Clue
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| Answer
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46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
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|---|---|---|
Head of Institute blocks return of eccentric English physicist (5) | DIRAC | Head of Institute blocks return of eccentric English physicist (5)
(I)nstitute) in <=CARD ("eccentric")
Paul Dirac was an English physicist and Nobel Prize winner. |
Entice with first of sweeteners for Liberal to make certain (4) | SURE | Entice with first of sweeteners for Liberal to make certain (4)
S(weeteners) replacing L ("Liberal") in LURE to make SURE |
Press forward acquiring high- class property (6,6) | FOURTH ESTATE | Press forward acquiring high- class property (6,6)
FO(U)RTH + ESTATE |
Area resentful over deficient old spray (7) | AEROSOL | Area resentful over deficient old spray (7)
A + <=SORE + OL(d) |
Language game initially surprises Welsh girl (7) | RUSSIAN | Language game initially surprises Welsh girl (7)
R.U. + S(ursprises) + SIAN |
Ahead, making case – not quietly at first (7) | LEADING | Ahead, making case – not quietly at first (7)
(p)LEADING |
Countryman in trap returning to become more involved (7) | THICKEN | Countryman in trap returning to become more involved (7)
HICK in <=NET |
Profit from factory in end that is extremely limited (5) | YIELD | Profit from factory in end that is extremely limited (5)
(factor)Y + I.E. +L(imite)D |
Legal people's unusual stationery I avoided (9) | ATTORNEYS | Legal people's unusual stationery I avoided (9)
*(statonery) (stationery – I) |
One practising in section of Army listens to Queen (9) | REHEARSER | One practising in section of Army listens to Queen (9)
R.E. + HEARS + E.R. |
Son with heart making mark (5) | SCORE | Son with heart making mark (5)
S + CORE |
Was contemptuous about routine in drag first of all included in act (7) | DERIDED | Was contemptuous about routine in drag first of all included in act (7)
R(outine) I(n) D(rag) in DEED |
Against Church training idea (7) | CONCEPT | Against Church training idea (7)
CON + C.E. + P.T. |
Incident leads to errant pupil in school getting lines (7) | EPISODE | Incident leads to errant pupil in school getting lines (7)
E(rrant) P(upil) I(n) S(chool) + ODE |
Liberal seaman in group tackling addiction showing character of Arabs? (3,4) | ALI BABA | Liberal seaman in group tackling addiction showing character of Arabs? (3,4)
LIB A.B. in A.A. |
Love to be entertained by selfless men working in this faculty? (5,2,5) | SENSE OF SMELL | Love to be entertained by selfless men working in this faculty? (5,2,5)
*(selfless men + O) |
Abandon alcoholic drink after warning, brief (7) | FORSAKE | Abandon alcoholic drink after warning, brief (7)
SAKE after FOR(e) |
Doctor used PIN without being noticed (7) | UNSPIED | Doctor used PIN without being noticed (7)
*(used pin) |
Clever to turn up circulating European member's communications (9) | TELEGRAMS | Clever to turn up circulating European member's communications (9)
E LEG in <=SMART |
Flier feels upset – without going to extremes (5) | EGRET | Flier feels upset – without going to extremes (5)
(r)EGRET(s) |
New artiste – more appealing (7) | TASTIER | New artiste – more appealing (7)
*(tastier) |
The instant wife puts ring on (7) | TWINKLE | The instant wife puts ring on (7)
W in TINKLE ("ring" as in "give me a twinkle") |
Order big beer daily – it helps to get to the other side! (6,6) | BAILEY BRIDGE | Order big beer daily – it helps to get to the other side! (6,6)
*(big beer daily) |
When wrestling, neat nelson is required? No (3-9) | NON-ESSENTIAL | When wrestling, neat nelson is required? No (3-9)
*(neat nelson is) |
These change position and stun actor in play (9) | TURNCOATS | These change position and stun actor in play (9)
*(stun actor) |
Female's written about French king meeting English – admirable lady (7) | HEROINE | Female's written about French king meeting English – admirable lady (7)
ROI in HER + E |
A right pair, useless, difficult (7) | ARDUOUS | A right pair, useless, difficult (7)
A + R + DUO + US ("useless") |
Light moment? (7) | SUNRISE | Light moment? (7)
Cryptic definition? |
Garment finished – Sally's content (7) | OVERALL | Garment finished – Sally's content (7)
OVER + (s)ALL(y) |
Finish work for Spanish guy (5) | DIEGO | Finish work for Spanish guy (5)
DIE + GO |
Bird or creature unlikely to fly, given time (6) | PIGEON | Bird or creature unlikely to fly, given time (6)
PIG ("creature unlikely to fly") + EON |
Shabby, but had the courage to embrace Roger undressed! (3-5) | DOG-EARED | Shabby, but had the courage to embrace Roger undressed! (3-5)
(r)OGE(r) in DARED |
Columnist shot in a city in front of relative (5,4) | AGONY AUNT | Columnist shot in a city in front of relative (5,4)
GO("shot") in A NY + AUNT |
Fish beginning to rise in cost (5) | TROLL | Fish beginning to rise in cost (5)
R(ise) in TOLL |
Burnt residue on bottom of grim brew (4) | MASH | Burnt residue on bottom of grim brew (4)
(gri)M + ASH
"Bottom of" applies better to down clues, I think. |
Sound producer of Cats perhaps before television (7,3) | MUSICAL BOX | Sound producer of Cats perhaps before television (7,3)
MUSICAL ("Cats perhaps") + BOX ("television") |
South-eastern French town or city (7) | SEVILLE | South-eastern French town or city (7)
S.E. + VILLE (French word for "town") |
Surviving Texan shot twin, dismissing victory (6) | EXTANT | Surviving Texan shot twin, dismissing victory (6)
*(texan) + T(win) |
Runs after cash-strapped agent (6) | BROKER | Runs after cash-strapped agent (6)
R("runs" in cricket) after BROKE |
December, except the middle, should be a dry spell (7) | DROUGHT | December, except the middle, should be a dry spell (7)
D(ecembe)R + OUGHT |
Stranded on a trip with no booze! (4,3,3) | HIGH AND DRY | Stranded on a trip with no booze! (4,3,3)
HIGH ("on a trip") + AND ("with") + DRY ("no booze") |
Pastures temporarily holding stock (4) | STEM | Pastures temporarily holding stock (4)
Hidden in "pasture**S TEM**porarily" |
Particle requiring question mark? Millions lost (5) | QUARK | Particle requiring question mark? Millions lost (5)
QU. + (m)ARK |
Make too much of condition after having finished first (9) | OVERSTATE | Make too much of condition after having finished first (9)
STATE after OVER |
Latter part of day's regular diet, possibly (8) | EVENTIDE | Latter part of day's regular diet, possibly (8)
EVEN + *(diet) |
Dearie me! The French are to barrack (6) | HECKLE | Dearie me! The French are to barrack (6)
HECK ("dearie me!") + LE
This clue doesn't work for me, because of the "are" which is necessary for the surface, but is superfluous as far as the clue is concerned, and actually misleading as "the French are" could lead to ES or EST. |
Songwriter's son adopted by fortune-teller (8) | PSALMIST | Songwriter's son adopted by fortune-teller (8)
S in PALMIST |
Hardly mention what an undercoat may need (5,4) | GLOSS OVER | Hardly mention what an undercoat may need (5,4)
Double definition |
Stone cross to the south of old New York (4) | ONYX | Stone cross to the south of old New York (4)
X under O NY |
Where one's left, for example, after being dismissed? (7) | OUTSIDE | Where one's left, for example, after being dismissed? (7)
SIDE ("left, for example" after OUT("dismissed") and & lit. |
Pulling out spear-carrier shortly before film director's call (10) | EXTRACTION | Pulling out spear-carrier shortly before film director's call (10)
EXTR(a) + ACTION
"Spear-carrier" is a term for a walk-on part in a play or film. |
Greek character, doctor, in shape (5) | RHOMB | Greek character, doctor, in shape (5)
RHO + M.B. (Bachelor of Medicine) |
Superior light unit thrown into river (2,4) | DE LUXE | Superior light unit thrown into river (2,4)
LUX in DEE |
Certain trade union's covered medical procedure (6) | SUTURE | Certain trade union's covered medical procedure (6)
T.U. in SURE |
Female ass in pond – time for such protection (4,6) | FLAK JACKET | Female ass in pond – time for such protection (4,6)
F + JACK ("ass") in LAKE + T |
Strange thing to try to flog – a bird (9) | NIGHTHAWK | Strange thing to try to flog – a bird (9)
*(thing) + HAWK ("try to flog") |
Result of panic in the stock market? (8) | STAMPEDE | Result of panic in the stock market? (8)
Cryptic definition, with stock referring to both "stocks and shares" or "livestock" |
Tree found in socialist golf club? (7) | REDWOOD | Tree found in socialist golf club? (7)
RED + WOOD |
Blasted sailors getting in flipping late (6) | DARNED | Blasted sailors getting in flipping late (6)
R.N. in <=DEAD |
How to pay for verification, reportedly (6) | CHEQUE | How to pay for verification, reportedly (6)
Homophone of CHECK |
Look around back of larder and eat (5) | GRAZE | Look around back of larder and eat (5)
GAZE around (larde)R |
One's levy cut by half for land offshore (4) | ISLE | One's levy cut by half for land offshore (4)
1'S + LE(vy) |
Hope Portia's in a play (10) | ASPIRATION | Definition: Hope
*(portia's in a) |
Do little turn over (4) | IDLE | Definition: Do little
Double definition |
Scarcely is Middle England gripped by obscure author (5) | ARDLY | Scarcely is Middle England gripped by obscure author (5)
THEME ENTRY – (h)ARDY gripping (eng)L(and). "obscure author" refers to Thomas Hardy, writer of "Jude the Obscure". |
Speed of sound punishes planes (9) | URRICANES | Definition: planes
THEME ENTRY – (h) URRI + CANES
"Hurri" is clued as "speed of sound", but I think it's more "the sound of speed"? |
Abandoned the German extract Gaff's forgotten (8) | DERELICT | Definition: Abandoned
DER + ELIC(i)T |
Brief Peter Sellers appearance (5) | TERSE | Brief Peter Sellers appearance (5)
Makes an appearance in "pe**TER SE**llers" |
Humming a rondo variation takes time (7) | ODORANT | Definition: Humming
*(a rondo) + T |
Stepped back, admitting race is suspended (7) | DORMANT | Definition: suspended
<=TROD admitting MAN |
Town we back in gallant way (7) | ERTFORD | Definition: Town
THEME ENTRY – <=FT ("we back") in HERO RD |
Lower heads before crossing (7) | EREFORD | Definition: Lower
THEME ENTRY – (h) + ERE + FORD
Hereford is a breed of cattle, hence "lower" ("that which lows" = a cow) |
Take place of a very soft lining layer (5) | APPEN | Definition: Take place
THEME ENTRY – APP in (h)EN |
Test county that's cut addition to rent (8) | AMPSHIRE | Definition: Test county
THEME ENTRY – (h)AM + P.S. + HIRE |
Tonic, of course? (9) | REFRESHER | Definition: Tonic
Double definition |
Dodge back-stabber (5) | VIPER | Definition: Dodge
Double definition – a Dodge Viper is a sports car. |
Maybe well-made goal (4) | WISH | Definition: goal
Refers to a wishing well. |
Woman from W1 missing a show (2,4,4) | MY FAIR LADY | Definition: show
M(a)YFAIR LADY |
Slightly gaping from a shock (4) | AJAR | Definition: Slightly gaping
A JAR ("shock") |
Made long,long face about extra (6,3) | PADDED OUT | Definition: Made long
POUT about ADDED |
Lines from The Frost Report (5) | RHYME | Definition: Lines
Homphone of RIME |
Visitor to ancient city is prime target (7) | TOURIST | Definition: Visitor
TO UR IS + T(arget) |
Ring deters wanton magnetism (7) | OERSTED | Definition: magnetism
O + *(deters)
An oersted is the unit of the auxiliary magnetic field H in the CGS system of units. Apart from it being named after a Danish phycist, that's all I know about it, so don't know if it can be clued as "magnetism" or whether it should be "a unit of magnetism", which would not work in the surface of the clue. |
Academic has alternative organ supplier (5) | DONOR | Definition: organ supplier
DON + OR |
Dieters eat frantically in festal season (10) | EASTERTIDE | Definition: festal season
*(eaters diet) |
Queen Mary was not unpunished (4,4) | SCOT FREE | Definition: Queen Mary was not
Double definition – Queen Mary was a Sxot imprisoned, therefore not SCOT FREE |
Skeleton's inside Spooner's grouse burial mound (4,6) | BONE MARROW | Definition: Skeleton's inside
MOAN BARROW to Spooner |
Smeared rear of Old Etonian liberally (8) | ANOINTED | Definition: Smeared
*(D Etonion) where D = rear of "old" |
Head of Apple deliriously happy restriction of reading text works (9) | APOCRYPHA | Definition: works
A(pple) + O.C.R. in *(happy)
O.C.R. stands for Optical Character Recognition, therefore "reading text" (I think it's more a means of reading text) |
Fatal mistake by the lady (7) | DEATHLY | Definition: Fatal
*(the lady) |
Upliftingly broadcast work Gaff markets (7) | EMPORIA | Definition: markets
<=AIR + OP + ME ("Gaff") |
Plugs featuring faulty leads discharge kettles (5) | PUFFS | Definition: Plugs
F(eaturing) F(aulty) "kettled by" PUS
Plugs and puffs are (not quite?) synonymous in advertising circles. |
Always central to false verdict (5) | HEVER | Always central to false verdict (5)
THEME ENTRY – an "h" added to EVER (central to "fals**E VER**dict") |
Hear victim's appeal (4) | PRAY | Definition: appeal
Homophone of PREY |
Child listens, confused about Christopher Biggins's last film (10,4) | SCHINDLER’S LIST | Definition: film
*(child listens) about (christophe)R (biggin)S
THEME ENTRY – film featuring Ben Kingsley |
I'm surprised by medium salad being something important for electricians (4,3) | OHMS LAW | Definition: something important for electricians
OH ("I'm surprised!") + M + SLAW |
Diamond system for living in a box (7) | LOZENGE | Definition: Diamond
ZEN("system for living") in LOGE ("box" at the theatre) |
Dickensian description of smoker's mouth (5) | FAGIN | Definition: Dickensian
FAG IN (smoker's mouth)
THEME ENTRY – character played by Ben Kingsley in 2005's *Oliver Twist*. |
Film live when following male, typically in a group (4,5) | SEXY BEAST | Definition: Film
BE AS ("live when") follwing X/Y ("male, typically") in SET
THEME ENTRY – Ben Kingsley was nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in this 2000 movie. |
Leaving old cheat to back American (6) | EXODUS | Definition: Leaving
EX + <=DO + US
THEME ENTRY – Ben Kingsley features in 2014's *Exodus: Gods & Kings |
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