Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Initiate display (3,3) | SET OFF | Definition: Initiate
Double definition |
Cope with freak distribution giving nothing away (5,4) | POKER FACE | Definition: giving nothing away
*(cope freak)
Not sure the definition and solution match ("poker faced" = "giving nothing away") |
Soldier qualified for overhaul (5) | REFIT | Definition: overhaul
R.E. (Royal Engineer) + FIT |
Active ethnic group in Senegal is Arab (7) | SARACEN | Definition: Arab
S(A RACE)N
SN is the International Car Registration indicator for Senegal |
Team leader supervised recreation in ecstasy (9) | TRANSPORT | Definition: ecstasy
T + RAN + SPORT |
Excessive hesitation of fish- eater (5) | OTTER | Definition: fish- eater
O.T.T. (over the top) + ER |
School head has sycophant who writes badly (8) | SCRAWLER | Definition: who writes badly
S + CRAWLER |
A group of subjects found in retirement in Australia (4) | ARTS | Definition: A group of subjects
Hidden backwards in Au**STRA**lia |
Son has convulsions seeing carnage (9) | SLAUGHTER | Definition: carnage
S + LAUGHTER |
Copy for spin doctor entering contract (9) | REPRODUCE | Definition: Copy
RE(P.R.O.)DUCE
P.R.O. stands for "public relations officer" ~"spin doctor" |
Doctor the girls' sweet treat (8) | MOLASSES | Definition: sweet treat
M.O. + LASSES |
Loudly scold scoundrel without the last bit of contrition (4) | RANT | Definition: Loudly scold
RA(N)T |
Perform works by Lawrence (7) | OPERATE | Definition: Perform
OPERA = T.E. (Lawrence) |
Passionate earl in dance of death (6) | HEATED | Definition: Passionate
E in *(death) |
Criticise a society involved in corruption (5) | ROAST | Definition: Criticise
RO(A S)T |
Surrender the French way (5) | LEAVE | Definition: Surrender
LE + Ave. |
Region needs detective, rigorous (8) | DISTRICT | Region needs detective, rigorous (8)
D.I. (Detective Inspector) + STRICT |
Objective: make deserter return – understand? (6) | TARGET | Objective: make deserter return – understand? (6)
<=RAT + GET |
Recovery in market? Missing the point, really (5) | RALLY | Recovery in market? Missing the point, really (5)
R(e)ALLY |
A fight at fancy café leading to reversal (5,4) | ABOUT FACE | A fight at fancy café leading to reversal (5,4)
A + BOUT +*(cafe) |
Ornamental wear of English saint, essentially better (9) | EPAULETTE | Ornamental wear of English saint, essentially better (9)
E + PAUL + (b)ETTE(r) |
Associate avoiding right enthusiast (5) | FIEND | Associate avoiding right enthusiast (5)
F(r)IEND |
US writer, one posting letters (6) | MAILER | US writer, one posting letters (6) |
Unwelcome flow in field for example a king recalled (7) | LEAKAGE | Unwelcome flow in field for example a king recalled (7)
LEA + <=E.G. A K |
Lineswoman? (7) | POETESS | Lineswoman? (7)
A woman who writes lines. |
Inform about Swiss crossbow expert never coming back (4,2) | TELL ON | Inform about Swiss crossbow expert never coming back (4,2)
(William) TELL + <=NO |
Disprove objection after teaching of religion (5) | REBUT | Disprove objection after teaching of religion (5)
BUT after R.E. |
Love new private eastern worker (9) | OPERATIVE | Love new private eastern worker (9)
O + *(private) + E |
Cheers current decreases applied to energy for islanders (9) | TAIWANESE | Cheers current decreases applied to energy for islanders (9)
TA + I + WANES + E |
Index actually not fully correct (5) | EXACT | Index actually not fully correct (5)
Hidden in "ind**EX ACT**ually" |
Oddly mistaken about article: "Born yesterday"? (3-3) | DAY-OLD | Oddly mistaken about article: "Born yesterday"? (3-3)
*(oddly) about A |
Long fellow as member of distinguished group (8) | PANTHEON | Long fellow as member of distinguished group (8)
PANT + HE + ON (as a member of, as in a committee, for example) |
County firm upset staff at first (6) | DORSET | County firm upset staff at first (6)
<=ROD + SET |
Nationalist in elaborate salute in Brunei, say (9) | SULTANATE | Nationalist in elaborate salute in Brunei, say (9)
NAT in *(salute) |
Rather loyal ball arranged here? (5,6,4) | ROYAL ALBERT HALL | Rather loyal ball arranged here? (5,6,4)
*(rather loyal ball)*
Not the most heavily disguised anagram in the world. |
After church find more appropriate section of book (7) | CHAPTER | After church find more appropriate section of book (7)
Ch. + APTER |
Legislation redrafted often – claim a part (3,2,10) | ACT OF PARLIAMENT | Legislation redrafted often – claim a part (3,2,10) |
Good contest for cricketing great (5) | GRACE | Good contest for cricketing great (5) |
More fashionable guy making effort without limit (8) | TRENDIER | More fashionable guy making effort without limit (8)
TR(END)IER |
Gathering, our group will prosper (2,4) | DO WELL | Gathering, our group will prosper (2,4)
DO + WE'LL |
Detest couple claiming home after sailor (old) (9) | ABOMINATE | Detest couple claiming home after sailor (old) (9)
AB + O + M(IN)ATE |
Following whisky, maybe, journalist full of energy (8) | SPIRITED | Following whisky, maybe, journalist full of energy (8)
SPIRIT + Ed. |
Tool in second ramshackle dwelling (6) | SHOVEL | Tool in second ramshackle dwelling (6)
S + HOVEL |
Girl in that place with appeal (7) | THERESA | Girl in that place with appeal (7)
THERE + S.A. (sex appeal) |
Not used to northern scientist (6) | NEWTON | Not used to northern scientist (6)
NEW TO + N |
Salty bacon (rasher) is nettling you initially (5) | BRINY | Salty bacon (rasher) is nettling you initially (5)
Initial letters of **B**acon **R**asher **I**s **N**ettling **Y**ou |
Flights of fancy produced by custard dips (6,5) | CUPID’S DARTS | Flights of fancy produced by custard dips (6,5)
*(custard dips) |
No leader gave money for assistance (3) | AID | No leader gave money for assistance (3)
(p)AID |
Offensive ostentation starts anew (5) | BLITZ | Offensive ostentation starts anew (5)
(g/B)LITZ |
Object to alternative level of acid in painkiller (9) | ENDORPHIN | Object to alternative level of acid in painkiller (9)
END + OR + PH + IN |
Daredevil's car floozy wrecked (5,4) | CRAZY FOOL | Daredevil's car floozy wrecked (5,4)
*(car floozy) |
Spare criminal and reduce sentence (5) | PARSE | Spare criminal and reduce sentence (5)
*(spare) |
Inside that's eerie, oddly fine outside (7) | THEREIN | Inside that's eerie, oddly fine outside (7)
E(e)R(i)E in THIN |
The elevated part of a shoe (4) | HEEL | The elevated part of a shoe (4)
Hidden in "t**HE** **EL**evated"
"part" seems to be doing double duty here, as the hidden word indicator and as part of the definition? |
Does grass come back? (4) | DEER | Does grass come back? (4)
<=REED
"Does" as in female deer. |
Spice Island with new capital Kerala borders (7) | PAPRIKA | Spice Island with new capital Kerala borders (7)
(c/P)APRI + K(eral)A |
Madame loses her head for egg producer (5) | OVARY | Madame loses her head for egg producer (5)
(b) OVARY
*Madame Bovary* is my favourite French novel. |
Trail Elizabeth for TV (4,5) | DRAG QUEEN | Trail Elizabeth for TV (4,5)
DRAG + QUEEN (Elizabeth)
TV is short for tranvestite. |
Odd to be focussed on Europe (9) | ECCENTRIC | Odd to be focussed on Europe (9)
EC CENTRIC |
Fruit in mid-October, as it happens (5) | OLIVE | Fruit in mid-October, as it happens (5)
(oc)O(ber) + LIVE |
Paddle into no-go area (3) | OAR | Paddle into no-go area (3)
Hidden in no-g**O** **AR**ea |
She suits her beard – has style (11) | HABERDASHER | She suits her beard – has style (11)
*(her beard has) |
Split perhaps under young eye reportedly causes resemblance to die (8) | CUBICITY | Split perhaps under young eye reportedly causes resemblance to die (8)
CUB + I + CITY
"eye reportedly" – technically that gives you "I", but for me, this is a bit clumsy.
Split is the second largest city in Croatia. |
Soldiers that should not be paraded (8) | PRIVATES | Soldiers that should not be paraded (8)
Nice one! |
Reeling from effect of sleeping during home improvement (5) | DIZZY | Reeling from effect of sleeping during home improvement (5)
D.I. (ZZ) Y |
Passed on hold with ease (3,4) | DIE DOWN | Passed on hold with ease (3,4)
DIED + OWN |
13, 18's leading light (7) | RUDOLPH | 13, 18's leading light (7)
Cryptic definition |
Dump spare chap cruelly (5,4) | SCRAP HEAP | Dump spare chap cruelly (5,4)
*(spare chap) |
Position of hands after crossing? (6) | ASHORE | Position of hands after crossing? (6)
Cryptic definition.
If I've got this right, I think the setter wants us to imagine deckhands on shore leave after a trip across an ocean? |
Thunder in Europe heard before Summer (6) | DONNER | Thunder in Europe heard before Summer (6)
Homophone of Donna (Summer)
And, as well as beong one of Santa's reindeer, Donner is the German word for thunder. |
Completely exquisite first light over island (5,4) | EVERY INCH | Completely exquisite first light over island (5,4)
E(xquisite) + VERY + INCH
VERY relates to very flares, named after their inventor, which are used by vessels in distress. |
Dog-like catty (8) | VIXENISH | Dog-like catty (8)
Double definition |
Mac maybe could lessen choice for Spooner (8) | RAINWEAR | Mac maybe could lessen choice for Spooner (8)
Spooner would have meant WANE RARE |
Nipper rose to complain (3,4) | RED CRAB | Nipper rose to complain (3,4)
RED + CRAB |
Springer CPR near useless (7) | PRANCER | Springer CPR near useless (7)
*(cpr near) |
Recover body with tail at Job Centre (4,2) | COME TO | Recover body with tail at Job Centre (4,2)
COMET + (j)O(b) |
Leader on the floor, maybe, with notes (6) | DANCER | Leader on the floor, maybe, with notes (6)
This has to be DANCER, as the only reindeer not mentioned elsewhere, and I can see "on the floor" as referring to dancing, but beyond that, I'm stumped? |
Status band of volunteers share (5) | QUOTA | Status band of volunteers share (5)
(Status) QUO + T.A.
Don't like "Status" as an indicator of QUO, as they are not synonymous. |
Leader of the Jets, flashy, is hard to be ignored in film (4-4) | RIFF-RAFF | Definition: film
RIFF + RAFF(ish)
Riff was the leader of the Jets in *West Side Story.*
*Riff-Raff *is a 1991 Ken Loach film, starring Robert Carlyle. |
Film with Gregory Peck in storm on motorway (6) | MIRAGE | Definition: Film with Gregory Peck
M1 + RAGE
A 1965 thriller. |
The subject of a musical, opening in Jerusalem, with high hopes (6) | JOSEPH | Definition: The subject of a musical
J + *(hopes) |
Shown in a film concerning partition (2-6) | ON-SCREEN | Definition: Shown in a film
ON + SCREEN |
Ms Breckinridge, perhaps a contrary Mary? (4) | MYRA | Definition: Ms Breckinridge
*(Mary)
As played by Raquel Welsh in the adaptation of Gore Vidal's novel. |
Italian film director and composer crossing the Spanish lake (10) | ROSSELLINI | Italian film director and composer crossing the Spanish lake (10)
ROSS(EL L)INI
Roberto Rossellini, director of movies such as *Paisan* and *Rome, Open City*, and the father of actress Isabella Rossellini. |
Sleeveless coat on prostitute, a Molière character (8) | TARTUFFE | Definition: Molière character
TART + (d)UFFE(l)
*Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur *is a Moliere play from 1664. Remember it vaguely from my University studies. |
Extract from film about border (4) | CLIP | Definition: Extract from film
C + LIP |
Film produced by two US soldiers (4) | GIGI | Film produced by two US soldiers (4)
G.I. + G.I.
Maurice Chevalier musical. |
US producer of singular film that arouses terror? (8) | SCHILLER | Definition: US producer
S + CHILLER
I assume this refers to Lawrence Schiller, not exactly a houeshold name, but easy enough to work out from the wordplay and crossing letters. |
Actor, TV foil of 13, in orange and gold combination (4,6) | GALE GORDON | Definition: Actor
*(orange gold)
Gale Gordon was an actor in *The Lucy Show*, with Lucille Ball (13dn) |
In verse, a stage play by Berkoff (4) | EAST | Definition: play by Berkoff
Hidden in vers**E** **A** **ST**age
An excellent &lit. as ther play was indeed written in verse. |
Being crazy, no end, about old Hitchcock film (8) | LIFEBOAT | Definition: Hitchcock film
LIFE + B(O)AT(s)
A tour de force by the great man. |
Film a king on a vessel (6) | AVATAR | Definition: Film
A R on A VAT |
Financial backers of TV hospital drama series (6) | ANGELS | Definition: Financial backers
Double definition |
Actress phoned about phoney limp (8) | RAMPLING | Definition: Actress
RANG around *(limp)
Charlotte Rampling, an actress who has appeared in many British and French movies. |
Film director's trailer about soldiers (5) | IVORY | Definition: Film director's
IV(O.R.)Y
James Ivory, who, with producer Ismail Merchant, was responsible for movies such as *Howards End* and *Remains of the Day. |
Film star far steadier dancing (4,7) | FRED ASTAIRE | Film star far steadier dancing (4,7)
*(far steadier)
&lit. |
Actress rented farm beneath wood (8) | ASHCROFT | Definition: Actress
ASH + CROFT
As in Dame Peggy Ashcroft |
Arranged do for Tiptoes set film technician (9,6) | FOOTSTEPS EDITOR | Arranged do for Tiptoes set film technician (9,6)
*(do for tiptoes set)
In the US, he's known as a foley artist, but in the UK, a footsteps editor is responsible for sound effects in the movies. |
Canadian actor shot in billiards controversy, ultimately (6) | MASSEY | Definition: Canadian actor
MASSE + (controvers)Y
In billiards, a masse is a shot struck with the cue held almost straight up in the air.
Raymond Massey was born in Ontario, but his career was in the US, where he starred in many movies. |
Play game right (1,1,1) | R.U.R. | Definition: Play
RU (Rugby Union) + R
A science fiction play by Czech Karel Capek, famous for introducing the word *Robot* to the world. |
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