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More costly Father Ted given modern look (7) | UPDATED | Definition: given modern look
UP(higher in price/more costly) + DA(father, in the vocabulary in Ireland, Scotland and North England) + TED. |
Worry about cutting paper (4) | FRET | Definition: Worry
RE(with reference to/about) **contained in**(cutting) FT(the Financial Times daily newspaper). |
Padding over where arm's held close to body (10) | UPHOLSTERY | Definition: Padding
UP(over, as in "time's up!") + HOLSTER(the accessory worn on the body, in which/where a handgun/firearm is held) + **last letter of**(close to) "body".
Defn: … covering and fixed to furniture items. |
McIlroy's first club covered constant tiny distance (6) | MICRON | Definition: tiny distance
**1st letter of**(…'s first) "McIlroy" + IRON(a club, as may be used by Rory McIlroy, professional golfer) **containing**(covered) C(mathematical symbol for a value that is constant).
Defn: … equal to one-millionth of a metre. |
Refreshed squaddies slept outside (8) | RESTORED | Definition: Refreshed
OR(abbrev. for "other ranks"/non-commissioned military personnel/squaddies) **contained in**(… outside) RESTED(ceased activity and slept). |
Trim fruits in different heaps (9) | SHIPSHAPE | Definition: Trim
HIPS(fruit of a rose) **contained in**(in) **anagram of**(different) HEAPS. |
Fit ground inside city? That's clever (5) | NIFTY | Definition: clever
**Anagram of**(… ground) FIT **contained in**(inside) NY(abbrev. for New York City, USA). |
Do without extra small prune left over (5) | SPARE | Definition: Do without extra,left over
S(abbrev. for "small') + PARE(to prune/trim/remove unwanted parts).
Double defn: 1st: …, say, mass or fat/thin; and 2 … and above what's in use. Or could it be a triple defn? |
Former coach's conscientious commitment (9) | DILIGENCE | Definition: Former coach,conscientious commitment
Double defn: 1st: Historically, a public stagecoach. |
Designs using fine wood particles (8) | FASHIONS | Definition: Designs
F(abbrev. for "fine") + ASH(wood from the ash tree, of course) + IONS(tiny particles/atoms or molecules that have gained or lost an electron). |
Case section of canal Egypt added (6) | LOCKET | Definition: Case
LOCK(section of a canal, where boats are raised or lowered) **plus**(… added) ET(International Vehicle Registration code for Egypt).
Defn: Ornamental …. |
Drills maybe two poles or rocks (5,5) | POWER TOOLS | Definition: Drills maybe
**Anagram of**(… rocks) TWO POLES OR.
Defn: Examples of which/maybe are electric drills. |
Make up time lost in first class (1-3) | A-ONE | Definition: first class
"atone"(to make up/to make amends for) **minus**(… lost) "t"(abbrev. for "time").
Defn: …/the best. |
Wheels shy tourist now and then (7) | CASTORS | Definition: Wheels
CAST(shy/to fling or throw at a target) + **2nd, 4th and 6th letters of**(… now and then) "tourist".
Heavy-duty ones: |
Modified an obsolete piano brought in (7) | ADAPTED | Definition: Modified
A(like "an", an article for a single object) + DATED(obsolete/out of date) **containing**(… brought in) P(abbrev. for "piano", the musical direction). |
Japan referee lives in new hotel (7) | VARNISH | Definition: Japan
VAR(abbrev. for "Video Assistant Referee", in sports, an official who helps with the main referee's decision-making by reviewing the play on video recording) + IS(lives/exists) **contained in**(in) [ N(abbrev. for "new") + H(letter in the phonetic alphabet represented by "hotel") ].
Defn: Of which japan, a hard dark lacquer, is an example. |
It goes round and round most of North Island city (5) | ROTOR | Definition: It goes round and round
**5 letters out of 7 of**(most of) "Rotorua"(a city in the North Island, New Zealand). |
One of five arrivals in small church a supporter there (7) | SQUINCH | Definition: a supporter there
QUIN(short for "quintuplet", one of five babies born/arrivals at one birth) **contained in**(in) [ S(abbrev. for "small") + CH(abbrev. for "church") ].
Defn: An arched structure supporting, say, a dome as may be found in a church/"there" in the clue. |
European sophistication (6) | POLISH | Definition: European,sophistication
Double defn: 2nd: …/elegance in a person or thing. |
Sanction unit in renovated art house (9) | AUTHORISE | Definition: Sanction
I(Roman numeral for "one", a single unit) **contained in**(in) **anagram of**(renovated) ART HOUSE. |
Heading across France occasionally to find grave (7) | EARNEST | Definition: grave
EAST(a heading/a direction) **containing**(across) **2nd, 4th and 6th letters of**(… occasionally) "France".
Defn: …/serious. |
Fixing TV show could make others happier (3,6,4) | THE REPAIR SHOP | Definition: Fixing TV show
**Anagram of**(could make) OTHERS HAPPIER.
Defn: British TV show in which experts restore/fix family heirlooms, which make the owners happier, no doubt. |
When out of cash, workers split wrapping paper (9) | PARCHMENT | Definition: paper
[ "as"(when/at the time specified, as in "please close the door when you leave") **deleted from**(out of) "cash" + MEN(workers/labourers) ] **contained in**(… wrapping) PART(to split/to divide). |
Architect left one instrument (7) | PIANOLA | Definition: instrument
PIANO(Renzo, Italian architect whose work includes The Shard in London) + L(abbrev. for "left") + A(one/article for a single item). |
Badly sullied? (3-4) | ILL-USED | Definition: Badly sullied
**Anagram of**(Badly) SULLIED.
Defn: What would result in something being … |
Sanitise lists Anglicans put outside (7) | CLEANSE | Definition: Sanitise
LEANS(lists/tilts to one side) **contained in**(… put outside) CE(abbrev. for the Church of England, whose members are "Anglicans"). |
Harry a competitor in the Crucible (6) | POTTER | Definition: Harry,a competitor in the Crucible
Double defn: 1st: …, in J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels; and 2nd: What you might call a player who pots balls, and would be a competitor in The Crucible (Theatre), the venue in Sheffield, England, where the World Snooker Championships are held.
Is our setter a snooker player, too? |
Vice perhaps affected inspiring student (5) | CLAMP | Definition: Vice perhaps
CAMP(affected/deliberately exaggerated and theatrical) **containing**(inspiring) L(letter displayed by a student driver).
Defn: A device for fastening something in place, an example of which/perhaps, is a vice. |
Constant criticism curtailed at parting (6) | STATIC | Definition: Constant
"stick"(severe criticism/condemnation) **minus ****its last letter**(curtailed) **containing**(… parting) AT.
Defn: …/without change. |
Very hot yet was composed (6) | SWEATY | Definition: Very hot
**Anagram of**(… composed) YET WAS. |
Strange going back inside Tangier office (7) | FOREIGN | Definition: Strange
**Hidden in**(inside) **reversal of**(going back …) "Tangier office". |
Dad swamps kir cocktail with spice (7) | PAPRIKA | Definition: spice
PAPA(like "Dad", an informal term for one's father) **containing**(swamps) **anagram of**(… cocktail) KIR. |
Really disappointed in ugly car parks at oasis (2,4,2,1,6) | AS SICK AS A PARROT | Definition: Really disappointed
**Anagram of**(ugly) CAR PARKS AT OASIS.
…. literally. |
Squander money in buffet (4) | BLOW | Definition: Squander money ,buffet
Double defn: 1st: …/spend recklessly; and 2nd: …/a punch. |
Perhaps Galileo's maestro or Newton, possibly (10) | ASTRONOMER | Definition: Perhaps Galileo
**Anagram of**(…, possibly) [MAESTRO OR + N(abbrev. for "Newton", symbol in physics for a unit of force) ].
Defn: Of which Galileo Galilei is an example/perhaps.
The man's instrument: |
Deteriorating swimming resort's losing special quality (10) | RETROGRADE | Definition: Deteriorating
**Anagram of**(swimming) [ "resort" **minus**(…'s losing) "s"(abbrev. for "special") ] + GRADE(a measure of quality/condition, as in "high-grade investments"). |
Region in Italy certainly covered by motoring organisation (4) | ASIA | Definition: Region
SI("certainly"/agreed! in the language of Italy) **contained in**(covered by) AA(abbrev. for "Automobile Association", the motoring organisation in many countries).
Defn: Geographical …. |
Winning fellow in duel chose to turn early (5,2,8) | AHEAD OF SCHEDULE | Definition: early
AHEAD(winning/leading at a particular point in a contest) + **anagram of**(… to turn) [ F(abbrev. for "fellow") **contained in**(in) DUEL CHOSE]. |
Heat-retaining articles worn by soldier left behind (7) | THERMAL | Definition: Heat-retaining
THE,A(two articles in grammar) **containing**(worn by) RM(post-nominals for an officer/soldier in the Royal Marines unit of the military) **plus**(… behind) L(abbrev. for "left").
Defn: …, as with clothing designed to keep one warm, such clothes being called "thermals".
.. or as with hot springs and pools: |
Lamp's laboriously cleaned out with a soft touch (7) | LIGHTLY | Definition: with a soft touch
LIGHT(a lamp/a source of light) + "laboriously" **minus all its inner letters**(cleaned out). |
Verse has singular beat unknown by leading academic (6) | STANZA | Definition: Verse
S(abbrev. for "singular") + TAN(to beat physically as punishment) + Z(symbol for an unknown quantity in mathematics) **plus**(by) **1st letter of**(leading) "academic".
Defn: … in a poem. |
Compulsion to put on nursing uniform (6) | DURESS | Definition: Compulsion
DRESS(to put, say, clothes, on) **containing**(nursing) U(abbrev. for "uniform").
Defn: …/coercion. |
HRT treatment remains open to debate (6,3) | THRASH OUT | Definition: debate
**Anagram of**(… treatment) HRT + ASH(remains after burning) + OUT(open/not hidden). |
Outwit champion concealing sudden move (6) | TWITCH | Definition: sudden move
**Hidden in**(… concealing) "Outwit champion". |
Political activist is able very shortly to take in fool (9) | CANVASSER | Definition: Political activist
CAN(is able to/capable of) + "very" **minus its last letter**(shortly) **containing**(to take in) ASS(a fool/a stupid person). |
Back copies one acquired are a brownish colour (5) | SEPIA | Definition: a brownish colour
**Reversal of**(Back) APES(copies/imitates) **containing**(… acquired) I(Roman numeral for "one"). |
Former lover's not embellished son's excuses (8) | EXPLAINS | Definition: excuses
EX(one's former lover) **plus**('s/has) PLAIN(not embellished/undecorated) + S(abbrev. for "son").
Defn: Gives a reason to justify/excuses an action or event. |
Someone attempting to start off unloading goods (5) | TRIER | Definition: Someone attempting
"trigger"(to start off/to set into motion a sequence of events) **minus**(unloading) G,G(twice abbrev. for "good"). |
Fatberg sat about causing alarm (11) | FLABBERGAST | Definition: causing alarm
FLAB(fat/soft loose flesh on one's body) + BERG + **anagram of**(… about) SAT.
Defn: …/to startle. |
Every other change neatly arranged (11) | ALTERNATELY | Definition: Every other
ALTER(to change/to amend) + **anagram of**(… arranged) NEATLY. |
Laughed at reading 1 down — setter had put in funny clue (9) | RIDICULED | Definition: Laughed at
R(abbrev. for "reading", from the "three Rs of children's education") + I(Roman numeral for "one") + D(abbrev. for "down", as with, say, crossword clues) + I'D("I had"/setter had, using the self-referential pronoun) **containing**(put in) **anagram of**(funny) CLUE. |
Engineer questions exchanging money for new false reports (9) | MISQUOTES | Definition: false reports
**Anagram of**(Engineer) [ "questions" **with** "m"(abbrev. for "money") **replacing**(exchanging … for) "n"(abbrev. for "new") ]. |
Continue protecting cupola, a positive sign for the future (4,4) | GOOD OMEN | Definition: a positive sign for the future
[GO ON](continue/proceed) **containing**(protecting) DOME(cupola/a rounded roof or part of a roof). |
Accounts book's advantage in long run (6) | LEDGER | Definition: Accounts book
EDGE(an advantage one contestant has over the others) **contained in**(in) [ L(abbrev. for "long") + R(abbrev. for "run" in cricket scores) ]. |
In France I set up English court in exile (5) | EJECT | Definition: exile
**Reversal of**(… set up, in a down clue) JE(the pronoun "I", in the language of France) + E(abbrev. for "English") + CT(abbrev. for "court").
Defn: To compel someone to leave a place. |
Stumbled over a slang word for man (5) | FELLA | Definition: slang word for man
FELL(stumbled/tripped while walking or running) **placed above**(over, in a down clue) A. |
Submarine that's German and Irish and American (8) | UNDERSEA | Definition: Submarine
UND(German for "and") + ERSE(the Irish Gaelic language) **plus**(and) A(abbrev. for "American").
Defn: …/underwater. |
Fine being sore after exercise class (6) | PEACHY | Definition: Fine
ACHY(sore/suffering from continuous dull pain, as you might be after exercising) **placed after**(after) PE(abbrev. for "physical education"/exercise class in school).
Defn: …, in North American slang. |
Say, borstal pupil's denial retracted after pressure? (6) | PRISON | Definition: Say, borstal
**Reversal of**(… retracted) [ NO, SIR ](a pupils' denial as said to a teacher) **placed after**(after) P(symbol for "pressure" in physics).
Defn: An example of which/say, is the borstal, a custodial institution for young offenders. |
Structure on a pitch Rooney's inside, most likely (3,2,3) | TEN TO ONE | Definition: most likely
TENT(a structure on a pitch/a cloth shelter that you pitch/set up) + **inner letters of**(…'s inside) "Rooney".
Defn: The odds for something most likely to happen. |
Censor government report (4) | BANG | Definition: report
BAN(to censor/to forbid) + G(abbrev. for "government").
Defn: A …/sudden loud noise. |
Exhibitor fashioned arty base for nude figure (6,4) | SHOWER TRAY | Definition: base for nude figure
SHOWER(an exhibitor/one who shows) + **anagram of**(fashioned) ARTY.
Defn: A base/something to stand on for a nude figure/person, in this case one taking a shower. |
Friend shortly runs single rounder after children (8) | MATRONLY | Definition: rounder after children
"mate"(a friend/companion) **minus ****its last letter**(shortly) + R(abbrev. for "runs" in cricket scores) + ONLY(single/solitary).
Defn: The unflattering description of one who is rounder/of heavier build after having children. Or is it the description of one who rounds up/tends to children in an institution? – but, if that were so, the clue gives no indication that the solution should be an adjective. |
One egg put on for the whole family (4) | UNIT | Definition: One
NIT(egg of a louse) **plus**(put on) U(abbrev. for "universal", the classification of film certified as suitable for viewing by everyone, including the whole family). |
Hill-dweller taken aback by English mountain (4) | ETNA | Definition: mountain
**Reversal of**(… taken aback) ANT(a dweller of an anthill) **placed after**(by) E(abbrev. for "English").
Defn: … in Sicily. |
Mark round glass left by sediment from Spooner's wine? (8) | RIESLING | Definition: wine
Spoonerism of(… from Spooner) [ "lees"(sediment from wine) that has left a "ring"(a mark round a glass, a wineglass, say) ].
Defn: A dry white … from Germany. |
Prince Charles collects amateur and dreadful china for fun (10) | PLAYFELLOW | Definition: china for fun
POW(abbrev. for the Prince of Wales, currently Prince Charles) **containing**(collects) [ LAY(amateur/not professionally qualified) + FELL(dreadful/terrible) ].
Defn: A mate/china to play with/for fun. |
Tree-trunk Jack climbs for acorns, say (4) | MAST | Definition: Tree-trunk Jack climbs,acorns, say
Double defn: 1. That formerly constructed from a tree-trunk, which a Jack/a seaman might climb on board a ship; and 2nd: Animal feed which could/say be made from, or including, acorns. |
A few good-looking bananas dropped off (4) | SOME | Definition: A few
"handsome"(good-looking/physically attractive) **minus**(… dropped off) "hand"(a bundle or cluster of bananas). |
Open up a Conservative party – leadership of Boris is revoked (10) | ACCELERATE | Definition: Open up
A + C(abbrev. for the Conservative Party or a member of it) + "celebrate"(to acknowledge by holding a party, as was done by Boris in Downing Street) **minus ****1st letter of**(leadership of … is revoked) "Boris".
Defn: …/to widen the engine throttle of a motor vehicle, and thus, picking up speed. |
Induct a couple of trainees at the end of this month (7) | INSTALL | Definition: Induct
[ A + L,L(a couple of the letter displayed by a trainee driver) ] **placed after**(at the end of) INST.(abbrev. for "instante mense"/Latin for "this month"). |
In retrospect, rehearse for Phantom (7) | SPECTRE | Definition: Phantom
**Hidden in**(In) "retrospect, rehearse". |
Daft to adopt city plan (7) | DIAGRAM | Definition: plan
DIM(daft/not clever) **containing**(to adopt) AGRA(Indian city, site of the Taj Mahal). |
Got rid of Times journalist (6) | ERASED | Definition: Got rid of
ERAS(long periods of time) + ED(abbrev. for "editor", a journalist). |
Watches bridge opponents struggle at first (5) | VIEWS | Definition: Watches
W,S(abbrev. for "West" and "South" respectively, representing players in opposing partnerships in the card game, bridge) **placed after**(… at first) VIE(to struggle/to fight for). |
Glorified newspaper editor entertains drunken ladies (9) | IDEALISED | Definition: Glorified
[ I(in lower case, the British national morning paper) + ED(abbrev. for "editor") ] **containing**(entertains) **anagram of**(drunken) LADIES. |
Get back together having never once fallen out (9) | RECONVENE | Definition: Get back together
**Anagram of**(… fallen out) NEVER ONCE. |
Freight container originally placed on old ship (5) | CARGO | Definition: Freight
**1st letter of**(… originally) "container" **plus**(placed on) ARGO(in Greek mythology, the ship in which Jason and company sailed). |
Foundation student abandons drunken Frenchman (6) | BOTTOM | Definition: Foundation
"L"(letter displayed by a student driver) **deleted from**(abandons) [ "blotto"(extremely drunk) + M(abbrev. for "Monsieur", a form of address for a Frenchman) ]. |
Question some emoticons ultimately (7) | CONSULT | Definition: Question
**Hidden in** some () "emoticons ultimately".
Defn: …/seek knowledge or advice from someone. |
A uniform's required to sit these? (1,6) | A LEVELS | Definition: sit these
A + LEVEL(uniform/with a even surface)'S.
Defn: …/exams that one sits to obtain the Advanced Level Certificate in the UK. |
Unproductive tiler working in Kent? (7) | STERILE | Definition: Unproductive
**Anagram of**(… working TILER) **contained in**(in) SE(abbrev. for "South East", in this case, the region of England that includes Kent). |
Academic Derby winner? (10) | CLASSICIST | Definition: Academic,Derby winner
Double defn: 1st: …/one who studies, in this case, the Classics, the ancient Greek and Roman cultures; and 2nd: What you might call the winner of The Derby, one of the British Classics horse races. |
Audibly taunt supporters (4) | TEES | Definition: supporters
**Homophone of**(Audibly) "tease"(taunt/to make fun of).
Defn: …/small pegs on which golf balls are placed when driving off from the tee box. |
Film various people swimming under water (4-6) | SKIN-DIVERS | Definition: people swimming under water
SKIN(film/a thin outer layer) + DIVERS(various/of several types).
Defn: … without using breathing apparatus.
Skin-diving for pearls: |
Motorway hazard mix-up (7) | MISTAKE | Definition: mix-up
MI(M1, the major motorway in England, with the Roman numeral substitution) + STAKE(to hazard/to risk something of value by gambling with it). |
Flux discovered in pool plant (9) | COLUMBINE | Definition: plant
**Middle 2 letters of**(… discovered) "Flux" **contained in**(in) COMBINE(to pool/to merge into a single unit).
Just 2 of the many varieties: |
Follow relations leaving bathroom (5) | ENSUE | Definition: Follow
"en suite"(a bathroom that immediately adjoins a bedroom) **minus**(… leaving) "it"(slang for sexual intercourse/sexual relations). |
Looker seen at Suffolk town dance (7) | EYEBALL | Definition: Looker
EYE(Suffolk market town) + BALL(a dance/a social function that includes dancing). |
Put key in a lock for film star? (7) | ACTRESS | Definition: film star
C(the key of C is a major scale in music) **contained in**(Put … in) [A + TRESS(a long lock of a woman's hair) ]. |
Drawn game of rugby with both wings sent off (4) | EVEN | Definition: Drawn
"sevens"(a game of seven-a-side rugby) **minus its 1st and last letters**(with both wings sent off).
Defn: …/describing a match with tied scores. |
Graduate doctor regularly eats curry (6) | MADRAS | Definition: curry
MA(abbrev. for "Master of Arts", a graduate with that degree) + DR(abbrev. for "Doctor") + **2nd and 4th letters of**(regularly) "eats".
Defn: A …/a dish of meat, fish or vegetables in hot curry sauce. |
Changing into a dress shows finesse (10) | ADROITNESS | Definition: finesse
**Anagram of**(Changing) INTO A DRESS. |
Uses taxes to protect the queen (9) | EXERCISES | Definition: Uses
EXCISES(taxes levied on certain goods and commodities) **containing**(to protect) ER(abbrev. for "Elizabeth Regina", Queen Elizabeth). |
Reportedly catch a disease (7) | CHOLERA | Definition: disease
**Homophone of**(Reportedly) "collar"(to catch/to arrest, a criminal, say) + A. |
Problems initially advanced at talks (7) | NATTERS | Definition: talks
"matters"(problems/troubles, as used in, in the singular, "Is there something the matter with …?") **with its 1st letter moved one position forward in the alphabet**(initially advanced). |
Enforce endless changes to debate (6) | CONFER | Definition: debate
**Anagram of**(… endless) [ "Enforce" **minus ****its last letter**(endless) ]. |
Way to describe batting performance (7) | ROUTINE | Definition: performance
ROUTE(a way/a course to go from start to destination) **containing**(to describe) IN(in cricket, describing the team that is batting, as in "which side is in?").
Defn: A set sequence making up a performance, a dance or comedy act, say. |
Add up one hundred notes (5) | MUSIC | Definition: notes
**Reversal of**(… up, in a down clue) SUM(to add up/to total) + I(Roman numeral for "one") + C(Roman numeral for "hundred").
Defn: A beautiful combination of … equating to vocal or instrumental sounds. |
Runner-up gets brandy (4) | MARC | Definition: brandy
**Reversal of**(…-up) CRAM(Steve, a British middle distance runner, prominent in the 1980s).
Defn: … distilled from marc, the refuse of grapes after being pressed in making wine. |
Subsets and Splits