
List of lists (4) | TILT | List of lists (4)
Cryptic definition? |
Short run which distinguishes slow bowlers (4) | SPIN | Short run which distinguishes slow bowlers (4)
Double definition
A spin in a car, for example, and spin bowlers are normally also slow bowlers. |
Pop back to extol value (8) | APPRAISE | Pop back to extol value (8)
<=PA + PRAISE
Def: value |
Thought one had respected other people's feelings (10) | CONSIDERED | Thought one had respected other people's feelings (10)
Double definition |
Trees spring back around south (4) | ASPS | Trees spring back around south (4)
S in <=SPA
Asp is a rarer form of "aspen" |
Crushing defeat later, perhaps, in court (8) | WATERLOO | Crushing defeat later, perhaps, in court (8)
*(later) in WOO
Def: crushing defeat |
Having all-round defence in depth? (6) | MOATED | Having all-round defence in depth? (6)
Cryptic definition |
A time in which love and pride are mingled (6) | PERIOD | A time in which love and pride are mingled (6)
*(pride o)
Def: a time |
Arrest adolescent providing narcotic substance, we hear (8) | NICOTINE | Arrest adolescent providing narcotic substance, we hear (8)
Homophones of NICK A TEEN
I think the "we hear" has to be nearer it the "arrest adolescent" for this to work properly. |
Remained perfectly still and went cold all over? (5) | FROZE | Remained perfectly still and went cold all over? (5)
Double definition |
Tries to correct extreme spin (11) | EXPERIMENTS | Tries to correct extreme spin (11)
*(extreme spin)
Def: tries |
CIA try to resolve crime (8) | ATROCITY | CIA try to resolve crime (8)
*(CIA try to)
Def: crime |
Rocky island with nowhere to relax (3,4,4,4) | LET ONE’S HAIR DOWN | Rocky island with nowhere to relax (3,4,4,4)
*(Island nowhere to)
Def: relax |
For each expert, a pastry dish in brought in (6) | APIECE | For each expert, a pastry dish in brought in (6)
A(PIE)CE
Def: for each |
Cool an ardent admirer (3) | FAN | Cool an ardent admirer (3)
Double definition |
Vocal registers (4,5) | ROLL CALLS | Vocal registers (4,5)
Cryptic definition |
Having no saving graces? (11) | EXTRAVAGANT | Having no saving graces? (11)
Cryptic definition |
Discount accepted for a bad egg (9) | REPROBATE | Discount accepted for a bad egg (9)
RE(PRO)BATE
Def: a bad egg |
Rash outbreak? (8) | EPIDEMIC | Rash outbreak? (8)
Double definition, or a weak cryptic definition? |
Having gone off thoroughly confused (6) | ADDLED | Having gone off thoroughly confused (6)
Double definition |
Swan to circle about and tidy her feathers (5) | PREEN | Swan to circle about and tidy her feathers (5)
P(RE)EN
Def: tidy her feathers |
A priest that's about, about fifty? (3) | ELI | A priest that's about, about fifty? (3)
<=I.(L)E.
Def: priest (in the Old Testament) |
Drink with the mob and black out (8) | SUPPRESS | Definition: black out
SUP + PRESS |
Ceases to be interrupted by Romeo's fits of temper (6) | STROPS | Definition: fits of temper
ST(R)OPS
Romeo is R in the phonetic alphabet. |
Catch kite and fear breakage (4,4) | TAKE FIRE | Definition: Catch
*(kite fear) |
Henry gets change of riding gear (6) | HALTER | Definition: riding gear
H + ALTER |
Trees take time to become predominant (5) | FIRST | Definition: predominant
FIRS + T |
Irish port's sailors use this to get to the drink (9) | CORKSCREW | Definition: use this to get to the drink
CORK'S CREW |
Will infect (4,2) | PASS ON | Definition: Will
Double definition – ("will" is a verb (thanks Coby) here, meaning to "leave in one's will") |
Cat plague (7) | SCOURGE | Definition: Cat
Double definition |
Lovebird's to display outdoors (4,3) | OPEN AIR | Definition: outdoors
O + PEN + AIR
"Lovebird" has to be split into "love" = O + "bird" = PEN (female swan) |
Recorded somebody catching bug (2,4) | ON TAPE | Definition: Recorded
ON(TAP)E |
Boasting of exotic orange car (9) | ARROGANCE | Definition: Boasting
*(orange car) |
Promiscuous sweetheart is after the toilets (5) | LOOSE | Definition: Promiscuous
LOOSE + E (the heart of "Sw**E**et") |
Inadequate lavatory in filthy place (6) | SCANTY | Definition: Inadequate
S(CAN)TY |
Factor storing water and weedkiller (8) | PARAQUAT | Definition: weedkiller
PAR(AQUA)T |
Father accepts a time for parody (6) | SATIRE | Definition: parody
S(A T)IRE |
Republican always gets motive of clergyman (8) | REVEREND | Definition: clergyman
R + EVER + END |
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