Clue
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| Answer
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| Explanation
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|---|---|---|
Eg south county member holds permit into ground (7,5) | COMPASS POINT | Eg south county member holds permit into ground (7,5)
(Co. + M.P. + *(into)) holding PASS |
Irish name tree award on radio? (7) | O’CONNOR | Irish name tree award on radio? (7)
Homophone of OAK HONOUR |
Lack what makes one conspicuous (7) | ABSENCE | Lack what makes one conspicuous (7)
As in "conspicuous by one's absence" |
Utterly nasty note dispatched from dirty home (7) | FOULEST | Utterly nasty note dispatched from dirty home (7)
FOUL (n)EST |
Blast comes from behind offensive trousers (7) | TRUMPET | Blast comes from behind offensive trousers (7)
TET ("offensive") trousering RUMP ("behind")
The Tet Offensive was a military campaign during the Vietnam War |
Spotted one in Kenya, unwell, heading off for hospital (5) | HYENA | Spotted one in Kenya, unwell, heading off for hospital (5)
*(henya) (Kenya with the head (initial) replaced with h ("hospital")
My only minor quibble in the puzzle, as the clue's wordplay tells us to do the anagram first, then change the initial, which is the wrong way round, but I could see what the setter intended. |
HM hosts a novelist, a Georgian perhaps or . . . . (9) | EASTERNER | HM hosts a novelist, a Georgian perhaps or . . . . (9)
E.R. hosts A STERNE (Laurence Sterne, author of *Tristram Shandy*) |
. . . . someone similar, says husband (9) | STATESMAN | . . . . someone similar, says husband (9)
STATES MAN
a Georgian could be someone from the state of Georgia in the USA |
Feature of board game topping the other one (5) | ADDER | Feature of board game topping the other one (5)
(l)ADDER
As in "snakes and ladders" |
Grassland allowed to smother fine tract (7) | LEAFLET | Grassland allowed to smother fine tract (7)
LEA (F) LET |
A Republican supports stoppages (7) | ARRESTS | A Republican supports stoppages (7)
A R + RESTS |
Sitting close to actors in Noises Off (7) | SESSION | Sitting close to actors in Noises Off (7)
(actor)S in *(noises) |
Making progress, old man leaves paint drops (2,5) | IN TRAIN | Making progress, old man leaves paint drops (2,5)
(pa)IN T + RAIN ("drops") |
Media ban joke, going red, nervous about redtop (7,5) | GAGGING ORDER | Media ban joke, going red, nervous about redtop (7,5)
GAG +*(going red) about R(ed) |
The end is nigh and you are blocking it (7) | CLOSURE | The end is nigh and you are blocking it (7)
CLOS (U R) E |
Nelson, servant of the French? (7) | MANDELA | Nelson, servant of the French? (7)
MAN + DE LA |
A pile of paper covers Irish street in high wind (9) | AIRSTREAM | A pile of paper covers Irish street in high wind (9)
A REAM covers Ir. St.
An airstream is a wind that occurs high in the sky |
Public transport set up with clever electronics (5) | SMART | Public transport set up with clever electronics (5)
<=TRAMS |
It's hard to see old Bruce dancing round front of stage (7) | OBSCURE | It's hard to see old Bruce dancing round front of stage (7)
O + *(bruce) around S(tage) |
Square leg bowler's target? (7) | NINEPIN | Square leg bowler's target? (7)
NINE ("square") + LEG ("pin") |
Crude fellows with spades making crude noises? (4,8) | WOLF WHISTLES | Crude fellows with spades making crude noises? (4,8)
*(fellows) with WHIST (of which the game of "spades" is a type) |
Showing initiative, join rebellion with no uniform (12) | ENTERPRISING | Showing initiative, join rebellion with no uniform (12)
ENTER + (u)PRISING |
Romanians trashed European enclave (3,6) | SAN MARINO | Romanians trashed European enclave (3,6)
*(romanians) |
Asian disaster zone filled with mostly salt, dissolved (4,3) | ARAL SEA | Asian disaster zone filled with mostly salt, dissolved (4,3)
AREA filled with *(sal) ("mostly salt")
Thought this was Dead Sea at first, but couldn't parse it, then rememebered that the Aral Sea, once one of the largest in the world, is now about 90% smaller due to Soviet irrigation plans starving it of its feeder rivers. |
Little German spirit left in royal couple (7) | ERLKING | Little German spirit left in royal couple (7)
L in ER + KING |
Beer with no heart deemed to have a head? (7) | AERATED | Beer with no heart deemed to have a head? (7)
A(l)E + RATED
Aerated beer would have a head |
Want briefly to retain secretary but lose heart (7) | DESPAIR | Want briefly to retain secretary but lose heart (7)
DESIR(e) retaining P.A. |
Group overturned part of joint (5) | TENON | Group overturned part of joint (5)
<=NONET |
Marshal nominates 1 in 50 (9) | MINNESOTA | Marshal nominates 1 in 50 (9)
*(nominates) |
Uneven parts of barley and wheat produce (5) | BREAD | Uneven parts of barley and wheat produce (5)
Uneven parts of **B**a**R**l**E**y**A**n**D |
Oddly it's out east he plotted conspiracy (5,5) | TITUSOATES | Oddly it's out east he plotted conspiracy (5,5)
(its out east)
Titus Oates claimed there was a Jewish plot to assassinate Charles II |
Party-pooper, in more ways than one! (9) | ABSTAINER | Party-pooper, in more ways than one! (9)
Someone who doesn't vote could be described as a "party pooper" and I suppose if you don;t drink or take drugs, you COULD be considered a "party pooper", although I'm quite happy to party without either myself! |
You need 12 to form such a system (10) | DUODECIMAL | You need 12 to form such a system (10)
A (barely) cryptic definition |
Old friends like Christopher and Elspeth at the end (4) | KITH | Old friends like Christopher and Elspeth at the end (4)
KIT + (elspet)H |
Cook taking tail off displays weakness (7) | FRAILTY | Cook taking tail off displays weakness (7)
*(tail) in FRY |
Defaced weapon naturally changes with time (7) | EVOLVER | Defaced weapon naturally changes with time (7)
(r)EVOLVER |
Cuts classes in oral comprehension (7) | LESSENS | Cuts classes in oral comprehension (7)
Homophone of LESSONS |
ABCDE confused the French – what a fiasco! (7) | DEBACLE | ABCDE confused the French – what a fiasco! (7)
*(abcde) + LE |
A divine youth's painful setback (4) | EROS | A divine youth's painful setback (4)
<=SORE |
A commercial success: what oenophiles long for, we're told (10) | BESTSELLER | A commercial success: what oenophiles long for, we're told (10)
Homophone of BEST CELLAR |
Crazy little hero, beheaded in Peter Pan, say (5,4) | TITLE ROLE | Crazy little hero, beheaded in Peter Pan, say (5,4)
*(little ero) |
Very many are out of shape (5) | HEAPS | Very many are out of shape (5)
*(shape)
This doesn't feel right, but I haven't the time to get my head round explaining why. |
Assume, for argument's sake, it follows return of bribe (5) | POSIT | Assume, for argument's sake, it follows return of bribe (5)
IT follows <=SOP |
Debug beds in Homes and Gardens (9) | DISINFECT | Debug beds in Homes and Gardens (9)
Can't parse this |
Got married without the Church – married still (5) | MATED | Got married without the Church – married still (5)
MAT(ch)ED |
Some newspapers for citizens (9) | NATIONALS | Some newspapers for citizens (9)
Double definition |
It releases unusually bitter blows (10) | EASTERLIES | It releases unusually bitter blows (10)
*(it releases) |
Work associated with a financial centre lacks transparency (7) | OPACITY | Work associated with a financial centre lacks transparency (7)
OP + A CITY
The clue indiucates a verb ("lacks transparity"), but the answer is a noun.
Could have been clued as "shows a lack of transparity". |
Yorkshire headwear appropriate on the line (2,5) | ATSTAKE | Yorkshire headwear appropriate on the line (2,5)
'ATS + TAKE ("appropriate") |
Fish out of river may be a ray (4) | BEAM | Fish out of river may be a ray (4)
B(r)EAM |
Unseen nuisance that's a source of tedium (5) | ENNUI | Unseen nuisance that's a source of tedium (5)
Hidden in "unse**EN NUI**sance" |
Black Bess, for example, reveals unexpected talent (4,5) | DARK HORSE | Black Bess, for example, reveals unexpected talent (4,5)
Black Bess was a (not surprisingly) dark horse, ridden by Dick Turpin. |
Hitchcock's outstanding feature? (6,4) | DOUBLE CHIN | Hitchcock's outstanding feature? (6,4)
Alfred Hitchcock was often shown in silhouette with a marked double chin. |
Having spelt "safe" wrong could put you in danger (5,4) | FALSE STEP | Having spelt "safe" wrong could put you in danger (5,4)
*(spelt safe) |
Hesitate to get sick during leave (9) | VACILLATE | Hesitate to get sick during leave (9)
ILL "during" VACATE |
Unfit editors may need such injections (7) | STEROID | Unfit editors may need such injections (7)
*(editors) |
This red mixture does 16 (7) | DITHERS | This red mixture does 16 (7)
*(this red) |
Have another go at 24 (5) | RESIT | Have another go at 24 (5)
Not very cryptic |
Contestant takes part in experiment (4) | TEST | Contestant takes part in experiment (4)
Hidden in "con**TEST**ant" |
Busy barrister's requirement? (9) | BRIEFCASE | Busy barrister's requirement? (9)
Cryptic definition – a barrister needs a briefcase, but if theyr'e busy, they need their case to be brief as well. |
Three coppers needing a drink (5) | CUPPA | Three coppers needing a drink (5)
CU + P + P ("three coppers") + A |
Defence of boxer holding one back initially (5) | ALIBI | Defence of boxer holding one back initially (5)
ALI holding 1 B(ack) |
Got back 50% of rest with insurance (9) | RECOVERED | Got back 50% of rest with insurance (9)
RE(st) + COVERED |
Mercury perhaps isn't representative of such music (5,5) | HEAVY METAL | Mercury perhaps isn't representative of such music (5,5)
Double definition |
Fill up, oddly, in front of village's last outlet (4) | FLUE | Fill up, oddly, in front of village's last outlet (4)
**F**i**L**l**U**p + (villag)E |
Thief's equipment pinched by musicians (7) | BRIGAND | Thief's equipment pinched by musicians (7)
RIG in ("pinched by") BAND |
Brands grades by audience (7) | MARQUES | Brands grades by audience (7)
Homophone of MARKS |
Pints must cover case of need for alcohol-fuelled sessions (7) | BENDERS | Pints must cover case of need for alcohol-fuelled sessions (7)
BEERS covering N(ee)D |
Reply given by priest worried about love (7) | RIPOSTE | Reply given by priest worried about love (7)
*(priest) about 0 |
Departed after time expected (4) | LATE | Departed after time expected (4)
Double definition |
Aid for writer putting limit on session (10) | SPELLCHECK | Aid for writer putting limit on session (10)
CHECK on SPELL |
Judge united expats squabbling about love's place by side (9) | JUXTAPOSE | Judge united expats squabbling about love's place by side (9)
J + U + *(expates) about 0 |
Where to find hot or cold, readily available? (2,3) | ON TAP | Where to find hot or cold, readily available? (2,3)
Double definition |
Agreement as teacher shows discrimination? (5) | TASTE | Agreement as teacher shows discrimination? (5)
Hidden in "agreemen**T AS** **TE**achers" |
Rambling on – tell me I must be soothing! (9) | EMOLLIENT | Rambling on – tell me I must be soothing! (9)
*(on tell me I) |
Silence follows supporter who's offensively bold (5) | BRASH | Silence follows supporter who's offensively bold (5)
SH follows BRA |
Copy restriction, sacking leader (9) | IMITATION | Copy restriction, sacking leader (9)
(l)IMITATION |
Left, as furious about dismissive lies (5,5) | FAIRY TALES | Left, as furious about dismissive lies (5,5)
*(left as) about AIRY ("dismissive") |
Strain on the toilet at sea? Fool (7) | AIRHEAD | Strain on the toilet at sea? Fool (7)
AIR ("strain") + HEAD ("toilet at sea") |
Loudly call out demand made by divorcee (7) | EXCLAIM | Loudly call out demand made by divorcee (7)
CLAIM made by EX |
Classic! – a vault containing wine (4) | CAVA | Classic! – a vault containing wine (4)
Hidden in "classi**C A VA**ult" |
The risk for every single pound (5) | PERIL | The risk for every single pound (5)
PER + 1 L |
Letter opener? (9) | ADDRESSEE | Letter opener? (9)
(Fairly) cryptic definition |
Where children may be taught there's homework on train (4,6) | PREP SCHOOL | Where children may be taught there's homework on train (4,6)
PREP ("homework") + SCHOOL ("train") |
Printer wanting fizz on plane? (9) | BUBBLEJET | Printer wanting fizz on plane? (9)
BUBBLE on JET
A bubblejet printer is a type of printer that uses high pressure and heat to expel tiny bubbles of ink from the printer's nozzle on to the page |
Draw from sun's heat here (9) | UNSHEATHE | Draw from sun's heat here (9)
Hidden in s**UNS** **HEAT** **HE**re |
Imagine drink with model! (7) | SUPPOSE | Imagine drink with model! (7)
SUP + POSE |
Finished up accepting fiction – outstanding work (7) | RELIEVO | Finished up accepting fiction – outstanding work (7)
<=OVER "accepting" LIE |
Strains to make cuts in case of teachers (5) | TAXES | Strains to make cuts in case of teachers (5)
AXE in T(eacher)S |
A place under a thousand? Gone! (5) | KAPUT | A place under a thousand? Gone! (5)
A PUT under K |
Having nothing on – except end of course (4) | BARE | Having nothing on – except end of course (4)
BAR ("except") + (cours)E |
Suave and refined socialite who floats around? (8) | DEBONAIR | Suave and refined socialite who floats around? (8)
DEB ON AIR |
Anger appropriate to principal motorway an illusory thing (6) | MIRAGE | Anger appropriate to principal motorway an illusory thing (6)
RAGE applied to M1 |
Drinking session ale knight and duke swallowed (6) | BENDER | Drinking session ale knight and duke swallowed (6)
BE (N D) ER |
Variable indefinite number triples? That's an irritation (8) | SPLINTER | Variable indefinite number triples? That's an irritation (8)
*(n triples) |
Constant smoker worried about gas inhaled (4) | ETNA | Constant smoker worried about gas inhaled (4)
<=ATE about N (Neon = "gas")
Etna, on Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, hence "constant smoker". |
Large egg was broken by Scotsman – one from Govan? (10) | GLASWEGIAN | Large egg was broken by Scotsman – one from Govan? (10)
*(l egg was) + IAN ("Scotsman") |
One excessive fellow into fruit (8) | GOURMAND | One excessive fellow into fruit (8)
MAN in GOURD |
Surrounded by morning papers? (4) | AMID | Surrounded by morning papers? (4)
A.M. + I.D. |
Fuel taken from under vans (4) | DERV | Fuel taken from under vans (4)
Hidden in "un**DER V**ans" |
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