Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
---|---|---|
University's new kids nursery initially has people with no reputation (8) | UNKNOWNS | Definition: people with no reputation
**U**(niversity's) **N**(ew) **K**(ids) **N**(ursery) + OWNS ("has") |
Back down on standard content for sign (4,4) | HIND PART | Definition: Back
D + PAR in HINT ("sign") |
Things being so advanced, rest on current square (2,2,2) | AS IT IS | Definition: Things being so
A ("advanced") + SIT + I (symbol for electrical "current") + S ("square") |
Call Saucer, as might be said in up-market area (9) | BELGRAVIA | Definition: up-market area
homophone of BELL GRAVIER |
Cancel loan, having received credit (5) | SCRUB | Definition: Cancel
SUB receiving Cr. |
Nuggets of data on a flyer (7) | TITBITS | Definition: Nuggets
BITS ("data") on TIT ("flyer") |
Dr Silver claims victory with scores level (7) | DRAWING | Definition: with scores level
Dr. Ag claims WIN |
Film man signs Lineker by arrangement (3,3,8) | SIR BEN KINGSLEY | Definition: Film man
*(signs lineker by) |
Nasty stuff in science fiction parody (5) | SPOOF | Definition: parody
POO in S.F. |
It's produced internally when groom collapses (9) | HOMEGROWN | Definition: produced internally
*(when groom) |
We leave Cornish resort upside- down to get old fabric (5) | NYLON | Definition: fabric
O ("old") replacing WE in <=NEWLYN |
Disoriented, our side hides at the bottom (6) | LOWEST | Definition: bottom
WE ("our side") hiding in LOST |
Cancel beer in King George having turned up at ease (8) | RELAXING | Definition: at ease
<=(NIX ALE in G.R.) |
Shirker with bye in zonals getting shafted (9) | LAZYBONES | Definition: Shirker
*(bye zonals) |
Hospital volunteers seen in many places in Mexico (5) | SANTA | Definition: seen in many places in Mexico
SAN (short for "sanitarium") + T.A. ("volunteers")
Santa is seen at the start of many Mexican place names , Santa Cruz, Santa Catarina etc, although my reseacrch shows that it's probably just as (if not more) prolific in California and Newe Mexico. |
Politicians remaining on street in Iceland (8) | LEFTISTS | Definition: Politicians
LEFT ("remaining") on St. in IS ("Iceland") |
Shows former Scottish football team retains charisma (8) | EXHIBITS | Definition: Shows
EX HIBS reatining IT ("charisma") |
Arm shockingly purple, setter's breakdown starts (5,4) | UPPER LIMB | Definition: Arm
*(purple) + I'M ("setter's) + B(reakdown) |
Heated about clearing out the harmful grain processor (9) | WATERMILL | Definition: grain processor
WARM around T(h)E + ILL |
Which cemetery has pride? (5,3) | GRAVE SIN | Definition: pride?
A cemenetry has GRAVES IN, and Grave Sin is a less common term for a Mortal Sin or Deadly Sin, one of which is pride. |
Political figure's grand article on democratic Pacific state (6) | GANDHI | Definition: Political figure
G + AN + D + Hi. (Hawaii = "Pacific state")
THEME ENTRY β Ben Kingsley won his only Oscar for playing the title role in *Gandhi* in 1982. |
Partially reveal a thick stick (5) | LATHI | Definition: stick
Hidden in "revea**L A THI**ck".
A lathi is an Indian truncheon. |
Celebrated retaining Latin in informal speech (5) | SLANG | Definition: informal speech
SANG retaining L |
Grammar school shown in trade film (5) | BUGSY | Definition: film
GS in BUY
THEME ENTRY* β Bugsy* is a 1991 biopic of Bugsy Siegel, starring Warren Beatty and Ben Kingsley, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie. |
Dignified lawyer close to court in York, say (6) | SEDATE | Dignified lawyer close to court in York, say (6)
D.A. + (cour)T in SEE |
Writer in extremely shallow English river, wearing this? (8) | SWIMWEAR | Writer in extremely shallow English river, wearing this? (8)
I think the parsing is
I'M in S(hallo)W + WEAR ("English river")
but if it is, it doesn't work, because "writer" would indicate I, not I'M. |
Metal detected during drowsy phase in field (5) | REALM | Metal detected during drowsy phase in field (5)
Al (Aluminium) in R.E.M.
I'm no expert, but I don't think that R.E.M. and "drowsy phase" are synonymous, as R.E.M. is associated with deep sleep, whereas "drowsy" is more like "half asleep". |
Passed Italian car, with poor souls crammed inside (9) | MUSSOLINI | Passed Italian car, with poor souls crammed inside (9)
*(souls) in MINI |
University official supporting college rock (7) | PROCTOR | University official supporting college rock (7)
PRO ("supporting") + C(ollege) + TOR ("rock") |
Odd characters in secret exercises concerning staff (7) | SCEPTRE | Odd characters in secret exercises concerning staff (7)
**S**e**C**r**E**t + P.T. ("exercises") + RE ("concerning") |
Excited donee, not old, is promised land (4) | EDEN | Excited donee, not old, is promised land (4)
*(dnee) β "donee" without O ("old") |
Perhaps boater's cape beginning to get attention (8) | HEADGEAR | Perhaps boater's cape beginning to get attention (8)
HEAD ("cape") + G(et) + EAR ("attention") |
Row sheltered from wind includes vines ultimately producing this? (8) | SPATLESE | Row sheltered from wind includes vines ultimately producing this? (8)
SPAT ("row") + LEE including (vine)S
Spatlese is a term for late autumn German wine. |
Current Iberian globe rotated, showing Spain at front (4) | EBRO | Current Iberian globe rotated, showing Spain at front (4)
E ("Spain") + <=ORB
The Ebro is the second longest river in the Iberian, rising in Cantabria, passing through Zaragoza, and flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. |
Adjacent to cooker, tins melted (7) | AGAINST | Adjacent to cooker, tins melted (7)
AGA("cooker") + *(tins) |
US city joiner wears gold watch (7) | ORLANDO | US city joiner wears gold watch (7)
AND ("joiner") in OR LO ("gold watch") |
Brother with lazy manner leaving trail of jumpers? (9) | BRIDLEWAY | Brother with lazy manner leaving trail of jumpers? (9)
Br. + IDLE WAY
A bridleway is a path suitable for horses. |
Ramble contrarily, having only one language abroad (5) | MAORI | Ramble contrarily, having only one language abroad (5)
<=ROAM + 1 |
Small tipple can remedy stifling time (8) | TINCTURE | Small tipple can remedy stifling time (8)
TIN ("can") + CURE "stifling" T |
Rarely hose cold room β never front half (6) | SELDOM | Rarely hose cold room β never front half (6)
ho**SE** co**LD** ro**OM** β taking away the first half of each word |
War hero may contain this silent strike by opponents on left (8) | SHRAPNEL | War hero may contain this silent strike by opponents on left (8)
SH + RAP + N + E + L
N and E are North and East, opponents in bridge. |
Dave's outside with Charlie obtaining ice-cream for sister? (9) | DEACONESS | Dave's outside with Charlie obtaining ice-cream for sister? (9)
D(av)E + ASS ("Charlie") acquiring CONE ("ice cream") |
Infant covers mother with old fruit (6) | TOMATO | Infant covers mother with old fruit (6)
(TOT covers MA) + O |
Musical districts on the left and on the right? (4,4,5) | WEST SIDE STORY | Musical districts on the left and on the right? (4,4,5)
WEST SIDES ("districts on the left") + TORY ("on the right") |
Olympic officials probing guys taking drug for a very long period (7) | MIOCENE | Olympic officials probing guys taking drug for a very long period (7)
I.O.C. ("International Olympic Committee") in MEN + E ("drug")
The Miocene was a geological epoch which lasted 18 million years, so a very long period. |
Command police force during the vacuous rising (5) | EDICT | Command police force during the vacuous rising (5)
<= T(CID)E, with TE being "the vacuous" (ie T(h)E) |
Ancient letter about Independence Day's damaged (6) | RUINED | Ancient letter about Independence Day's damaged (6)
(RUNE about I) + D |
Circular building's telephone line over after damage by haulage vehicle? (8,5) | MARTELLO TOWER | Circular building's telephone line over after damage by haulage vehicle? (8,5)
(TEL + L + O after MAR) + TOWER ("haulage vehicle" β that which tows) |
Serial criminal cross about spike up on house (5,4) | ROBIN HOOD | Serial criminal cross about spike up on house (5,4)
ROOD about (<=NIB) + Ho. |
Jersey β part of UK? I'm not sure it's an element (8) | POLONIUM | Jersey β part of UK? I'm not sure it's an element (8)
POLO ("jersey") + N.I. (Northern Ireland = "part of UK") = UM ("I'm not sure") |
Gold enveloping knights allowed as heraldic emblem (7) | ANNULET | Gold enveloping knights allowed as heraldic emblem (7)
AU enveloping NN ("knights" in chess) + LET
An annulet is a small ring in heraldry. |
Initial strategy to take over journal had an impact (6) | GAMBIT | Initial strategy to take over journal had an impact (6)
<=MAG ("journal") + BIT ("had an impact") |
Way of cooking fat captivates male trainee at the back (6) | FLAMBE | Way of cooking fat captivates male trainee at the back (6)
M in FLAB + (traine)E |
Knocking back some wine I labelled "exotic" (5) | ALIEN | Knocking back some wine I labelled "exotic" (5)
Hidden backwards in "wi**NE I LA**belled" |
Intend β in craze for melody β to find stardom (4,3,7) | FAME AND FORTUNE | Intend β in craze for melody β to find stardom (4,3,7)
MEAN in FAD + FOR TUNE |
Performance taking place in West London district (5) | ACTON | Performance taking place in West London district (5)
ACT + ON |
Arrest Ono brutally? One makes sympathetic noises (9) | RESONATOR | Arrest Ono brutally? One makes sympathetic noises (9)
*(arrest Ono) |
Excessively ornate answer reveals keys location (7) | FLORIDA | Excessively ornate answer reveals keys location (7)
FLORID + A(nswer) |
Soften when wise man stores uranium (7) | ASSUAGE | Soften when wise man stores uranium (7)
AS SAGE stores U |
Manx cat for example shows inner personality (5) | ANIMA | Manx cat for example shows inner personality (5)
ANIMA(l) |
Organism spreads to consume upper-class twit (9) | IGNORAMUS | Organism spreads to consume upper-class twit (9)
*(organism) consumes U |
Soon Andy sent mad β no way out (3,3,3) | ANY DAY NOW | Soon Andy sent mad β no way out (3,3,3)
*(andy) + *(no way) |
The French in their way rejected Swiss scientist (5) | EULER | The French in their way rejected Swiss scientist (5)
LE in <=RUE |
HCE and ALP supply saint's holy locations (7) | CHAPELS | HCE and ALP supply saint's holy locations (7)
*(hce alp) + S ("saint")
HCE and ALP are two characters in Joyce's *Finnegan's Wake. |
Make merry to combine in mountain valley (7) | GLADDEN | Make merry to combine in mountain valley (7)
ADD in GLEN |
Mark in time a new dawn's dawn: nation reformed (9) | ANDANTINO | Mark in time a new dawn's dawn: nation reformed (9)
A N D(awn) + *(nation)
In musinc, *andantino* is "moderately fast" |
Get to vote against the party (5) | BEANO | Get to vote against the party (5)
BE A NO |
Bernard Shaw's piece with really nice chap on island (3,3,8) | MAN AND SUPERMAN | Bernard Shaw's piece with really nice chap on island (3,3,8)
AND SUPER MAN ("with really nice chap") on MAN ("island") |
For influence, write the thing with Hemingway's ending (9) | AUTHORITY | For influence, write the thing with Hemingway's ending (9)
AUTHOR IT + (hemingwa)Y |
Lassitude, as Lennon put it, oddly dismissive (5) | ENNUI | Lassitude, as Lennon put it, oddly dismissive (5)
l**E**n**N**o**N** p**U**t** I**t (odd letters dismissed) |
Managed to see increase with share account (9) | NARRATION | Managed to see increase with share account (9)
<=NAR + RATION
I don't like "to see increase" as an indicator for reversing (in this case, going up), as it requires the solver to translate "increase" to "go up". |
Madagascan mammal first to find bones (5) | FOSSA | Madagascan mammal first to find bones (5)
F(ind) + OSSA ("bones")
A fossa is a large cat-like carnivore only found on Madagascar. |
Getting jewellery put on rightly leads to conviction? (5,4) | RINGS TRUE | Getting jewellery put on rightly leads to conviction? (5,4)
RINGS + TRUE |
Sons name desert leader of Muslims, having run in extremist (5) | ULTRA | Sons name desert leader of Muslims, having run in extremist (5)
(s)ULTA(n) having R in |
Extremely brave female leaves, having no listeners (7) | EARLESS | Extremely brave female leaves, having no listeners (7)
(f)EARLESS |
Fibres, excellent, fine and very much pushed back (6) | RAFFIA | Fibres, excellent, fine and very much pushed back (6)
<=A1 + F + FAR |
Greek leader soon to host contest millions attend (9) | AGAMEMNON | Greek leader soon to host contest millions attend (9)
ANON hosts GAME + M |
Unfortunately son grew up in e-mail forum (9) | NEWSGROUP | Unfortunately son grew up in e-mail forum (9)
*(son grew up) |
Give me old-fashioned stuff β a sensational piece! (9) | MELODRAMA | Give me old-fashioned stuff β a sensational piece! (9)
ME + *(old) + RAM + A |
Approval from leader to admonish city council on trashy mail (7) | ACCLAIM | Approval from leader to admonish city council on trashy mail (7)
A(dmonish) + C.C. + *(mail) |
Recovery monies trickled down a little? Not quite! (6) | RANSOM | Recovery monies trickled down a little? Not quite! (6)
RAN + SOM(e) |
Forest burning incessantly (5) | ARDEN | Forest burning incessantly (5)
ARDEN(t) |
European succeeded three times around London area (5) | SWISS | European succeeded three times around London area (5)
W1 in S S S ("succeeded three times") |
Resin discovered in Camberwell (5) | AMBER | Resin discovered in Camberwell (5)
hidden in c**AMBER**well |
Hack elected to be a composer (6) | CHOPIN | Hack elected to be a composer (6)
CHOP + IN ("elected") |
Deer, deer unfortunately stopped (8) | HINDERED | Deer, deer unfortunately stopped (8)
HIND + *(deer) |
Prepare to feed a baby wholesome food, the delicate thing eating rubbish (7) | LACTATE | Prepare to feed a baby wholesome food, the delicate thing eating rubbish (7)
LACE eating TAT |
Utimately unusual, barking noises for a feline (7) | LIONESS | Utimately unusual, barking noises for a feline (7)
(unusua)L + *(noises) |
Queen, perhaps, and king drink (4) | BEER | Queen, perhaps, and king drink (4)
BEE ("queen" bee) + R ("king") |
Covering first of speeches, disseminination of bilge also extends around the world (10) | GLOBALISES | Covering first of speeches, disseminination of bilge also extends around the world (10)
*(bilge also) covering S(peeches) |
Ship beginning to capsize, say (6) | CUTTER | Ship beginning to capsize, say (6)
C(apsize) + UTTER |
Passion odd for an odd number of years (7) | LUSTRUM | Passion odd for an odd number of years (7)
LUST + RUM
A "lustrum" is a period of five years. |
Political fundamentalists, a party to keep in the shade (7) | TALIBAN | Political fundamentalists, a party to keep in the shade (7)
A LIB kept in TAN |
City worker, sure thing (6) | BANKER | City worker, sure thing (6)
Double definition |
Comforting words at that point repeated (5,5) | THERE THERE | Comforting words at that point repeated (5,5)
THERE ("at that point") repeated |
Cook in a lather (4) | STEW | Cook in a lather (4)
Double definition. |
Horse 'as to be 'eld up (7) | MUSTANG | Horse 'as to be 'eld up (7)
MUST 'ANG
I don't think the first apostrophe is required (there's no reason why it can't be "has to") as it is the indicator for MUST, and it is the " 'eld up" part which equates to 'ANG |
Elements under discussion, as if (7) | WHETHER | Elements under discussion, as if (7)
Homophone of WEATHER, indicated by "under discussion" |
Rank as regent in a sorry state (8) | SERGEANT | Rank as regent in a sorry state (8)
*(as regent) |
Basket in which to capture jokes? (6) | PUNNET | Basket in which to capture jokes? (6)
In a bizarre world where words flew threw the air, a PUN NET may be used to capture jokes. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.