Clue
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stringlengths 5
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|---|---|---|
Revolutionary 8 teacher to bend back and forth (3) | NOD | Revolutionary 8 teacher to bend back and forth (3)
<=DON (teacher at Oxbridge) |
Naughty secretary Reed sacked becomes angry (3-8) | BADTEMPERED | Naughty secretary Reed sacked becomes angry (3-8)
BAD + TEMP + *(Reed) |
Mean-spirited woman takes hour in work with needle (5) | SHREW | Mean-spirited woman takes hour in work with needle (5)
HR "(hour") in SEW |
Ringmaster from Halifax (3) | ALI | Ringmaster from Halifax (3)
Hidden in h**ALIf**ax.
Referring of course to Mohammed Ali. |
New land area provides irridescent stuff (5) | NACRE | New land area provides irridescent stuff (5)
N + ACRE ("land area")
NACRE is another name for "mother of pearl" |
School performer entertains the French film director (11) | SCHLESINGER | School performer entertains the French film director (11)
LE ("the FRench") in Sch. SINGER
John Schlesinger directed some great movies, including "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Midnight Cowboy" |
50 overs, then wicket having little value (3) | LOW | 50 overs, then wicket having little value (3)
L ("50") + O ("overs") + W ("wicket") |
National Insurance to fall within revised range on salary (7) | EARNING | National Insurance to fall within revised range on salary (7)
N.I. in *(range) |
Little girl vanishes from conflicted background (7) | AMBIENT | Little girl vanishes from conflicted background (7)
VAL ("little girl") vanishes from AMBIVALENT ("conflicted") |
Skeleton causing son a nightmare (5) | SHELL | Skeleton causing son a nightmare (5)
S(on) + HELL |
With mischief-maker and fool I have to be unmoved (9) | IMPASSIVE | With mischief-maker and fool I have to be unmoved (9)
IMP ("mischief-maker") + ASS ("fool") + I'VE |
Huge carnivore denied area left in capital (6) | BERLIN | Huge carnivore denied area left in capital (6)
BE(a)R + L + IN |
Capone's death in vehicle? Days numbered here? (8) | CALENDAR | Capone's death in vehicle? Days numbered here? (8)
AL END "(Capone's death") in CAR |
Multi-talented artist traps keen crook in decline (5,5) | DAVID BOWIE | Multi-talented artist traps keen crook in decline (5,5)
AVID BOW ("keen crook" in DIE ("decline") |
Something evil and good in grass (4) | SING | Something evil and good in grass (4)
SIN + G |
Resolute peacekeepers fly across state (10) | UNWAVERING | Resolute peacekeepers fly across state (10)
UN ("peacekeepers") + AVER ("state") in WING ("fly") |
Vagrant without hospital place finally gets instrument (4) | OBOE | Vagrant without hospital place finally gets instrument (4)
(h)OBO + (plac)E |
Tenant right underneath Masonic meeting-place (6) | LODGER | Tenant right underneath Masonic meeting-place (6)
LODGE("Masonic meeting-place) + R |
Beast on way over to find top universities (8) | OXBRIDGE | Beast on way over to find top universities (8)
OX ("beast") + BRIDGE ("way over") |
Board fixer in extract secures victory over GP (7-3) | DRAWINGPIN | Board fixer in extract secures victory over GP (7-3)
WIN + GP in DRAIN ("extract") |
Silly brats a pain for Nasser? (3- 7) | PANARABIST | Silly brats a pain for Nasser? (3- 7)
*(brats a pain)
Nasser, president of Egypt from 1956 to 1970, was a propoent of pan-Arabism. |
Hanging American writers in south-east (8) | SUSPENSE | Hanging American writers in south-east (8)
US PENS ("American writers") in S.E. |
Learner in Iceland explosively summoned (6,2) | CALLED IN | Learner in Iceland explosively summoned (6,2)
L in *(Iceland) |
Man has to catch some deer for Achilles et cetera (6) | HEROES | Man has to catch some deer for Achilles et cetera (6)
ROE ("deer") in HE'S ("man has") |
Shrivel up accompanied by the monarch (6) | WITHER | Shrivel up accompanied by the monarch (6)
WITH E.R. |
It could be stormy: Lewis wife departs (4) | ISLE | It could be stormy: Lewis wife departs (4)
*(lewis – w)
Many islands are known as "Stormy Isles" (Azores, Orkney, some of the Hebrides, etc) |
Record to break when in range (4) | ALPS | Record to break when in range (4)
LP in AS ("when") |
Do not be tempted by ugly sister (6) | RESIST | Do not be tempted by ugly sister (6)
*(sister) |
Religious leaders maybe bless ushers on a regular basis (8) | ABBESSES | Religious leaders maybe bless ushers on a regular basis (8)
(m)A(y)B(e) B(l)E(s)S (u)S(h)E(r)S |
Volunteers to keep key drug in crockery (6) | TEAPOT | Volunteers to keep key drug in crockery (6)
E ("key") in TA ("volunteers") + POT ("drug") |
Sovereign takes pains with Iceland's fate (8) | LACHESIS | Sovereign takes pains with Iceland's fate (8)
L (pound = "sovereign") + ACHES + IS (.is is Iceland's internet code)
Lachesis was one of the three Fates in Greek mythology. |
Graceless supporter one caught in current trap (9) | INELEGANT | Graceless supporter one caught in current trap (9)
LEG AN ("supporter one") caught in I NET ("current trap") |
Power plant part includes one (5) | STEAM | Power plant part includes one (5)
A in STEM |
Taking part of Toad almost his downfall, to be completely honest (3,2,4,5) | ACTINGOODFAITH | Taking part of Toad almost his downfall, to be completely honest (3,2,4,5)
ACTING ("taking part) +*(of toad hi) |
Stormy Weather is his, with special backing from Carol (1,3,5,5) | I SAW THREE SHIPS | Stormy Weather is his, with special backing from Carol (1,3,5,5)
*(weather is his) + <=Sp. |
Quality cats essentially praise (9) | ATTRIBUTE | Quality cats essentially praise (9)
c(AT)s + TRIBUTE |
One of three sisters gets my back trouble after clearing out doghouse (8) | CORDELIA | One of three sisters gets my back trouble after clearing out doghouse (8)
COR ("my!") + D(oghous)E + <=AIL
Cordelia was King Lear's youngest daughter (of three). |
End of sentimental film about pub singer (6) | LINNET | End of sentimental film about pub singer (6)
(sentimenta)L + E.T. ("film) about INN
A linnet is a small songbird, therefore a "singer". |
Gloomy party keeps ships in the Middle East (8) | DARKSOME | Gloomy party keeps ships in the Middle East (8)
ARKS in DO + M.E. |
Soggy god has reason to leave wife (6) | MARSHY | Soggy god has reason to leave wife (6)
MARS + (w)HY |
Hunting vermin is pointless with a northern playwright (8) | RATTIGAN | Hunting vermin is pointless with a northern playwright (8)
RATTI(n)G + AN
Terence Rattigan, who wrote *The Browing Version*, *The Winslow Boy* and *Separate Tables*, among others. |
Most frugal cuts set in stone (7) | SPAREST | Most frugal cuts set in stone (7)
PARES ("cuts") in St. ("stone") |
Quiet individual excelled (5) | SHONE | Quiet individual excelled (5)
SH ("quiet!") + ONE |
Burt Lancaster, initially, when prime minister could have met three sisters here (7,5) | BLASTED HEATH | Burt Lancaster, initially, when prime minister could have met three sisters here (7,5)
B(urt) L(ancaster) + AS TED HEATH
From Act 1, Scene 3 of Macbeth
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. |
Ancient Greeks record material with centre part moved to the end (9) | EPHESIANS | Ancient Greeks record material with centre part moved to the end (9)
EP + HESSIAN with the central S moved to the end.
Ephesus is now in Turkey, but was in Greece in ancient times. |
American muscle in a way dodgy (7) | SUSPECT | American muscle in a way dodgy (7)
US PEC in St. |
Some disheartened by identical plant (6) | SESAME | Some disheartened by identical plant (6)
S(om)E + SAME |
Distracted, I spoil a march, not seeing the bigger picture (12) | PAROCHIALISM | Distracted, I spoil a march, not seeing the bigger picture (12)
*(I spoil a march) |
Happy couple will yawn off and on being overwhelmed by requirements (9) | NEWLYWEDS | Happy couple will yawn off and on being overwhelmed by requirements (9)
W(i)L(l)Y(a)W(n) in NEEDS |
Is obliged to hear about society in Shropshire town (8) | OSWESTRY | Is obliged to hear about society in Shropshire town (8)
OWES TRY about S |
Support without winning Queen's Teaspoon? (7) | STIRRER | Support without winning Queen's Teaspoon? (7)
STIRR(up) + E.R. |
One sort of fertiliser not round like reptiles (7) | IGUANAS | One sort of fertiliser not round like reptiles (7)
1 + GUAN(o) + AS |
Fought being restrained (6) | FENCED | Fought being restrained (6)
Double definition |
One of Chekhov's sisters fashionable in Irish academy (5) | IRINA | One of Chekhov's sisters fashionable in Irish academy (5)
IN ("fashionable") in Ir. A |
Hosts taken aback about man's separation (6) | SCHISM | Definition: separation
<=MCS ("masters of ceremonies" = "hosts") about HIS "(man's") |
Scotch and beer sustains a politician (5,3) | STAMP OUT | Definition: Scotch
A M.P. in STOUT |
Retreating army controlled by noble, at the margins, close to battle (6) | NASEBY | Definition: battle
<=SA ((Salvation) "army") in N(obl)E + BY
The battle of Naseby (1645) was a defest for the Royalists in the English Civil War. |
Want English butcher back in charge (4,4) | FEEL LIKE | Definition: Want
<=E KILL in FEE |
In New York, head for pasta (6) | NOODLE | Definition: In New York, head
Double definition
I hadn't really considered "noodle" to be an Americanism, but at least one of the online dictionaries indicates it is. |
Study conducted about the old British bakery produce (3,5) | RYE BREAD | Definition: bakery produce
READ ("study") about YE ("the old") Br. ("British") |
Writer's iPhone used regularly (3) | POE | Definition: Writer
i**P**h**O**n**E |
Increasingly difficult for Eastender reporting fire (6) | ARDOUR | Definition: fire
Homophone of " 'arder" |
Tone down article dismissing second upper-class cleric (7) | SUBDEAN | Definition: Tone
SUBD(u)E + AN |
Herb, a guy primarily besotted? (6) | LOVAGE | Definition: Herb
A G(uy) in LOVE |
Girl's parking among others (3) | PEG | Definition: Girl
P ("parking") + E.G. ("among others") |
What one does with a page bringing pastry? (8) | TURNOVER | Definition: What one does with a page
Double definition |
Sort of patch in middle of skirt appearing repeatedly (4-2) | IRON ON | Definition: Sort of patch
(sk)IR(t) + ON twice ("repeatedly")
This doesn't work for me as "middle of skirt" is either KIR or I |
Mother and I visiting Lakes, shakily begin voyage (4,4) | MAKE SAIL | Definition: begin voyage
MA + I in *(lakes) |
Police on mountain returning undisturbed (6) | PLACID | Definition: undisturbed
C.I.D. on <=ALP |
Judge is firm with staff member maybe losing head (8) | CONSIDER | Definition: Judge
CO + (i)NSIDER |
Like a bird towards the tail (6) | ASTERN | Definition: towards the tail
AS + TERN |
Relative cooking at home chops salad (3-2-3) | SON-IN-LAW | Definition: Relative
ON ("cooking") + IN in SLAW |
It's hard when having to comprehend landing-place in wartime disputes (3,5) | HAS WORDS | Definition: disputes
SWORD in H + AS
Sword was one of the Normandy landings |
Brother perhaps joined priest and American composer (8) | SIBELIUS | Definition: composer
SIB ("brother perhaps) + ELI ("priest" in the Old Testament) + US
Refers to Jean Sibelius, the Finnish composer who died in 1957. |
Italian lifted daughter inside to view stained garment (3-3) | TIE-DYE | Definition: stained garment
<=IT + D in EYE |
New album snaps start to indicate Pacific resort (6) | MALIBU | Definition: Pacific resort
I(ndicate) in *(album) |
Soldiers are grabbing a mouthful by the way (6) | OBITER | Definition: by the way
OR is (not are?) grabbing BITE |
Latest score in rugby's entertaining final (6) | TRENDY | Definition: Latest
END ("final") in TRY ("core in rugby") |
Right dictionary always needed to find "small ungulate" (3,4) | ROE DEER | Definition: small ungulate
R + O.E.D. + e'er |
Odd tipple drunk by crewman? (3) | RUM | Definition: Odd
Double definition |
Friend's running 400 metres backwards (3) | PAL | Definition: Friend
<=LAP
400m is the size of a lap of most athletics tracks |
Father has ailments after cutting back on budget (2,6) | NO FRILLS | Definition: budget
<=ON + Fr. + ILLS
Def: A budget airline could also be described as a no frills airline. |
One firmly sticks rod on clean ground (8) | BARNACLE | Definition: One firmly sticks
BAR + *(clean) |
Checked on freshwater fish being served up in pub (6,2) | REINED IN | Definition: Checked
RE("on") + <=IDE in INN |
Tiny centrepieces displayed in Bath, Rome, Nice (6) | ATOMIC | Definition: Tiny
The centre pieces of b**AT**h, r**OM**e and n**IC**e |
Faulty globe put up, given knowledge (6) | BROKEN | Definition: Faulty
<=ORB + KEN |
Potato dish from Ireland left around English street (6) | ROESTI | Definition: Potato dish
R.O.I (Republic of "Ireland") around E St. |
Slight favourite that is maintaining second in steeplechase (6) | PETITE | Definition: Slight
PET + (s)T(eeplechase) in I.E. |
Doctor is not late at bar – he never drinks! (5,9) | TOTALABSTAINER | Doctor is not late at bar – he never drinks! (5,9)
*(is not late at bar) |
Émigré needs English vote backing strike (5) | EXPAT | Émigré needs English vote backing strike (5)
E + X("vote") +<=TAP |
Possibly releases a French victim on Sunday (9) | UNBUTTONS | Possibly releases a French victim on Sunday (9)
UN + BUTT (as in "butt of a joke") ON + S(unday) |
Essential to take boat west to spot the beaver (7) | MUSKRAT | Essential to take boat west to spot the beaver (7)
<=ARK in MUST |
Retired, being embarassed about the act (7) | REPOSED | Retired, being embarassed about the act (7)
RED about POSE |
Starts, oddly, with a year-old goat (5) | SATYR | Starts, oddly, with a year-old goat (5)
S(t)A(r)T(s) + YR |
Ringleader clearly not a Royalist (9) | ROUNDHEAD | Ringleader clearly not a Royalist (9)
ROUND("riing") + HEAD("leader") |
Litmus paper eg to peel off after examination (4,5) | TEST STRIP | Litmus paper eg to peel off after examination (4,5)
STRIP after TEST |
Arab gets Skoda's first German car (5) | SAUDI | Arab gets Skoda's first German car (5)
S(koda) + AUDI |
Enter quickly (without directions) to obtain skittle (7) | NINEPIN | Enter quickly (without directions) to obtain skittle (7)
NE("directions" in NIP IN |
RAF tale about a dangerous carrier (3-4) | RAT FLEA | RAF tale about a dangerous carrier (3-4)
*(raf tale) |
Found. initially, in no doubt – then lost (3-6) | OFF COURSE | Found. initially, in no doubt – then lost (3-6)
F(ound) in OF COURSE |
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