Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Postpones advertisement about sending back unopened mail (4,3) | PUTS OFF | Definition: Postpones
PUFF ("advertisement") about <=(p)OST |
Pundit's article erased from history during row (7) | TIPSTER | Definition: Pundit
P(a)ST in TIER |
Extra-large mushroom (5) | MOREL | Definition: mushroom
MORE ("extra") + L |
Keeping his head, top-class corporal maybe competes for fish (9) | ANCHOVIES | Definition: fish
A N.C.O. keeping H(ead) + VIES |
Finished with attempts to film passes (9) | OVERTAKES | Definition: passes
OVER ("finished") + TAKES ("attempts to film") |
Small piece of land reverses direction to become small piece of water (5) | INLET | Definition: small piece of water
Take ISLET ("small piece of land") and change the S to N ("reverse direction") – Thanks, Andrew for pointing out my mistake! |
To give up somehow aroused me too (3,4,7) | FOR GOOD MEASURE | Definition: too
FORGO + *(aroused me) |
Prince Charles frantically rifles toolshed (4,2,3,5) | LORD OF THE ISLES | Definition: Prince Charles
*(rifles toolshed)
An ancient title, one of many held by the current Prince of Wales. |
Singular man's offspring (5) | SPAWN | Definition: offspring
S + PAWN |
Arrogant graduates crying when one goes missing (9) | MASTERFUL | Definition: Arrogant
MAs + TE(a)RFUL |
Extraordinary Irish piece returned by retired artist (9) | IRREGULAR | Definition: Extraordinary
Ir. + <+LUGER ("piece") + <=R.A. |
Little bit of string wound around prickly plant (5) | GORSE | Definition: prickly plant
GORE ("wound") around S(tring) |
Playing back stringed instruments shows respect for rank (7) | SALUTES | Definition: shows respect for rank
<+AS ("playing") + LUTES |
Parents mark the rest (7) | MOTHERS | Definition: Parents
M + OTHERS |
With grand ceremony, order anti- aircraft gun (3-3) | POM-POM | Definition: anti- aircraft gun
POMP + O.M. (Order of Merit) |
Round featuring hard key and time signature (5-4) | THREE-FOUR | Definition: time signature
TOUR ("round") featuring H + REEF ("key") |
Don't start being mean and allow nestling (5) | OWLET | Definition: nestling
(l)OW + LET |
Town open instead of shut, in the end (9) | FRANKFORT | Definition: Town
FRANK ("open") FOR ("instead of") (shu)T
The only two Frankforts that I'm aware of are hardly towns – one is a major city in Germany and the other is the capital of Kentucky. |
Put pressure on, say, for changes of direction (5) | TACKS | Definition: changes of direction
Homophone of TAX ("put pressure on") |
In favour of controls over German spendthrifts (9) | PRODIGALS | Definition: spendthrifts
PRO + DI(G)ALS |
Musical figure not going through insignificant line (5) | TRILL | Definition: Musical figure
TRI(via)L + L |
Decorations essentially from opposing groups (8) | ROSETTES | Definition: Decorations
f(RO)m + (SET + <=SET) ("opposing groups") |
Try doing the exercise when lacking energy – I'm off! (9) | GOODNIGHT | Definition: I'm off
GO + *(doing th) |
Spread more salt at beginning of major turbulence (9) | MAELSTROM | Definition: turbulence
*(more salt) + M(ajor) |
Physically assaulted old policemen (4,5) | USED FORCE | Definition: Physically assaulted
USED ("old") + FORCE ("policemen") |
Materials keep on going into films (8) | PLASTICS | Definition: Materials
LAST in PICS |
Lose clothes in county drains (6) | BLEEDS | Definition: drains
L(os)E in Beds. (Bedfordshire) |
Be sick about voting system which takes 30 days (5) | APRIL | Definition: which takes 30 days
AIL about P.R. (Proportional Representation, a voting system) |
Spots infiltrators (5) | MOLES | Definition: Spots
Double definition |
Cargo abandoned by French crew (5) | EIGHT | Definition: crew
(Fr.)EIGHT |
Back in school cafe finally, really fancied horse meat (9) | ENTRECOTE | Back in school cafe finally, really fancied horse meat (9)
Def: meat
<=CERT in ETON (caf)E |
One African country or another loses excellent backing (5) | NIGER | One African country or another loses excellent backing (5)
Def: one African country
NIGERIA without <=A1 |
Slattern moves head along desk (4-3) | ROLL-TOP | Slattern moves head along desk (4-3)
Def: desk
TROLLOP with T ("head" ie first letter) "moved along" |
Chuckle from man in shirt (2-3) | TE-HEE | Chuckle from man in shirt (2-3)
Def: chuckle
HE in TEE |
Yob, for one, supports Fritz (4,5) | BACK SLANG | Yob, for one, supports Fritz (4,5)
Def: yob, for one
BACKS (Fritz) LANG
Fritz Lang was a German film director who moved to Hollywood and also made it big there. |
Bars not essential in the theatre? (10,5) | INCIDENTAL MUSIC | Bars not essential in the theatre? (10,5)
Cryptic definition |
Originally meant to hang, free old highwayman (9,2,3,4) | GENTLEMAN OF THE ROAD | Originally meant to hang, free old highwayman (9,2,3,4)
Def: highwayman
*(meant to hang free old) |
Endless delight, alcohol in a big bowl (5) | JORUM | Endless delight, alcohol in a big bowl (5)
Def: big bowl
JO(y) + RUM |
Fine given by Recorder, who would prefer harsher punishment? (7) | FLOGGER | Fine given by Recorder, who would prefer harsher punishment? (7)
Def: who would prefer harsher punishment
F + LOGGER |
From a kingdom of Anglo-Saxons, I moved to 6's land (7) | AMERICA | From a kingdom of Anglo-Saxons, I moved to 6's land (7)
Def: 6's land
A MERCIA with "I moved" |
Fibre is new, only just spun (5) | NYLON | Fibre is new, only just spun (5)
Def: fibre
N + *(only) |
Going asleep (3-7) | BED-WETTING | Going asleep (3-7) |
"Killing cat", a disastrous sort of ode (8) | STROPHIC | "Killing cat", a disastrous sort of ode (8)
Def: sort of ode
(cat a)STROPHIC |
Drone, as it were, released inside stage of rocket (6,7) | BERTIE WOOSTER | Drone, as it were, released inside stage of rocket (6,7)
Def: drone?
*(it were) inside BOOSTER
I've never read a Jeeves and Wooster book, so don't know if Wooster was a drone? (See explanation in comments) |
Fairy liquid: pure, clean, capital for hands (10) | LEPRECHAUN | Fairy liquid: pure, clean, capital for hands (10)
Def: fairy
*(pure clean h) |
Typical statesman, one making advances to Cameron (5,3) | UNCLE SAM | Typical statesman, one making advances to Cameron (5,3)
Def: typical statesman
UNCLE (pawnbroker = "one making advances") + SAM (Cameron, David's wife) |
Sort of saga which almost was related to 3 11 (6) | AGATHA | Sort of saga which almost was related to 3 11 (6)
Def: was related to 3
AGA THA(t) |
Crosspiece put over hole in floor (8) | TRAP DOOR | Crosspiece put over hole in floor (8)
Def: hole in floor
<= ROOD ("cross") + PART ("piece") |
One in a billion, vegetable that produces blood cells (4,6) | BONE MARROW | One in a billion, vegetable that produces blood cells (4,6)
Def: that produces bone cells
ONE in B + MARROW |
Order soldier to move unbriefed? (2,8) | GO COMMANDO | Order soldier to move unbriefed? (2,8)
Cryptic/double definition: "to move unbriefed" |
Painstaking cover-up — it protects dope (8) | DILIGENT | Painstaking cover-up — it protects dope (8)
Def: painstaking
<=LID + IT "protects" GEN |
Oral exam headed by teacher one gets through (8) | SURVIVOR | Oral exam headed by teacher one gets through (8)
Def: "one gets through"
Homophone of SIR VIVA, although not to me (I'm a Scot) |
One old tatty ribbon (6) | NOODLE | One old tatty ribbon (6)
Def: ribbon
*(one old) |
3 11's 19's 19 (6) | JEEVES | 3 11's 19's 19 (6)
Bertie Wooster's gentleman's gentleman |
In Jane's good books, offering sweets (8) | FONDANTS | In Jane's good books, offering sweets (8)
Def: sweets
(Jane) FONDA + NTs ("good books")
NT is already "books" rather than a book, so would have liked to see the S indicated somehow.
See alternative parsing in the comments, which makes more sense! |
Unhappily citified beast forgetting It's De-Lovely (8) | BEATIFIC | Unhappily citified beast forgetting It's De-Lovely (8)
*(citif bea) ("citified beast" less "it's de") |
Old money of West Africa (6) | GUINEA | Old money of West Africa (6)
21 shilliigs in old money and a country in Africa |
Pilots broadcast succeeded in fencing me in (8) | AIRWOMEN | Pilots broadcast succeeded in fencing me in (8)
AIR + WON "fencing in" ME |
Sharp manoeuvres avoiding buying Anything Goes (5,5) | TIGHT TURNS | Sharp manoeuvres avoiding buying Anything Goes (5,5)
TIGHT (mean = "avoiding buying anything") + TURNS ("goes") |
Delay support (4) | STAY | Delay support (4)
Double definition |
Understood True Love (6) | RIGHTO | Understood True Love (6)
RIGHT + 0 |
Dig up Richard I's interminable letters (8) | DISINTER | Dig up Richard I's interminable letters (8)
Letters from "richarD I'S INTERminable" |
Charges department with decay and loses heart (8) | ENTRUSTS | Charges department with decay and loses heart (8)
ENT ("Ear Nose and Throat – a hospital "department") + RUST + (lo)S(es) |
Connect Stalin with two disturbed characters (6) | INSTAL | Connect Stalin with two disturbed characters (6)
STALIN with two of its characters "disturbed" (ie moved) |
Incline to turn attention to following Begin The Beguine (4) | BRAE | Incline to turn attention to following Begin The Beguine (4)
<=EAR + B(eguine) |
Hothead Cher often arranged From This Moment On (10) | HENCEFORTH | Hothead Cher often arranged From This Moment On (10)
H(ot) + *(cher often) |
Stars of Can-Can never left (8) | NOTABLES | Stars of Can-Can never left (8)
The parsing of this has me stumped!
ABLE ~ "can" but beoyind that…? |
Bar that attracts certain elements (6) | MAGNET | Bar that attracts certain elements (6)
Cryptic definition |
King's robe on askew (6) | OBERON | King's robe on askew (6)
*(robe on)
OBERON was King of the Fairies in *A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Relatively new title for groom (3-2-3) | SON-IN-LAW | Relatively new title for groom (3-2-3)
Cryptic definition |
Learning code in volume (9) | ERUDITION | Learning code in volume (9)
R.U. (A "code" of rugby) in EDITION |
Shelter on hill top tomorrow (5) | TENTH | Shelter on hill top tomorrow (5)
TENTH + H(ill)
Assuming you'res olving this on the day of publication, the 9th, then tomorrow is indeed the 10th. |
In France, Do I Love You's ill- tempered (9) | FRACTIOUS | In France, Do I Love You's ill- tempered (9)
Fr. + ACT + I + 0 + Us |
Cleaner Ruby Black (7) | CHARRED | Cleaner Ruby Black (7)
CHAR ("cleaner") + RED |
Some progress for monsters (5) | OGRES | Some progress for monsters (5)
Hidden in "prOGRESs" |
So In Love? On the contrary with spiritual leader of many (9) | THOUSANDS | So In Love? On the contrary with spiritual leader of many (9)
O in THUS ("so in love, on the contrary") + AND + S(piritual) |
Overweight person expands ribcage and starts performance (5) | OPERA | Overweight person expands ribcage and starts performance (5)
"starts" of "**O**verweight **P**erson **E**xpands **R**ibcage **A**nds" |
Stuffing ground rose into hyacinth borders on affectation (9) | HORSEHAIR | Stuffing ground rose into hyacinth borders on affectation (9)
*(rose) in H(yacint)H + AIR ("affectation") |
Superhero at odds with I've Got [name] Under My Skin (9) | SPIDERMAN | Superhero at odds with I've Got [name] Under My Skin (9)
S.P. (starting price = "odds") + I + N under DERMA |
Not including Just One Of Those Things? Answer: rash! (9) | EXANTHEMA | Not including Just One Of Those Things? Answer: rash! (9)
EX ("not including) + AN ("one") + THEM ("those things") + A(nswer)
An exanthema is a skin rash caused by an infection. |
Maybe gluttony treats cavities (7) | SINUSES | Maybe gluttony treats cavities (7)
SIN ("maybe gluttony", one of the Seven Deadly Sins) + USES ("treats") |
Form of mantra sung in Red, Hot and Blue (5) | RHOMB | Form of mantra sung in Red, Hot and Blue (5)
OM ("mantra sung") in R, H and B |
Singer of I Love Paris maybe performed only for thee (5,2,4) | HELEN OF TROY | Singer of I Love Paris maybe performed only for thee (5,2,4)
*(only for thee)
It's not clear whether Helen loved Paris, according to my limited research, but she needed to for the clue to work, so we'll say she did. |
Lungs could be source of piped music (5) | ORGAN | Lungs could be source of piped music (5)
Double definition |
A political movement up till now backing nurses separately (3,5) | TEA PARTY | A political movement up till now backing nurses separately (3,5)
<=YET ("up to now, backing") "nurses" APART ("separately")
*The Tea Party is a political movement in America that opposes taxes and government spending, named after the Boston Tea Party of 1773. |
Excellent form of transportation brought back across most of the country (6) | SUPERB | Excellent form of transportation brought back across most of the country (6)
<=BUS ("form of transportation", brought back) "across" PER(u) |
Entice Rex around back of coconut shy (8) | RETICENT | Entice Rex around back of coconut shy (8)
*(entice R) "around" (coconu)T |
John's about to tour Switzerland in train (6) | SCHOOL | John's about to tour Switzerland in train (6)
<=LOOS ("john's", about) "touring" CH ("Switzerland") |
Vague for the most part over son getting married in America (5,3) | UNCLE SAM | Vague for the most part over son getting married in America (5,3)
(UNCLEA (r) ("vague, for the most part") "over" S(on)) + M(arried)
*Uncle Sam is a personification of America. |
Fancy ignoring popular Socialist leader's ideas (6) | IMAGES | Fancy ignoring popular Socialist leader's ideas (6)
IMAG(in)E ("fancy" without "popular") + S(ocialist) |
Interesting to reflect on failure of Tory wet to keep close to Heath (10) | NOTEWORTHY | Interesting to reflect on failure of Tory wet to keep close to Heath (10)
<=ON ("to reflect on")+ *(tory wet) "keeping" (heat)H |
Enlighten incompetent university pal about batting (10) | ILLUMINATE | Enlighten incompetent university pal about batting (10)
ILL ("incompetent") + U(niversity) MATE ("pal") "about" IN ("batting")
*Initially, I wasn't sure about "incompetent" for ILL, as it's a bit old-fashioned in that sense, but I've convinced myself it's OK. |
Show up with former model (6) | EXPOSE | Show up with former model (6)
EX ("former") + POSE("model") |
Appoint to church beyond Pie corner for instance (3,5) | SET PIECE | Appoint to church beyond Pie corner for instance (3,5)
SET ("appoint") + PIE + C.E. ("church")
*In football, a "set piece" is another name for a dead-ball situation, such as a free kick or a corner. |
Slowly stir to obtain a strong daiquiri ultimately (6) | ADAGIO | Slowly stir to obtain a strong daiquiri ultimately (6)
ADO ("stir") "obtaining" A (stron)G (daiquir)I , indicated in the clue by "ultimately" |
Turn away as foreign girl's beheaded (8) | ALIENATE | Turn away as foreign girl's beheaded (8)
ALIEN ("foreign") + (k)ATE ("girl's beheaded") |
Begin an action against well- organised gang involved in drugs (6) | ENGAGE | Begin an action against well- organised gang involved in drugs (6)
*(gang) involved in E E (ecstasy, twice, therefore "drugs")
*Not sure what the "well-" adds to the clue. "Organised" would have sufficed. |
Expectation of pressure to stop tedious discourse at court (8) | PROSPECT | Expectation of pressure to stop tedious discourse at court (8)
P(ressure) in PROSE ("tedious discourse") +Ct. ("court") |
Arrive in court after a short walk (4,2) | TURN UP | Arrive in court after a short walk (4,2)
TURN ("a short walk") + UP ("in court") |
Guard ignoring Welsh volunteers going in to join (6) | ATTACH | Guard ignoring Welsh volunteers going in to join (6)
(w)ATCH ("guard" ignoring W) with T.A. (Territorial Army = "volunteers") "going in" |
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