Clue
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Answer
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Explanation
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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 – 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* – 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) – "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 – never front half (6)
SELDOM
Rarely hose cold room – never front half (6) ho**SE** co**LD** ro**OM** – 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" – 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 – part of UK? I'm not sure it's an element (8)
POLONIUM
Jersey – 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 – in craze for melody – to find stardom (4,3,7)
FAME AND FORTUNE
Intend – in craze for melody – 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 – no way out (3,3,3)
ANY DAY NOW
Soon Andy sent mad – 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 – a sensational piece! (9)
MELODRAMA
Give me old-fashioned stuff – 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.