Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Relative once removed confused on nicknames (7) | KINSMAN | Definition: Relative
*(niknams) (ie "on nicknames" less "once") |
Dormant fish brought round by sonar (8) | SLEEPING | Definition: Dormant
<=EELS + PING
In Chambers, "pinger" is a type of sonar, but I can't find PING being synonymous with "sonar" |
Could be faster to make fire from air (6) | STRAFE | Definition: to make fire from air
*(faster) |
Accountant dressed with abandon to get biscuit (8) | MACAROON | Definition: biscuit
AC in MAROON |
Grinned with fear, adjusted rifle sight (5,6) | RANGE FINDER | Definition: rifle sight
(*grinned fear) |
No problem when you turn around (4) | EASY | Definition: No problem
AS in <=YE |
I mostly leave meal when retired; it's an obsession (4,4) | IDEE FIXE | Definition: obsession
I + <+EXI(t) FEED
I suppose FEED and MEAL could be synonymous in a phrase such as "a good feed". |
Gala producers say "Pretty Please", regrettably not "Thank You" at first (5,5) | APPLE TREES | Definition: Gala producers
*(pret please) (first letters of **T**hank **Y**ou removed from "pretty please")
Gala is a type of apple, originally from New Zealand. |
Letters from a bygone age (3) | ABC | Definition: Letters
A + B.C. (Before Christ = "bygone age")
Shouldn't the annotation be (1,1,1)? |
Being north of city (5) | ESSEN | Definition: city
ESSE ("being") + N
Essen is a German city on the Rhine (more famous in Crosswordland than anywhere else?) |
Badger cull even Noah grants (3,2) | NAG AT | Definition: Badger
N(o)A(h)G(r)A(n)T(s)
The even letters have been culled. |
Target bearing in order to return to cradle of civilisation (11) | MESOPOTAMIA | Definition: cradle of civilisation
<+AIM AT O(POSE)M
Took a little while to work the parsing out, as I saw bearing as SE, not POSE, initially. |
Diminutive independent politician holds an open house for pot plants (6,4) | INDIAN HEMP | Definition: pot plants
AN H(ome)E in INDI MP
Isn't it Indy rather than Indi? |
Turn in healthy and sound when brought on board (6,2) | HAULED IN | Definition: Turn
Has to start with HA so am assuming HAULED IN or HAULED ON. Wordplay could indicate HAILED IN (homophone of HALE DIN), but I don't recognise that phrase. *Again, thanks to Muffyword for the parsing of HAULED IN. Definition is "brought on board" (as in fish hauled in in a net?) |
A cat called Blaze (8) | ANNOUNCE | Definition: Blaze
Homophone of "an ounce". |
Chain with holes (5) | LINKS | Definition: Chain
Cryptic/double definition.
A links course is a golf course by the sea, especially in the UK |
Skier's turn in hospital (8) | CHRISTIE | Definition: Skier's turn
Double definition?
Not sure if I have this right, but a christie is a turn in skiing, and, according to Wikipedia, the Christie NHS Trust is a renowned cancer hospital in Manchester. This seems too vague for me, so assume I may be wrong? |
Interfere with odd bits from CCTV in entrance (6) | DOCTOR | Definition: Interfere with
C(c)T(v) in DOOR |
Sue's worried after mother, returning to the centre of Guildford, gets diverted (6) | AMUSED | Definition: diverted
<=AM + *(sue) + (guil)D(ford) |
Already in use by English artist before the last retrospective (7) | ENGAGED | Definition: Already in use
Eng. + <=DEGA(s) |
Most profitable for fellow witness (7) | FATTEST | Definition: Most profitable
F + ATTEST |
Odd talk going around about my daughter being in agreement (10) | CONCORDANT | Definition: in agreement
ON + COR("my" + D) in CANT – *Thanks, Muffyword! |
Book of letters from Bianca Mosca (4) | AMOS | Definition: Book
Letters from (ie hidden in) Bianc**A MOS**ca |
Dance with President Arthur at first (5) | POLKA | Definition: Dance
POLK + (A)rthur
James K Polk was the 11th President of the USA |
Bit of knavery to pinch Cockney woman's underwear (8) | KNICKERS | Definition: underwear
K(navery) + NICK 'ER'S |
Biblical figure penning song about Hebrew leader being an outsider (4,4) | LONG SHOT | Definition: an outsider
*(song) + H(ebrew) in LOT |
Reject small fish (5) | SPIKE | Definition: Reject
S + PIKE
"To spike" means to "refuse to publish something" |
Druid's heart captured by devotee of rural deity (4) | FAUN | Definition: rural deity
(dr)U(id) in FAN |
Dangerous female doing bird gets licked into shape (10) | FORBIDDING | Definition: Dangerous
F + *(doing bird) |
Subsequently Pacino's seen in Sideways (7) | LATERAL | Definition: Sideways
LATER + AL (Pacino) |
Al goes to party in extremely wacky jumper (7) | WALLABY | Definition: jumper
AL + LAB in W(ack)Y |
Recruit listens without a hint of suspicion surprisingly (6) | ENLIST | Definition: Recruit
*(listen) (enlists – s(uspicion)) |
Remove obstruction found in river (6) | DELETE | Definition: Remove
LET in DEE |
Dog pee discovered on bottom of bed at home (5) | DINGO | Definition: Dog
(be)D + IN + GO("pee") |
Discontinue storing heroin in part of church (7) | CHANCEL | Definition: part of churc
H in CANCEL |
Outwit remaining soldiers before start of attack on church (9) | OVERREACH | Definition: Outwit
OVER + R.E. + A(ttack) + Ch. |
Largely opposed to taking on Peto's intended (5) | MEANT | Definition: intended
ME("Peto") + ANT(i) |
Reverse unlikely to change support (7) | SETBACK | Definition: Reverse
SET + BACK |
Speech day is gross by the sound of it (9) | DISCOURSE | Definition: Speech
D(ay) IS + homophone of COARSE |
It may be revealed in recollections of the past by southern Conservative (4,5) | BACK STORY | Definition: It may be revealed in recollections
BACK + S + TORY |
Reproduce pages featuring gold mounting on semi precious stone (9) | PROPAGATE | Definition: Reproduce
<+OR in PP("pages") + AGATE |
Start of sit-in organised by those attending game (9) | INSTIGATE | Definition: Start
*(sit-in) + GATE ("those attending game") |
Well-bred fellow seen with a slippery customer (7) | GENTEEL | Definition: Well-bred
GENT + EEL |
Favour eluding Dicky (7) | INDULGE | Definition: Favour
*(eluding)
I'm not a huge fan of the anagrind here. Dicky without the capital is fine, so it would be better at the start of a sentence. Could have been clued as "Dicky eluding favour" as a quick fix. |
Defects when defeat's reported at close of polls (5) | FLAWS | Definition: Defects
Homophone of FLOOR + (poll)S. This doesn't work for me as I am Scottish and FLOOR and FLAW are not pronounced alike up here. |
Magnanimous knight left without honour? Just the opposite (5) | NOBLE | Definition: Magnanimous
N + L in OBE |
Creates wide bridges on both sides (6) | SPAWNS | Definition: Creates
W in SPANS |
Forcibly silence alien trapped by rent control (3,1,4) | GET A GRIP | Definition: control
ET in GAG ("forcibly silence") RIP |
Time engaged in puzzle with unending passion leads to congratulations (8) | MAZEL TOV | Definition: congratulations
T in MAZE LOV(e)
Prettry sure that Mazel Tov is two words, so should have been (5,3) |
Retailer's profits, according to rumour, were unlimited (6) | GROCER | Definition: Retailer
Homophone of GROSSER, I assume although I don't the wordplay works. "profits" is superfluous" and "were unlimited" doesn't equal GROSSER |
Points to churches that pervade odd parts of Leeds (8) | STEEPLES | Definition: Points to churches
STEEP("pervade" + **L**e**E**d**S |
Recoil from black cat (6) | BOUNCE | Definition: Recoil
B + OUNCE |
Butterflies eat less tailless seafood in captivity (8) | DISQUIET | Definition: Butterflies
SQUI(d) IN DIET ("eat less") |
Colours are dead right (4) | DYES | Colours are dead right (4)
D + YES |
Specimen from tiny pine lacking in content (4) | TYPE | Definition: Specimen
T(in)Y P(in)E |
Profit ran out here? Impossible! (8) | INCREASE | Definition: Profit
Double definition, the second referring to cricket where you can't be run out if you are in your crease. |
Sea horse in fragments (6) | MARINE | Definition: Sea
IN in MARE |
Rubber and pencil-sharpener Poe normally used for quoting back (8) | NEOPRENE | Definition: Rubber
Hidden backwards in sharp**ENER POE N**ormally |
Vibration left out by hat (6) | TRILBY | Definition: hat
TRIL(l) + BY |
Mary and Luke interpreted sign of religious devotion (8) | YARMULKE | Definition: sign of religious devotion
*(Mary Luke) |
Together in this love for piece of music (8) | CONCERTO | Definition: piece of music
CONCERT + O
"in concert" = "together" |
Loving pet can be kept inside (6) | DOTING | Definition: Loving
TIN in DOG("pet").
The grammar isn't right here. "tin be kept inside"? |
Using newly manufactured rest, play medieval instrument (8) | PSALTERY | Definition: medieval instrument
*(rest play) |
Reports failures to climax in the holidays (8) | WEEKENDS | Definition: holidays
Homophone of WEAK ENDS |
Gets used to square vice (7,2) | SETTLES IN | Definition: Gets used to
SETTLE + SIN |
Distributes funds (5,8,2) | GIVES CURRENCY TO | Definition: Distributes
Double definition |
Where flight attendants prepare to let the wine breathe? (7) | AIRPORT | Definition: Where flight attendants prepare
AIR PORT |
Deposit money in bank not long ago (8) | RECENTLY | Definition: not long ago
CENT in RELY |
Warped by poetry (8) | PERVERSE | Definition: Warped
PER + VERSE |
Fascinated by eccentric demeanour (9) | ENAMOURED | Definition: Fascinated
*(demeanour) |
Arrogant to cheat chess expert at one chess opening (8) | DOGMATIC | Definition: Arrogant
DO("cheat") + GM("Grand Master" = "chess expert") + AT + 1 + C(hess) |
I was absorbed by poet before coming up for air (8) | EMERSION | Definition: coming up for air
I in EMERSON |
Cut passage that is filled with weeping (4-4) | TEAR-DUCT | Definition: that is filled with weeping
TEAR + DUCT |
Sounds like Cockney is overreacting to cup (8) | PANNIKIN | Definition: cup
Homophone of PANICKIN'
Surely dropping the G at the end of the words is not unique to Cockneys? |
Base in globe is broken (7) | IGNOBLE | Definition: Base
*(in globe) |
Former Palestinian group's regularly dirty deed (7) | EXPLOIT | Former Palestinian group's regularly dirty deed (7)
EX P.L.O. + (d)I(r)T(y) |
Mark paid revised price on time, saving euros (7) | RECEIPT | Mark paid revised price on time, saving euros (7)
E in (*price) + T |
Group of relatives returned key (5) | VITAL | Group of relatives returned key (5)
Hidden backwards in "re**LATIV**es", with "group of" indicating that we need to identify a group of letters. |
Like loner about to tackle cryptic clues [4] (9) | RECLUSIVE | Like loner about to tackle cryptic clues [4] (9)
RE + *(clues IV) |
Band's half-hearted gesture on departing (5,4) | SHORT WAVE | Band's half-hearted gesture on departing (5,4)
Double definition |
Put off deciding to drop mining (5) | DETER | Put off deciding to drop mining (5)
DETER(mining) |
In middle of lesson she's trim and cool, moving about (14) | SCHOOLMISTRESS | In middle of lesson she's trim and cool, moving about (14)
*(shes trim cool) in le(S S)on
A nice & lit. as well |
Where food is entering last, ie being processed (5,9) | LARGE INTESTINE | Where food is entering last, ie being processed (5,9)
*(entering lst ie) |
Stunner pirouetted and struck a different pose (5) | RESAT | Stunner pirouetted and struck a different pose (5)
<=TASER |
Where to dig up a nugget or sphere? (9) | GOLDFIELD | Where to dig up a nugget or sphere? (9)
GOLD ("nugget") + FIELD ("sphere") |
What magicians said when they worked with ropes (3,6) | HEY PRESTO | What magicians said when they worked with ropes (3,6)
*(they ropes) |
Music in Glyndebourne's more than topping (5) | ICING | Music in Glyndebourne's more than topping (5)
Hidden in "mus**IC IN G**lyndebourne" |
Doctor twice hides special list of big names (4,3) | WHO’S WHO | Doctor twice hides special list of big names (4,3)
S in WHO WHO ("Doctor twice") |
Artist's leg twisted – recovery's seriously neglected (2,5) | EL GRECO | Artist's leg twisted – recovery's seriously neglected (2,5)
*(leg) + RECO(very) |
The language of Tolkien and King Henry (6) | ELVISH | The language of Tolkien and King Henry (6)
ELVIS ("King") + H |
Panda, say, moves conspiratorially, less noisily (6,3) | PATROL CAR | Panda, say, moves conspiratorially, less noisily (6,3)
*(copratral) *(The letters in "conspiratorial" less those in "noisily") *It's a while since I last heard anyone refer to a police car as a panda car.* |
Fledgling duck, large parts sodden (5) | OWLET | Fledgling duck, large parts sodden (5)
O + W(L)ET |
Sailor man at home makes shelter for himself (9) | TARPAULIN | Sailor man at home makes shelter for himself (9)
TAR + PAUL + IN |
What scouts do in playground these days (5) | RECCE | What scouts do in playground these days (5)
Double definition, with recce being short for "reconnaisance" and "recreation ground/park/centre" |
Is this mounted due to pact being broken? (4,5) | COUP D’ETAT | Is this mounted due to pact being broken? (4,5)
*(due to pact) |
One point impresses current dunce (5) | IDIOT | One point impresses current dunce (5)
I("current") in 1 DOT |
The detectorist leaves out notice for speculator (8) | THEORIST | The detectorist leaves out notice for speculator (8)
THE(detect)ORIST |
Remove public hotline (9) | OVERTHROW | Remove public hotline (9)
OVERT + H + ROW |
I do business with head office myself to find des res (5,4) | IDEAL HOME | I do business with head office myself to find des res (5,4)
I DEAL + H.O. + ME |
Comic, original one touring island in Irish (5,4) | ERNIE WISE | Comic, original one touring island in Irish (5,4)
I("island") in NEW 1 in ERSE |
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