Clue
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| Answer
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| Explanation
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|---|---|---|
Fixing a bicycle? No fun in that! (8) | CELIBACY | Fixing a bicycle? No fun in that! (8)
*(a bicycle) |
Arrange to talk publicly about right bosom (11) | ORCHESTRATE | Arrange to talk publicly about right bosom (11)
ORATE about R CHEST |
Muslim leader, don't call me PM! (4) | IMAM | Muslim leader, don't call me PM! (4)
I'M AM, so "don't call me PM" |
Thatcher wasn't about to deliver (2,6) | IN LABOUR | Thatcher wasn't about to deliver (2,6)
Thatcher certainly wasn't in the Labour party… |
Roman emperor has moved to Iceland, Italian leader in hiding (10) | DIOCLETIAN | Roman emperor has moved to Iceland, Italian leader in hiding (10)
*(to iceland) hiding I(talian) |
Grass for whiskey or old port (3) | RYE | Grass for whiskey or old port (3)
Triple definition |
Stop moral type admitting sin, initially (6) | DESIST | Stop moral type admitting sin, initially (6)
DEIST admitting S(in)
I'm not convinced by DEIST = "moral type", but then that may be because I'm an atheist, and I'd like to think of myself as a "moral type". |
Corporation describing a clanger? (5) | BELLY | Corporation describing a clanger? (5)
A clanger may be described as like a bell, so "belly". |
Where free food supplied, ketchup is on jerky (4,7) | SOUP KITCHEN | Where free food supplied, ketchup is on jerky (4,7)
*(ketchup is on) |
Consider being wilful (10) | DELIBERATE | Consider being wilful (10)
Double definition |
Heptagon-shaped virus (8) | PATHOGEN | Heptagon-shaped virus (8)
*(heptagon) |
Punk keeping private residence primarily for vermin (5,3) | BROWN RAT | Punk keeping private residence primarily for vermin (5,3)
BRAT keeping OWN R(esidence) |
The end of a day's cricket proves bewildering (6) | STUMPS | The end of a day's cricket proves bewildering (6)
Double definition |
Bird needing new headgear (5) | CROWN | Bird needing new headgear (5)
CROW + N |
Land seen rising in picture postcard (4) | PERU | Land seen rising in picture postcard (4)
Found backwards in "pict**URE P**ostcard" |
Initially, "Strike It Rich" is the title (3) | SIR | Initially, "Strike It Rich" is the title (3)
Initials of **S**trike **I**t **R**ich |
Joint on tires is a thing of some importance (8) | FLAGSHIP | Joint on tires is a thing of some importance (8)
HIP on FLAGS |
Left a tense city not long ago (6) | LATELY | Left a tense city not long ago (6)
L + A T + ELY |
What's in turbines powered up a sultanate (6) | BRUNEI | What's in turbines powered up a sultanate (6)
*(urbine) |
Roosevelt, say, stuffed by a California drink supplier (3,5) | TEACADDY | Roosevelt, say, stuffed by a California drink supplier (3,5)
TEDDY stuffed by A Ca. |
Start to squeeze till there's a foot inside (4) | SHOE | Start to squeeze till there's a foot inside (4)
S(queeze) + HOE ("till") |
Axe captivating strange old bumpkin (10) | CLODHOPPER | Axe captivating strange old bumpkin (10)
CHOPPER captivative *(old) |
Boxer, perhaps, on backing chap who mouths off (8) | JABBERER | Boxer, perhaps, on backing chap who mouths off (8)
JABBER ("boxer" = one who jabs) + <=RE ("on") |
Broken team would be —-_ (4) | TAME | Broken team would be —-_ (4)
*(team) |
Primate entering southern part of church (4) | APSE | Primate entering southern part of church (4)
AP(S)E
I don't like this clue as it seems to indicate that APE is entering S, rather than the other way round, and it's possible,but contrived to see it the other way. |
How to make this short history? Close to being done serially (3-2-3) | END TO END | How to make this short history? Close to being done serially (3-2-3)
I can't quite parse this. Make something history is "end" and close is "end", but beyond that? |
Who plays on board to roll, firmer female included (10) | WINDSURFER | Who plays on board to roll, firmer female included (10)
WIND ("roll") + SURER with F included |
Small river is a fast one (4) | SCAM | Small river is a fast one (4)
S + CAM |
Speed indicator? One's instant sign of supposed virility (8) | MACHISMO | Speed indicator? One's instant sign of supposed virility (8)
MACH ("speed indicator") + 1'S + MO ("instant") |
This dangles in attic I clear (6) | ICICLE | This dangles in attic I clear (6)
Hidden in "att**IC I CLE**ar" |
Passage where saint embraces elder, say (6) | STREET | Passage where saint embraces elder, say (6)
St. embraces TREE |
Upset with long day-time sleeper (5,3) | NIGHT OWL | Upset with long day-time sleeper (5,3)
*(with long) |
List in which you find those left (5) | LURCH | List in which you find those left (5)
I may not even have the right answer here. |
Red lolly? Something to spice up teatime (11) | GINGERBREAD | Red lolly? Something to spice up teatime (11)
GINGER ("red") + LOLLY ("bread") |
Salon stylist provides this for rich area potentially (8) | HAIRCARE | Salon stylist provides this for rich area potentially (8)
*(hair care) |
Poke fun inwardly – a case of auto-suggestion? (3,8,4) | PUT YOURSELF DOWN | Poke fun inwardly – a case of auto-suggestion? (3,8,4)
Double definition |
Hate turning machine around zip (6) | LOATHE | Hate turning machine around zip (6)
LATHE around 0 ("zip") |
Starts from the end and leaves? (3) | TEA | Starts from the end and leaves? (3)
"Starts from" (ie initials of) **T**he **E**nd **A**nd |
For Don Juan happy means laid (6,3) | LADIES MAN | For Don Juan happy means laid (6,3)
*(means laid) |
Part played by nations – could be protector (6,5) | PATRON SAINT | Part played by nations – could be protector (6,5)
*(part nations) |
One who hopes not to miss the post (9) | APPLICANT | One who hopes not to miss the post (9)
Cryptic definition |
Loving note inside dressing (8) | ADORNING | Loving note inside dressing (8)
ADORING with N inside |
Day's end is not preordained (6) | SUNSET | Day's end is not preordained (6)
'S UNSET |
Permit resting fellow to leave (5) | ALLOW | Permit resting fellow to leave (5)
(f)ALLOW |
Bit of labour with this tool outside would leave a hole (3) | HOE | Bit of labour with this tool outside would leave a hole (3)
HOLE without L ("bit of labour") |
Some hesitation creating content for roles in opera, musical theatre etc (10,4) | PERFORMING ARTS | Some hesitation creating content for roles in opera, musical theatre etc (10,4)
ER ("some hesitation") FORMING ("creating") in PARTS "(roles") |
Moral: ask me about what could save your life (5,5) | SMOKE ALARM | Moral: ask me about what could save your life (5,5)
*(moral ask me) |
River flowing through to Derbyshire (4) | ODER | River flowing through to Derbyshire (4)
Hidden in ("lowing through") t**O DER**byshire |
One of a pair of openers in a sort of cricket, batting just the same between wickets (6,6) | FRENCH WINDOW | One of a pair of openers in a sort of cricket, batting just the same between wickets (6,6)
FRENCH (cricket) + IN ("batting") DO (short for "ditto" = "just the same") bewtween W and W ("wickets") |
A right stranger! (5) | ALIEN | A right stranger! (5)
A + LIEN ("right") |
Rule 101? (5) | TENET | Rule 101? (5)
(TE(N)ET)
101 needs to be seen as 10 and 01 (ie "ten" forwards and back), with 0 in the clue and N in the solution doing the same kind of double duty. |
Consequences of getting further behind with subject at Harvard (9) | AFTERMATH | Consequences of getting further behind with subject at Harvard (9)
AFTER ("further behind") + MATH (American version of "maths", therefore "subject at Harvard") |
United lost 1-0? Danced merrily! (12) | CONSOLIDATED | United lost 1-0? Danced merrily! (12)
*(lost i o danced) |
Top dog, say (4) | PEAK | Top dog, say (4)
Homophone of PEKE ("dog") |
Justification for fighting bullies, as chaos begins to develop? (5,5) | CASUS BELLI | Justification for fighting bullies, as chaos begins to develop? (5,5)
*(bullies as c)haos |
The Spanish city reportedly suits male jazz singer (4,10) | ELLA FITZ GERALD | The Spanish city reportedly suits male jazz singer (4,10)
EL ("the Spanish") +L.A. ("city") + FITZ (homophone of "suits") + GERALD ("male") |
Old man's tip: claret is drunk without one drop ultimately getting wasted – or spilt? (4,10) | PAST PARTICIPLE | Old man's tip: claret is drunk without one drop ultimately getting wasted – or spilt? (4,10)
PA'S ("old man's") + *(tip claret) around I (dro)P |
Small jumper on short man's man (4) | ROOK | Small jumper on short man's man (4)
ROO ("short junper") + K (in chess, short for "king", so "short man") |
Gone about fighting as an OTT response (12) | OVERREACTION | Gone about fighting as an OTT response (12)
OVER ("gone") + RE ("about") + ACTION ("fighting") |
Piece about one large city (5) | MILAN | Piece about one large city (5)
MAN about I L |
The point of some chin- wagging (5-4) | NORTH-WEST | The point of some chin- wagging (5-4)
N-W is hidden in "chi**N-W**agging" |
Pop space station into concrete casing, one able to fly at some stage (3,7) | RED ADMIRAL | Pop space station into concrete casing, one able to fly at some stage (3,7)
DAD ("pop") + MIR ("space station") encased in REAL ("concrete") |
Breaking waters? Hint: wife at home with daughter is a sign of things to come (5,2,3,4) | STRAW IN THE WIND | Breaking waters? Hint: wife at home with daughter is a sign of things to come (5,2,3,4)
*(waters hint) + W(ife) +IN ("at home") + D(aughter) |
"Nasty geese!" bad liar snarled (12) | DISAGREEABLE | "Nasty geese!" bad liar snarled (12)
*(geese bad liar) |
"Big shot" pair of comedians (10) | CANNONBALL | "Big shot" pair of comedians (10)
Refers to Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball, who as *Cannon and Ball* were never off TV screens in the UK in the late 70s and the 80s. |
Unholy din as Indian stood up, having been sat in slightly rickety chair (9) | CHARIVARI | Unholy din as Indian stood up, having been sat in slightly rickety chair (9)
<=RAVI ("Indian") in CHARI ("slightly rickety chair") |
A second man walking on the moon, humming (5) | ABUZZ | A second man walking on the moon, humming (5)
A + BUZZ (Aldrin – the second man on the Moon) |
Seaweed with length in range required (4) | ALGA | Seaweed with length in range required (4)
L ("length") in AGA ("range") |
Ring student beset by siren (6) | CIRCLE | Ring student beset by siren (6)
L beset by CIRCE ("siren" as in *The Odyssey*) |
Doctor dictates critical essay (4,4) | ACID TEST | Doctor dictates critical essay (4,4)
*(dictates) |
New 'otelier's strange potion (7) | NOSTRUM | New 'otelier's strange potion (7)
N + 'OST + RUM |
Willing to cut landed property (7) | TESTATE | Willing to cut landed property (7)
T(o) + ESTATE |
Make a mistake holding American back? That's unusual! (4) | RARE | Make a mistake holding American back? That's unusual! (4)
A in <=ERR |
Shocked by a dishonest organisation (10) | ASTONISHED | Shocked by a dishonest organisation (10)
*(a dishonest) |
Drink turned Eddie joyful (6) | ELATED | Drink turned Eddie joyful (6)
<=ALE + TED |
Scams first to be made up (7) | CONSIST | Scams first to be made up (7)
CONS + 1st |
Workman eats divine little fish (7) | TIDDLER | Workman eats divine little fish (7)
D.D. in TILER
Am I missing something? D.D. is short for Doctor of Divinity, so not the same as "divine" |
Opposed to Gaelic bible in the beginning (6) | AVERSE | Opposed to Gaelic bible in the beginning (6)
A.V. (Authorised Version of the "Bible") + ERSE |
Know Carol's not back in London (10) | KENSINGTON | Know Carol's not back in London (10)
KEN + SING ("Carol") + <=NOT |
Complaint of German leader? Impossible! (4) | GOUT | Complaint of German leader? Impossible! (4)
G(erman) + OUT |
Time husband should care (7) | THOUGHT | Time husband should care (7)
T + H + OUGHT |
Become aware that lies are risky (7) | REALISE | Become aware that lies are risky (7)
*(lies are) |
Quiet soldier's getting worn out (8) | RETIRING | Quiet soldier's getting worn out (8)
R.E. + TIRING |
A fabulous Greek nonet entertains (6) | AMUSES | A fabulous Greek nonet entertains (6)
A + MUSES (there were nine of them in Greek mythology) |
Preserve house in archipelago (8) | CANARIES | Preserve house in archipelago (8)
CAN + ARIES (astrological "house") |
Hesitancy in booking (11) | RESERVATION | Hesitancy in booking (11)
Double definition |
Escapade of sovereign on old vessel (4) | LARK | Escapade of sovereign on old vessel (4)
L ("sovereign" = £) + ARK |
Understand working in yarn (6,2) | COTTON ON | Understand working in yarn (6,2)
ON in COTTON |
Is girl in sleazy bar, sneering? (10) | DISMISSIVE | Is girl in sleazy bar, sneering? (10)
IS MISS in DIVE |
Some under arrest for years (3) | ERA | Some under arrest for years (3)
Hidden in "und**ER** **A**rrest" |
Latest result in evaluation (6) | TRENDY | Latest result in evaluation (6)
END in TRY |
A scholar's shillings pile up (5) | AMASS | A scholar's shillings pile up (5)
A + M.A. + SS ("shillings") |
Insist choir deployed staginess (11) | HISTRIONICS | Insist choir deployed staginess (11)
*(insist choir) |
Quasimodo's identical twin? (4,6) | DEAD RINGER | Quasimodo's identical twin? (4,6)
Cryptic definition |
Number taken in by flighty female is to increase (8) | HEIGHTEN | Number taken in by flighty female is to increase (8)
EIGHT in HEN |
Savages cook fowl (8) | HEATHENS | Savages cook fowl (8)
HEAT HENS |
Society girl runs to become a sportswoman (6) | SKATER | Society girl runs to become a sportswoman (6)
S + KATE + R |
Crawler is a firm supporter (5) | COBRA | Crawler is a firm supporter (5)
Co. + BRA |
Cultivate key member (4) | FARM | Cultivate key member (4)
F + ARM |
Oscar has drill and pick (3) | OPT | Oscar has drill and pick (3)
O + P.T. |
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