Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Throw water into crash site? Silly (14)
|
SCATTERBRAINED
|
Throw water into crash site? Silly (14)
SCATTER ("throw") + (RAIN "into" BED ("crash site"))
|
Look fixedly at celebrity, rude in end (5)
|
STARE
|
Look fixedly at celebrity, rude in end (5)
STAR + (rud)E
|
At home this person's in charge leading to endless talk, hostile (8)
|
INIMICAL
|
At home this person's in charge leading to endless talk, hostile (8)
IN + I'M IC ("in charge") + (t)AL(k)
|
Create difficulties for early invader, not half potent initially (8)
|
ENTANGLE
|
Create difficulties for early invader, not half potent initially (8)
(pot)ENT + ANGLE ("early invader")
|
Exotic area, this with lake, extremely rivered? Quite the opposite (8,6)
|
KALAHARI DESERT
|
Exotic area, this with lake, extremely rivered? Quite the opposite (8,6)
*(area this lake RD) where the RD is the extremes of R(ivere)D
|
Less elaborate small boat? That is right (9)
|
SKETCHIER
|
Less elaborate small boat? That is right (9)
S(mall) + KETCH + i.e + R(ight)
|
Suspect the cops wanted initially found in Welsh town (8)
|
CHEPSTOW
|
Suspect the cops wanted initially found in Welsh town (8)
*(the cops) + W(anted)
|
Name on ship for capital guy? (8)
|
DUBLINER
|
Name on ship for capital guy? (8)
DUB + LINER
|
Biter is able to take top off wine (6)
|
CANINE
|
Biter is able to take top off wine (6)
CAN + (w)INE
|
Church employee, male, say, not going morth (6)
|
SEXTON
|
Church employee, male, say, not going morth (6)
SEX ("male, say") + <=NOT
|
Quiet pioneer disregarding odds to perform well (5)
|
SHINE
|
Quiet pioneer disregarding odds to perform well (5)
SH ("quiet") + (p)I(o)N(e)E(r)
|
Ship, possibly a drifter (5)
|
TRAMP
|
Definition: Ship
Double definition
|
Pretend to be ill, we hear, to get a drink (9)
|
CHAMPAGNE
|
Definition: a drink
Homophone of SHAM PAIN
|
Graduate entertains a slimmer's objective — eating off this? (4,5)
|
BONECHINA
|
Definition: eating off this
BA ("graduate") "entertains" ONE CHIN ("a slimmer's objective")
|
Waterway is able to dock everything (5)
|
CANAL
|
Definition: Waterway
CAN AL(l)
|
Fiasco for young socialite with torn lace (7)
|
DEBACLE
|
Definition: Fiasco
DEB + *(lace)
|
Visibly unaffected by sorrow (3-4)
|
DRYEYED
|
Definition: Visibly unaffected by sorrow
Slightly cryptic definition
|
Gather information alternately with the French (5)
|
GLEAN
|
Definition: Gather
GEN and LA "alternately", so G(L)E(A)N
|
Pot plant? (3)
|
TEA
|
Definition: plant
Cryptic definition
|
Gather a large crowd, we hear (5)
|
HOARD
|
Definition: Gather
Homophone of HORDE
|
A support thus returned is appropriate (7)
|
APROPOS
|
Definition: appropriate
A PROP + <=SO
|
Means of gauging a boring job (7)
|
CALIBRE
|
Definition: Means of gauging a boring job
Slightly cryptic definition
|
Underemployed gallery worker (5)
|
MINER
|
Underemployed gallery worker (5)
A miner works underground and apparently the gallery is another name for the coalface – you live and learn!
|
Land of Hope? (9)
|
RURITANIA
|
Definition: Land of Hope
Ruritania was the setting for *The Prisoner of Zenda*, by Hope
|
A spirit to woo meant victory for Henry (9)
|
AGINCOURT
|
Definition: victory for Henry
A + GIN + COURT
|
Dog track? (5)
|
TRAIL
|
Definition: Dog
Double definition
|
What's left when objections are raised? (4)
|
STUB
|
Definition: What's left
<=BUTS
|
Extremely clever, but hateful (8)
|
DAMNABLE
|
Definition: hateful
At first I thought this was a double definition. Commenters below have pointed out what I'm sure was the setter's intention, which is better than the "double definition" I thought I saw.
|
Heroic tale from The Pickwick Papers (4)
|
EPIC
|
Heroic tale from The Pickwick Papers (4)
Hidden in "Th**E PIC**wick Papers"
|
I'd interrupted to stress something unexpected (8)
|
ACCIDENT
|
Definition: something unexpected
ACC(I'D)ENT
|
A leader of Zulus in tough venture (6)
|
HAZARD
|
Definition: venture
A Z(ulu) in HARD
|
Happy carol that's become legendary (10)
|
APOCRYPHAL
|
Definition: legendary
*(happy carol)
|
A representative business (6)
|
AGENCY
|
Definition: A representative business
Barely cryptic definition
|
Give players a hand (4)
|
DEAL
|
Definition: Give players a hand
Another barely cryptic definition
|
Pointer, maybe, to master's belief (5)
|
DOGMA
|
Definition: belief
DOG ("pointer, maybe") + M.A.
|
Plot links prisoners to criminal activity (10)
|
CONSPIRACY
|
Definition: Plot
CONS + PIRACY
|
A ruse to avoid (5)
|
DODGE
|
Definition: A ruse
Double definition
|
Right to get junior minister to foot the bill (8)
|
ACCURATE
|
Definition: Right
Ac. + CURATE
|
European set to bail Anna out (8)
|
ALBANIAN
|
Definition: European
*(bail anna)
|
Rank one can change in a way (6)
|
RANCID
|
Definition: Rank
*(i can) in Rd.
|
Shoot something to eat (6)
|
SPROUT
|
Definition: Shoot
Double definition
|
Aim low (4)
|
MEAN
|
Definition: Aim
Double definition
|
Where hangings still take place in London (4)
|
TATE
|
Definition: Where hangings still take place in London
Cryptic definition
|
Is indisposed to alter sail (4)
|
AILS
|
Definition: Is indisposed
*(sail)
|
Rotter giving frank description of curate's food? (3,3)
|
BAD EGG
|
Rotter giving frank description of curate's food? (3,3)
Double definition
Although a curate's egg should have some redeeming qaulities, it is essentially bad.
|
Party politician in protest against Conservative scoundrel (8)
|
DEMOCRAT
|
Party politician in protest against Conservative scoundrel (8)
DEMO ("protest") + C(onservative) RAT
|
International organisation dead with unity ruined (6)
|
UNDONE
|
International organisation dead with unity ruined (6)
U.N. + D(ead) + ONE ("unity")
|
Soft thing that is minute (8)
|
PARTICLE
|
Soft thing that is minute (8)
P + ARTICLE
|
Kick person suffering from overwork (4)
|
HACK
|
Kick person suffering from overwork (4)
Double definition, although I think the setter should indicate that the second definition is no longer current.
Hack is an obsolete word for an overworked person, as in this quote from Goldsmith
*Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed, / Who long was a bookseller's hack
|
Drank nothing, dashed outside, being exhausted (7,3)
|
CLAPPED OUT
|
Drank nothing, dashed outside, being exhausted (7,3)
LAPPED 0 ("drank nothing") with CUT ("dashed") outside
|
The friend at a dance lacking courage (5-7)
|
FAINT-HEARTED
|
The friend at a dance lacking courage (5-7)
*(the friend at a)
|
Deal with problem, being exceptionally noble and ethical (5,3,4)
|
LANCE THE BOIL
|
Deal with problem, being exceptionally noble and ethical (5,3,4)
*(noble ethical)
|
Little girl that's happy to go round in uniform (10)
|
CONSISTENT
|
Little girl that's happy to go round in uniform (10)
CON(SIS)TENT
I think the "that's" is superfluous.
|
Mass in provisional from Dean initially rejected (4)
|
RAFT
|
Mass in provisional from Dean initially rejected (4)
(d)RAFT – DRAFT ("provisional") with D(ean) removed
|
District in which priest supplants eastern system of belief (8)
|
RELIGION
|
District in which priest supplants eastern system of belief (8)
REGION with ELI ("priest") "supplanting" E(astern)
|
Famous rider keen to return after travel (6)
|
GODIVA
|
Famous rider keen to return after travel (6)
<=AVID "after" GO
|
Spies act suspiciously, being in denial of reality (8)
|
ESCAPIST
|
Spies act suspiciously, being in denial of reality (8)
*(spies act)
|
Cell barrier penetrated by this person (6)
|
GAMETE
|
Cell barrier penetrated by this person (6)
GATE ("barrier") "penetrated by" ME
|
Bishop has to make hasty departure: results in rebuff (5-3)
|
BRUSH-OFF
|
Bishop has to make hasty departure: results in rebuff (5-3)
B(ishop) + RUSH OFF
|
As teacher performed start of play, with minimum of creativity (8)
|
DIDACTIC
|
As teacher performed start of play, with minimum of creativity (8)
DID ACT 1 ("performed start of play") + C(reativity)
|
Bunch of criminals shut up, any number imprisoned (4)
|
GANG
|
Bunch of criminals shut up, any number imprisoned (4)
GAG ("shut up") "imprisoning" N(umber)
|
Troublesome former English sailor, poisonous type in hiding (12)
|
EXASPERATING
|
Troublesome former English sailor, poisonous type in hiding (12)
EX E RATING ("former English sailor") "hiding" ASP ("poisonous type")
|
Honest and lacking any slant (2,3,5)
|
ON THE LEVEL
|
Honest and lacking any slant (2,3,5)
Double definition
|
Minister about to go to court with men (6)
|
RECTOR
|
Minister about to go to court with men (6)
RE ("about") + Ct. + O.R. ("men", as in soldiers, "other ranks")
|
Delightful experience with country finally getting agreement (6)
|
TREATY
|
Delightful experience with country finally getting agreement (6)
TREAT + (countr)Y
|
Country's leader restricted by changes and noisy arguments (12)
|
ALTERCATIONS
|
Country's leader restricted by changes and noisy arguments (12)
C(ountry) "restricted by" ALTERATIONS
|
Son forming an alliance, becoming less transparent? (8,2)
|
STEAMING UP
|
Son forming an alliance, becoming less transparent? (8,2)
S(on) + TEAMING UP
|
Male in agony embraced by female supplying drug (8)
|
DOPAMINE
|
Male in agony embraced by female supplying drug (8)
M(ale) in PAIN "embraced by" DOE ("female")
|
Perhaps the Derby apartment has a group of people (4,4)
|
FLAT RACE
|
Perhaps the Derby apartment has a group of people (4,4)
FLAT ("apartment") + RACE ("group of people")
|
Rare church gets damage on top (6)
|
SCARCE
|
Rare church gets damage on top (6)
C.E. with SCAR ("damage") "on top"
|
As a group once reassembling outside old car firm (2,4)
|
EN BLOC
|
As a group once reassembling outside old car firm (2,4)
*(once) "outside" BL (British Leyland, hence "old car firm")
|
Beetle landing on a lady (4)
|
DORA
|
Beetle landing on a lady (4)
DOR (a scarab-like "beetle") + A
|
Leave a convenient stopping-off place (2,4,3)
|
ONYOURWAY
|
Definition: Leave
A convenient stopping off place would be "on your way", but the grammar doesn't match here. "A convenient stopping off place" is a noun, but "on your way" isn't.
|
Approximately to the right of top of tree trunk (5)
|
TORSO
|
Definition: trunk
T(ree) + OR SO ("approximately")
|
Parasite on part of fertiliser? (5)
|
NITRE
|
Definition: fertiliser
NIT ("parasite") + RE
Technically, the nit is not a parasite, it is the empty egg casing of a parasite.
|
Observant quality present in fluid dance (9)
|
ADHERENCE
|
Definition: Observant quality
HERE ("present") in *(dance)
|
Mother gets on for Mars (7)
|
DAMAGES
|
Definition: Mars
DAM ("mother") + AGES ("gets on")
|
Stars from here backing Elton at city in America? (7)
|
NEBULAS
|
Definition: Stars from here
<=BEN ("Elton") + L.A. in U.S.
|
Car — middle of fan belt lacks power (5)
|
ASTRA
|
Definition: Car
(f)A(n) + STRA(p)
|
It's often pocketed, being light (3)
|
RED
|
Definition: It's often pocketed
The red ball is the most-often pocketed colour in a game of snooker, but "light" for RED is a bit weak.
|
Elvis is alive, full of fibre! (5)
|
SISAL
|
Definition: fibre
Hidden in "Elvi**S IS AL**ive"
|
Nut cracking, in fact, absorbs one (7)
|
FANATIC
|
Definition: Nut
*(in fact) "absorbing" A
|
Agent's below-the-line item (7)
|
SLEEPER
|
Definition: Agent
Double definition, the second a cryptic one.
|
Test space craft with no tail (9)
|
CHALLENGE
|
Definition: Test
CHALLENGE(r)
|
Grimly funny champion (outside left) (5)
|
BLACK
|
Definition: Grimly funny
BACK "outside" L(eft)
|
Dress transfer (5)
|
SHIFT
|
Definition: Dress
Double definition
|
Attendant puts a report in place (9)
|
SATELLITE
|
Definition: Attendant
A TELL in SITE
|
Limo once cleared of external insects to give a rear view (4)
|
MOON
|
Definition: a rear view
li(MO ON)ce
|
Tense, in excited, messy way (6)
|
SYSTEM
|
Definition: way
T(ense) in *(messy)
|
Signature scrawled all over page, which is largely brilliant (10)
|
SUPERGIANT
|
Definition: which is largely brilliant
*(signature) "over" P(age)
|
Slave over South American tracksuit (6)
|
SWEATS
|
Definition: American tracksuit
SWEAT "over" S(outh)
The Americans call a tracksuit "sweats"
|
Uneasy phone discussion not entirely conveyed (8)
|
SYPHONED
|
Definition: conveyed
Hidden in "unea**SY PHONE D**iscussion"
|
Those who squeal about mark on horse (4)
|
STAR
|
Definition: mark on horse
<=RATS
|
Gathers shellfish round river (8)
|
WRINKLES
|
Definition: Gathers
WINKLES "round" R(iver)
|
Scrape top off aggregate (4)
|
HOLE
|
Definition: Scrape
(w)HOLE
|
Happy, say, moving forward (no alternative) (5)
|
DWARF
|
Definition: Happy, say
*(fward) (FORWARD without OR)
|
Kebab stall prepared game (10)
|
BASKETBALL
|
Definition: game
*(kebab stall)
|
Sort of power that lifts Los Alamos Red Tops (5)
|
SOLAR
|
Definition: Sort of power
<=LOS+ A(lamos) + R(ed) (*thanks to 2 below – I originally parsed this differently, but ElTel's parsing makes more sense*)
|
Brown needs one inch A-Z up country (8)
|
TANZANIA
|
Definition: country
TAN + <=A IN. A-Z
|
Rolling cape's magnificence (8)
|
RICHNESS
|
Definition: magnificence
RICH ("rolling") + NESS ("cape")
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.