Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
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|---|---|---|
Ministers to observe solar eclipse (6) | SERVES | Definition: Ministers
Hidden in "ob**SERVE S**olar", indicated by "eclipse" |
Translate utilising large number of languages (10) | LINGUISTIC | Definition: of languages
*(utilising) + C ("large number") |
Chance happenings, no precedent ultimately (5) | EVENS | Definition: Chance
EVEN(t)S |
Sound of male flies in marsh plants (9) | BULRUSHES | Definition: marsh plants
Homophone of BULL + RUSHES |
Decline and Fall's second long narrative (4) | SAGA | Definition: long narrative
SAG + (f)A(ll) |
Reading and writing endless rubbish over time (8) | LITERATE | Definition: Reading
LITTE(r) "over" ERA |
Keep mum covered in Sudan, travelling with English parasol (8) | SUNSHADE | Definition: parasol
SH ("keep mum") "covered in" *(sudan) + E |
Joey, member of postwar generation (4,6) | BABY BOOMER | Definition: Joey
Double definition, the first mildly cryptic
A joey is a baby kangaroo, and boomer is an Australian word for a male kangaroo, hence a joey is a "baby boomer" |
Able to travel distance over bog and empty steppe (9) | FOOTLOOSE | Definition: Able to travel
FOOT ("distance) + LOO ("bog") + S(tepp)E |
Decent bar is shocked after language heard in WC (8,7) | TUNGSTEN CARBIDE | Definition: WC
*(decent bar is) "after" homophone of TONGUE
W is the symbol for tungsten and C for carbon, so presumably WC would be tungsten carbide. |
Disdainful of fizzy wine and pork pie on end of bar (8) | CAVALIER | Definition: Disdainful
CAVA ("fizzy wine") + LIE("pork pie") + (ba)R |
Individual overcome by Bond clenching tense buttocks (6) | GLUTEI | Definition: buttocks
GLUE "clenching" T(ense) "overcoming" 1 |
Stabilise, liberate and evacuate Zaire (6) | FREEZE | Definition: Stabilise
FREE + Z(air)E |
Conservationists forfeiting place in Aunt Erica's heart of gold (5) | AURIC | Definition: of gold
AU(nt) + (e)RIC(a) |
Fizzy drink in school bag on regular basis (4) | COLA | Definition: Fizzy drink
(s)C(h)O(o)L (b)A(g) |
Corrupt dossier on the lower socio-economic groups (6) | DEFILE | Definition: Corrupt
FILE on D & E |
Baton Rouge's first to welcome the French martinet (8) | STICKLER | Definition: martinet
STICK ("baton") + R(ouge) "to welcome" LE |
Run through each deserter captured by the enemy (9) | PERFORATE | Definition: Run through
PER ("each") + RAT "captured by" FOE |
Rich man and posh chap pocketing a source of billions (5) | NABOB | Definition: Rich man
NOB "pocketing" A B(illions) |
Cotton on a small branch (4) | TWIG | Definition: Cotton on
Double definition |
Reserves of courage needed here for recycling (6,4) | BOTTLE BANK | Definition: Reserves of courage
Double definition, the first mildly cryptic |
Sleep in small shed with view (4-3) | SHUT-EYE | Definition: Sleep
S + HUT + EYE |
Fake reporting of school tests by heads of English and religion (6) | ERSATZ | Definition: Fake
E(nglish) + R(eligion) + homophone of SATS ("school tests") |
Bristles from challenges (6) | BEARDS | Definition: Bristles
Double definitions |
One on the threshold of being taken advantage of? (7) | DOORMAT | Definition: One on the threshold of being taken advantage of
Double definition |
Seafood platter? (4,6) | MAIN COURSE | Definition: Seafood platter
Cryptic definition
Sea = "main" |
Regularly says Iran must be a major part of the world (4) | ASIA | Definition: a major part of the world
"regularly" "s**A**y**S" **and then **"I**r**A**n"
Doesn't work as the I and A of Iran should be the second and fourth letters for the "regularly" to be valid for both "says" and "Iran" (SINAI may have worked better, for example) |
Material worn by early craftsmen (5) | LYCRA | Definition: Material
Hidden in "ear**LY CRA**ftsmen" (indicated by "worn by") |
The air on the prairie is music to the ears (9) | PLAINSONG | Definition: music to the ears
PLAIN + SONG |
Wrongly advises young lady about conduct (8) | MISLEADS | Definition: Wrongly advises
MISS "around" LEAD |
Insurance agent's final secret (6) | COVERT | Definition: secret
COVER + (agen)T |
Stand in place one's found in river (8) | DEPUTISE | Definition: Stand in
PUT 1'S "found in" DEE |
Time to come round Royal Navy Institute for fittings (9) | FURNITURE | Definition: fittings
RNI in FUTURE |
Closed circuit look at work (4) | LOOP | Definition: Closed circuit
LO + OP |
Construct heat-resistant cover for the boards (7) | THEATRE | Definition: the boards
Hidden in "hea**T HEAT-RE**sistant" (indicated by "cover") |
Account supporting prisoner's transformation (10) | CONVERSION | Definition: transformation
VERSION "supporting" CON |
Left one supporter's sign (5) | LIBRA | Definition: sign
L + 1 + BRA |
Rap on the knuckles for nation absorbed by brewing beer (6) | REBUKE | Definition: Rap on the knuckles
UK "absorbed by" *(beer) |
Function allocated to father in limited release (6) | PAROLE | Definition: limited release
ROLE "allocted to" PA |
Deplore welcoming Independent's fall in value (10) | DEPRECIATE | Definition: fall in value
DEPRECATE "welcoming" I(ndependent)
Is I for Independent ever used as a standalone, rather than in complex abbreviations or acronyms, such as ISBN? |
Monumental output of Arizona film location? (9) | TOMBSTONE | Definition: Monumental
Double definition
*Tombstone* was a 1993 western, featuring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, set in Tombstone, Arizona. |
On the level and at rights, possibly (8) | STRAIGHT | Definition: On the level
*(at rights) |
Puzzled batsman out thus (7) | STUMPED | Definition: Puzzled
Double definition |
Some oddly stuffing face must be miserable (6) | DISMAL | Definition: miserable
**S**o**M**e "stuffing" DIAL |
Discovered national stadium needs millions for logo (6) | EMBLEM | Definition: logo
(w)EMBLE(y) + M(illions)
The setter uses "discovered" to mean "without covers" here. |
Bone idle new carer under supervision initially (5) | INCUS | Definition: Bone
initial letters of **I**dle **N**ew **C**arer **U**nder **S**upervision |
Interested in ignition regularly missing (4) | INTO | Definition: Interested in
"regularly" **I**g**N**i**T**i**O**n |
Lunatic shot on vessel (8) | CRACKPOT | Lunatic shot on vessel (8)
CRACK + POT |
Air filter (6) | STRAIN | Air filter (6)
Double definition |
Scares off pet (6) | CARESS | Scares off pet (6)
*(scares) |
Reportedly understands seedy bar's sharp decline (8) | NOSEDIVE | Reportedly understands seedy bar's sharp decline (8)
Homophone of KNOWS + DIVE |
Novel taken from Jerusalem man (4) | EMMA | Novel taken from Jerusalem man (4)
Hidden in "Jerusal**EM MA**n" |
Authorisation for each sortie (10) | PERMISSION | Authorisation for each sortie (10)
PER + MISSION |
Look after piano store (8) | PRESERVE | Look after piano store (8)
P + RESERVE |
Said of men the French backed (4) | ORAL | Said of men the French backed (4)
O.R. + <=LA |
Time and trouble required to fetch dog (4) | TAIL | Time and trouble required to fetch dog (4)
T + AIL |
Couple hired band (8) | BRACELET | Couple hired band (8)
BRACE + LET |
Volume shown proved to be right (10) | VINDICATED | Volume shown proved to be right (10)
V + INDICATED |
Hit copper on force with force (4) | CUFF | Hit copper on force with force (4)
CU + F + F |
Heavenly in chalet here, always (8) | ETHEREAL | Heavenly in chalet here, always (8)
Hidden in "chal**ET HERE AL**ways" |
Bug in hand (6) | NEEDLE | Bug in hand (6)
Not sure about th "in hand" bit |
Frightened? Son was concerned (6) | SCARED | Frightened? Son was concerned (6)
S + CARED |
Wait on head of state and a US novelist (8) | SALINGER | Wait on head of state and a US novelist (8)
LINGER on S(tate) A |
True male domain (5) | REALM | True male domain (5)
REAL + M |
Emperor and daughter unfortunately brought over for a dish (6,5) | CAESAR SALAD | Emperor and daughter unfortunately brought over for a dish (6,5)
CAESAR + <=D ALAS |
Travel document and free ticket left (8) | PASSPORT | Travel document and free ticket left (8)
PASS + PORT |
Song, number eg tenor belts out (3,5,7) | TEN GREEN BOTTLES | Song, number eg tenor belts out (3,5,7)
TEN + *(eg tenor belts) |
Bird is soaring above hide (6) | SISKIN | Bird is soaring above hide (6)
<=IS + SKIN |
Embarrassed about diamonds (3) | RED | Embarrassed about diamonds (3)
RE + D(iamonds) |
Free from injury, one girl landing in slack net (9) | INVIOLATE | Free from injury, one girl landing in slack net (9)
I + VIOLA in *(net) |
Diversion created by cigarette (filter) (11) | SMOKESCREEN | Diversion created by cigarette (filter) (11)
SMOKE + SCREEN |
Practical articles reproduced about electric current (9) | REALISTIC | Practical articles reproduced about electric current (9)
*(articles) about I ("electric current") |
A red ace, say, in a line (8) | CARDINAL | A red ace, say, in a line (8)
CARD IN A L |
Long speech made by saint on faith (6) | SCREED | Long speech made by saint on faith (6)
S + CREED |
Fine beer across the south? Untrue (5) | FALSE | Fine beer across the south? Untrue (5)
F + ALE across S |
Nobleman briefly getting attention (3) | EAR | Nobleman briefly getting attention (3)
EAR(l) |
TV series of course had to be edited before screening starts (5,2,5) | HOUSE OF CARDS | TV series of course had to be edited before screening starts (5,2,5)
*(of course had) + S(creening)
It's a shame that OF is in the anagram fodder and the solution. |
Follower of 1 across sometimes turns gold (7) | WINDSOR | Follower of 1 across sometimes turns gold (7)
(ouse of) WINDSOR and WINDS ("turns") + OR ("gold") |
It's subtler to freeze resistance on the end of 19 (5) | NICER | It's subtler to freeze resistance on the end of 19 (5)
ICE + R on (ninetee)N |
Music including popular cover won't get wet (9) | RAINPROOF | Music including popular cover won't get wet (9)
RAP "including IN + ROOF |
Clear area removes top step (4,5) | OPEN SPACE | Clear area removes top step (4,5)
OPENS ("removes top") + PACE ("step") |
Strange bedfellows begin with a dance (5) | RUMBA | Strange bedfellows begin with a dance (5)
RUM + B(edfellows) + A |
19 pitch books (5) | TAROT | 19 pitch books (5)
TAR ("pitch") + O.T. ("books" = Old Testament) |
Excellent spot to hold meet – the French will be flexible (9) | ADAPTABLE | Excellent spot to hold meet – the French will be flexible (9)
Not sure of the parsing of this…
My best guess is APT in A DAB plus LE, but that looks clumsy. Maybe if I had a bit more time… |
Companion backing Montana teacher as sort of 19 (9) | CHRISTMAS | Companion backing Montana teacher as sort of 19 (9)
CH ("companion") + <=MT SIR ("Montana teacher") + AS |
German scholars confine molten rock (5) | MAGMA | German scholars confine molten rock (5)
G confined by MA and MA |
Jingle due for revision by court official (4,5) | LINE JUDGE | Jingle due for revision by court official (4,5)
*(jingle due) |
Delegate well after being comatose (9) | OUTSOURCE | Delegate well after being comatose (9)
SOURCE after OUT |
19 volunteers leave receipts (5) | KINGS | 19 volunteers leave receipts (5)
(ta)KINGS |
Quiet king signs contracts (7) | SHRINKS | Quiet king signs contracts (7)
SH ("quiet") + R ("king") + INKS ("signs") |
Grouse about northern doctor (7) | SURGEON | Grouse about northern doctor (7)
*(grouse) + N |
Charity worker dismissed (7) | HANDOUT | Charity worker dismissed (7)
HAND ("worker") + OUT ("dismissed") |
Relative heartless warders stripped more in the dark than before (9) | UNCLEARER | Relative heartless warders stripped more in the dark than before (9)
UNCLE + (w)AR(d)ER(s) |
Takes home containers, so they say (5) | EARNS | Takes home containers, so they say (5)
Homophone (at least to some people, although not to me!) of URNS |
Signal a physical before splitting company (4,5) | FIRE ALARM | Signal a physical before splitting company (4,5)
REAL A "splitting" FIRM |
Graves possibly heard to complain (5) | WHINE | Graves possibly heard to complain (5)
Homophone of WINE ("Graves, possibly")
Graves is a Bordeaux wine. |
Organ's in smash Prince hit (9) | NEPHRITIC | Organ's in smash Prince hit (9)
*(prince hit)
"Nephritic " = of the kidneys, so "organ's" |
Controversy as special soldiers invade Turkmenistan (5) | STORM | Controversy as special soldiers invade Turkmenistan (5)
S + OR("soldiers") invading TM ("Turkmenistan") |
Reason for game being delayed causes blow-up again (7) | REFLATE | Reason for game being delayed causes blow-up again (7)
REF LATE, so game is held up? |
Randomly determine actions – so explosive! (4,1,4) | TOSS A COIN | Randomly determine actions – so explosive! (4,1,4)
*(toss a coin) |
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