Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
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|---|---|---|
Drop off a pile (3)
|
NAP
|
Drop off a pile (3)
Double definition
|
Dollie and Lew, terribly drunk (4-5)
|
WELL-OILED
|
Dollie and Lew, terribly drunk (4-5)
*(dollie lew)
|
Saving pounds going round island of Mull is marvellous (11)
|
EXCEPTIONAL
|
Saving pounds going round island of Mull is marvellous (11)
EXCEPT ("saving") + L ("pounds") "going round" IONA ("island of Mull")
I think this clue should read island **OFF **Mull.
|
Timepiece: head wearing sample (9)
|
STOPWATCH
|
Timepiece: head wearing sample (9)
TOP ("head") "wearing" SWATCH ("sample")
|
English clubs still overjoyed (8)
|
ECSTATIC
|
English clubs still overjoyed (8)
E(nglish) + C(lubs) + STATIC ("still")
|
One from Tripoli, perhaps concealed in Tripoli by a nun (6)
|
LIBYAN
|
One from Tripoli, perhaps concealed in Tripoli by a nun (6)
Hidden in "Tripo**LI BY A N**un"
|
Eliot's river dropping below fathom (5)
|
FLOSS
|
Eliot's river dropping below fathom (5)
LOSS ("dropping") below F(athom)
Referring to George Eliot's *The Mill on the Floss
|
A jolly member (3)
|
ARM
|
A jolly member (3)
A + R.M. (Royal Marine", hence "jolly")
"Jollies" was the original name for citizen soldiers of the Trained Bands of London in 1664, from whose ranks Marines were first formed. Later, "jolly" became Royal Navy slang for a Marine, hence Kipling's 'HM Jollies'.
|
Outlook favouring English players (8)
|
FORECAST
|
Outlook favouring English players (8)
FOR + E(nglish) CAST
|
Sheet music goes down well (6)
|
SCORES
|
Sheet music goes down well (6)
Double definition
|
Take up team oddly lacking support (7)
|
EMBRACE
|
Take up team oddly lacking support (7)
(t)E(a)M + BRACE
|
Ritual shave's baffling to nurse (7)
|
TONSURE
|
Ritual shave's baffling to nurse (7)
*(to nurse)
|
Volume in well down by 50% (5)
|
HALVE
|
Volume in well down by 50% (5)
V(olume) in HALE
|
Friend introducing a baroque choir with limited range (9)
|
PAROCHIAL
|
Friend introducing a baroque choir with limited range (9)
PAL "introducing" *(a choir)
|
Knock back drink by bar (12)
|
COUNTERPUNCH
|
Knock back drink by bar (12)
COUNTER ("bar") + PUNCH ("drink")
|
Promises have produced too much stress (12)
|
OVEREMPHASIS
|
Promises have produced too much stress (12)
*(promises have)
|
Port is situated to the west in exotic realm (9)
|
MARSEILLE
|
Port is situated to the west in exotic realm (9)
<+LIES in *(realm)
|
Very strong, but not in past or present, say (5)
|
TENSE
|
Very strong, but not in past or present, say (5)
(in)TENSE
|
Leaked info set back work during disputes (3-4)
|
TIPOFFS
|
Leaked info set back work during disputes (3-4)
<=OP in TIFFS
|
Slipping off at an angle, with initial change of direction (7)
|
ELOPING
|
Slipping off at an angle, with initial change of direction (7)
SLOPING ("at an angle") with the S changed to E
|
Type of pet that needs brushing twice a day? (6)
|
CANINE
|
Type of pet that needs brushing twice a day? (6)
Double definition – dog and tooth
|
Second murder results in police surveillance (5-3)
|
STAKE-OUT
|
Second murder results in police surveillance (5-3)
S(econd) + TAKE OUT
|
Stout little person retiring, retiring (6)
|
FLESHY
|
Stout little person retiring, retiring (6)
<=ELF + SHY
|
Canon, hampering a couple of bishops, remains (6)
|
RUBBLE
|
Canon, hampering a couple of bishops, remains (6)
RULE "hampering" BB
|
With investment of time, this escort could start a book (9)
|
CHAPERONE
|
With investment of time, this escort could start a book (9)
With an added T ("time"), CHAPERONE could become CHAPTER ONE
|
If you're on them, you should get off! (8,5)
|
SLEEPING PILLS
|
If you're on them, you should get off! (8,5)
Cryptic definition
|
Sceptic close to army blocks top officer's rise (5)
|
CYNIC
|
Sceptic close to army blocks top officer's rise (5)
(arm)Y in <=C IN C ("commander in chief")
|
Queen Bess rejected marriage — small family do's the result (8)
|
REUNIONS
|
Queen Bess rejected marriage — small family do's the result (8)
<=E.R. + UNION + S(mall)
|
Covert socialist, extremely rich, in want of a wife (8)
|
STEALTHY
|
Covert socialist, extremely rich, in want of a wife (8)
St. ("socialist") + (w)EALTHY
I don't have a paper dictionary to hand, but I can't find St. for socialist online.
|
Meeting up, they'd never eat nuts (5-3,5)
|
THREEDAYEVENT
|
Meeting up, they'd never eat nuts (5-3,5)
*(theyd never eat)
I assume the "up" is there intentionally, as in "up on a horse"
|
Dad employed to collect Ford's model car's treated surfaces (9)
|
PAINTWORK
|
Dad employed to collect Ford's model car's treated surfaces (9)
PA + IN WORK "to collect" T ("Ford model")
|
Assertive mother, under 25, reviewed detailed quote (8)
|
DOGMATIC
|
Assertive mother, under 25, reviewed detailed quote (8)
MA "under" DOG (see 25ac) + <=CIT(e)
|
Creature taking to water close to township in country (8)
|
TERRAPIN
|
Creature taking to water close to township in country (8)
(townshi)P in TERRAIN
|
Blind I got partly to provide shade (6)
|
INDIGO
|
Blind I got partly to provide shade (6)
Hidden in "bl**IND I GO**t"
|
Hard cube's dimension (6)
|
HEIGHT
|
Hard cube's dimension (6)
H(ard) + EIGHT ("cube" i.e 2 cubed)
|
Delicate fellow swamped by rising river (5)
|
ELFIN
|
Delicate fellow swamped by rising river (5)
F in <=NILE
|
Followers succeeded people on the radio (8)
|
STALKERS
|
Followers succeeded people on the radio (8)
S + TALKERS
|
Complete, our lunkhead (6)
|
DOOFUS
|
Complete, our lunkhead (6)
DO ("complete") + OF US ("our")
|
Very close to girl collecting English books (7)
|
ATLASES
|
Very close to girl collecting English books (7)
AT ("very close to") + LASSES "collecting" E(nglish)
|
Country song about leg getting broken (7)
|
ALGERIA
|
Country song about leg getting broken (7)
ARIA "about" *(leg)
|
Science film covers first sign of rot in fruit (9)
|
CHEMISTRY
|
Science film covers first sign of rot in fruit (9)
MIST replacing the firdt R in CHERRY
|
Something to hang with energy returning shortly before (5)
|
NOOSE
|
Something to hang with energy returning shortly before (5)
<= E SOON
|
Be dismissive of quiet game by leaving (5)
|
SHRUG
|
Be dismissive of quiet game by leaving (5)
SH + RUG(by)
|
Excellent! Former BBC man is coming back in to finish rant (8)
|
DIATRIBE
|
Excellent! Former BBC man is coming back in to finish rant (8)
<=BIRT in DIE, but the A is not clued anywhere!
John BIRT was a former DG of the BBC.
|
Subservient people's party creating a storm (8)
|
DOORMATS
|
Subservient people's party creating a storm (8)
DO + *(a storm)
|
Draw naked swimmer (5)
|
OTTER
|
Draw naked swimmer (5)
(l)OTTER(y)
|
Saw red journalist on rotten paper (5)
|
RAGED
|
Saw red journalist on rotten paper (5)
ED on RAG
|
Possibly report disturbance involving meat (5-4)
|
RIFLE-SHOT
|
Possibly report disturbance involving meat (5-4)
RIOT "involving" FLESH
|
Annual battle in the Crimea may return (7)
|
ALMANAC
|
Annual battle in the Crimea may return (7)
ALMA ("battle in Crimea") + <=CAN
|
A lot of water around in buffalo pens earlier (4,3)
|
OPEN SEA
|
A lot of water around in buffalo pens earlier (4,3)
Hidden in "buffal**O PENS EA**rlier"
|
Second snake further down (6)
|
SADDER
|
Second snake further down (6)
S + ADDER
|
Bee, possibly short of energy, keeps egg back, having a gut feeling (8)
|
INSTINCT
|
Bee, possibly short of energy, keeps egg back, having a gut feeling (8)
INS(e)CT "keeps" <=NIT
|
Very difficult to find mark on box, having wasted hours (8)
|
SCARCEST
|
Very difficult to find mark on box, having wasted hours (8)
SCAR "on" C(h)EST
|
Count on good support for partner during The Four Seasons (3,4,4)
|
ALL YEAR LONG
|
Count on good support for partner during The Four Seasons (3,4,4)
EARL ("count") + ON G "support for" ALLY
|
70s figure opening for Kraftwerk belts out a few numbers (9)
|
KISSINGER
|
70s figure opening for Kraftwerk belts out a few numbers (9)
K(raftwerk) + IS SINGER
Definition is poor, in my opinion.
|
Hold a grudge, having lost new boot again (5)
|
RESET
|
Hold a grudge, having lost new boot again (5)
RESE(n)T
|
Stops controlling this publication (5)
|
ORGAN
|
Stops controlling this publication (5)
Double definition
|
Cultivated US officer carrying gun? (6)
|
FAR MED
|
Cultivated US officer carrying gun? (6)
FED "carrying" ARM
Don't like this at all – splitting one wors to put it across two places in a puzzle is ugly.
|
Heard singer give out (5)
|
SHARE
|
Heard singer give out (5)
Homophone (supposedly) of CHER, but not where I come from.
|
A lot of body parts make a lot of effort (3-5)
|
MAN-YEARS
|
A lot of body parts make a lot of effort (3-5)
MANY EARS
|
What planets do is burn to the ground (5,3,3)
|
ORBIT THE SUN
|
What planets do is burn to the ground (5,3,3)
*(is burn to the)
Is ORBIT THE SUN in the dictionary? Evem if it is, having THE in the solution and in the fodder is clumsy.
|
Learned fellow has a prayer for motor sport (4,4)
|
DRAG RACE
|
Learned fellow has a prayer for motor sport (4,4)
Dr. + A GRACE
|
Resolve to out Teddy? (9)
|
ROOSEVELT
|
Resolve to out Teddy? (9)
(*resolve to)
|
Make longer right turn after quiet hill-climbing (8)
|
PROTRACT
|
Make longer right turn after quiet hill-climbing (8)
R + ACT ("turn" on the stage) "after" P + <=TOR
|
Poles embracing American ways (5)
|
ROADS
|
Poles embracing American ways (5)
RODS "embracing" A
|
Thick studies finally complete (5)
|
DENSE
|
Thick studies finally complete (5)
DENS + (complet)E
|
Women in line of battle mostly look unhappy (5)
|
FROWN
|
Women in line of battle mostly look unhappy (5)
W in FRON(t)
|
It's put out in the dance interval (8)
|
DISTANCE
|
Definition: interval
*(its) in DANCE
|
Summary is not quite accurate (6)
|
PRECIS
|
Definition: Summary
PRECIS(e)
|
Makeshift draught excluders? (8)
|
STOPGAPS
|
Definition: Makeshift
Draught excluders may STOP (ie block) GAPS
|
Closely follow master's beliefs (6)
|
DOGMAS
|
Definition: beliefs
DOG + MAs
|
Girl taking on hairdressing business (5)
|
SALON
|
Definition: hairdressing business
SAL + ON
|
Name part of Hamlet, say (5,4)
|
TITLE ROLE
|
Definition: Hamlet, say
TITE + ROLE
|
They were responsible for heat waves (7,5)
|
CURLING TONGS
|
Definition: They were responsible for heat waves
Cryptic definition – not sure why it's in the past tense – do curling tongs no longer exist?
|
A treat for spectators — no support required (4,8)
|
FREE STANDING
|
Definition: no support required
If the standing area is free, that would be a treat for spectators, especially the likes of me, who prefers to stand at a sporting occasion.
|
Sum granted to repair ocean wall (9)
|
ALLOWANCE
|
Definition: Sum granted
*(ocean wall)
|
Current means of escape for a fox? (5)
|
EARTH
|
Definition: Current
Double definition
**EDIT: **see comments below, which suggest that the setter overlapped "means of escape", so "Current means of escape" and "means of escape for a fox", both leading to EARTH. Excellent!
|
She's confused Euclid (6)
|
DULCIE
|
Definition: She's
*(euclid)
|
One to vilify a British resident (8)
|
ISLANDER
|
Definition: a British resident
1 + SLANDER
|
Old record player (6)
|
NEEDLE
|
Definition: Old record player
Cryptic definition
|
Plants for sycophants (8)
|
CREEPERS
|
Definition: Plants
Double definition
|
To stop in Rhodes is tempting (6)
|
DESIST
|
Definition: To stop
Hidden in "Rho**DES IS T**empting"
|
Shows displeasure at seeing the brotherhood on board (6)
|
SCOWLS
|
Definition: Shows displeasure
COWL in S.S. ("on board" a ship)
Are "cowl" and "brotherhood" interchangeable?
**Edit: **see below, where it is pointed out that BROTHER HOOD may equal COWL.
|
Angostura put out for Jason's crew (9)
|
ARGONAUTS
|
Definition: Jason's crew
*(angostura)
|
London profits from this form of taxation (7,5)
|
CAPITAL GAINS
|
Definition: form of taxation
CAPITAL + GAINS
|
River heron in distress (5)
|
RHONE
|
Definition: River
*(heron)
|
Enclosure is not at all simple (8)
|
COMPOUND
|
Definition: not at all simple
Double definiton
|
American quiet in feeling anticipation (8)
|
SUSPENSE
|
Definition: anticipation
US + P in SENSE
|
Worker restores ends in new building (5,7)
|
STONE DRESSER
|
Definition: Worker
*(restores ends)
|
Immaturity arising from great need (6,3)
|
TENDER AGE
|
Definition: Immaturity
*(great need)
|
Occasionally switch positions (3,3,2)
|
OFF AND ON
|
Definition: Occasionally
Double definitions
|
Have a touch of colour and be miserable (4,4)
|
FEEL BLUE
|
Definition: be miserable
FEEL + BLUE
|
Pontoon is a card game (6)
|
BRIDGE
|
Definition: Pontoon
Double definition
|
Alternative accepted by such poor singers (6)
|
CHORUS
|
Definition: singers
OR in *(such) – would have preferred "alternatively"
|
A trial spin? (5)
|
WHIRL
|
Definition: trial
Double definition – think "Give it a whirl"
|
Rent free everything I found in non-fiction (4,4)
|
REAL LIFE
|
Definition: non-fiction
ALL I "found in" *(free)
|
Risk money on how 20, 18 performed (6)
|
INVEST
|
Definition: Risk money
Freddie Mercury often wore a vest when he performed.
|
Fizz with extremely sexy dream (7)
|
FANTASY
|
Definition: dream
FANTA (carbonated drink brand, therefore "fizz") + S(ex)Y
|
Maybe land on skyscraper's eighth story (7)
|
PARABLE
|
Definition: story
ARABLE ("maybe land") on (skyscra)P(er)
|
Slip laptop into part of airport (9)
|
LANDSLIDE
|
Definition: Slip
L(ap) in LANDSIDE
|
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