0xharib/xword2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

Clue stringlengths 6 133	Answer stringlengths 3 46	Explanation stringlengths 5 888
A tipsy mate restricting Rex to Italian liqueur (8)	AMARETTO	Definition: Italian liqueur A + R in MATE* + TO
Animals eating farmer's last cereal product (6)	GROATS	Definition: cereal product [farme]R in GOATS. I hadn't heard of this cereal product: the word is not related to the name of the old coin, but it is to grits, as eaten in the US
Private clubs hidden in trees, oddly (6)	SECRET	Definition: Private C in TREES
Lose balance, upsetting lager (4)	SLIP	Definition: Lose Reverse of PILS
Lexicographer seeking to preserve minority language (4)	ERSE	Definition: minority language Hidden in lexicographER SEeking – an (old) alternative name for Irish, or sometimes Scottish Gaelic
Black stuff found on top of Turkish dessert (4)	TART	Definition: dessert TAR + T[urkish]
In scientific study trip miss coach; pity! (6,7)	ATOMIC PHYSICS	Definition: scientific study (MISS COACH PITY)* – this was obviously going to be an anagram, but I wasn't sure whether "trip" or "pity" was the indicator
Engineers new fabulous figures for property lists (4,5)	RENT ROLLS	Definition: property lists RE (Royal Engineers) + N + TROLLS (figure of fable)
Old mnemonic device a joke at university (5)	QUIPU	Definition: Old mnemonic device QUIP + U. The quipu is an Incan counting device made of knotted cords
Legume, very hot, to eat with the others … (5)	VETCH	Definition: Legume ETC in VH
… guy has a way to avoid legume (9)	MANGETOUT	Definition: legume MAN + GET-OUT (a way to avoid..)
Force that turns English out at a yard in town (7)	TORQUAY	Definition: town TORQUE less E + A + Y
Where one may read the news, telling of traffic congestion (7)	AUTOCUE	Definition: Where one may read the news Homophone of "auto ~~cue~~ queue". I originally thought this might be "article", sounding like artic-al, as a queue of lorries might be…
Led astray and misused a month back (7)	SEDUCED	Definition: Led astray USED* ("mis-used") + reverse of DEC[ember]
Time went fast, they say; it's sickening (4,3)	BIRD FLU	Definition: it's sickening BIRD (prison sentence, time) + "flew"
Cell for one on the staff, briefly, at Oxford college (9)	CORPUSCLE	Definition: Cell CORPUS [Christi] CLE[F] (as found on a musical staff)
Needle, say, reversed to make lace (3,2)	GET AT	Definition: Needle Reverse of EG (say) + TAT (make lace)
Hesiod is truly entertaining poet (5)	ODIST	Definition: poet Hidden in hesiOD IS Truly. Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet – I could not tell you whether he was entertaining
Male deadlier when swinging the hammer here (6,3)	MIDDLE EAR	Definition: the hammer here ~~(MALE DEADLIER)~~ M + DEADLIER – the hammer or malleus is one of the three small bones of the middle ear
Chap in key wager collapses complex mathematical construction (10,3)	MANDELBROT SET	Definition: complex mathematical construction MAN + ROTS in DEL (computer key) BET. By coincidence (and for reasons too complicated to explain) I was thinking about the Mandelbrot set while lying in bed last night, and perhaps as a result this was one of my first entries. It's a geometrical object of astonishing complexity and great beauty (and complex in another way, as its definition uses the so-called complex numbers)
Showing a slight tinge, metal smoked, keeping temperature well up (9)	TINCTURED	Definition: Showing a slight tinge TIN + T in CURED. I suppose the "well up" just indicates that the T is near the beginning of CURED
Graphically transform most of pain relief (5)	MORPH	Definition: Graphically transform MORPH[ine] – where, rather unsatisfactorily I think, "most of" means "more than half". I suppose it could also be a shortening of the more old-fashioned MORPHIA, but the same objection applies
Lying undisturbed at first in peaceful state (7)	CALUMNY	Definition: Lying U in CALM + N[ew] Y[ork]
Cry of joy as overweight girl takes on husband (7)	HOSANNA	Definition: Cry of joy H + OS (outsize) ANNA
Appropriate person looking for most prosperous area of the country? (9)	SEQUESTER	Definition: Appropriate The South-east is the most prosperous part of the UK, and someone looking for it might be an SE QUESTER
Punch hole in cloth (5)	CHINO	Definition: cloth CHIN (to punch) + O (hole)
Grunt, adjusting corset — it's no business of the state! (7,6)	PRIVATE SECTOR	Definition: it's no business of the state PRIVATE (grunt is slang for a menial worker or low-ranking soldier) + CORSET
"Pooch! That sweet sauce!", as Spooner might do well to say (3,3,7)	CUT THE MUSTARD	Definition: do well Spoonerism of "Mutt! The Custard". The wordplay and definition are rather mixed up together in this clue, but I think it works
So great a number deprived of noble title? (9)	UNCOUNTED	Definition: So great a number The nobleman deprived of his title might be UN-COUNT-ED
This on table in diner on Level 5 (9)	CAFETIERE	Definition: This on table CAFE (diner) + TIER E (fifth in the sequence Tier A, B, etc). I think the use of CAFE in the wordplay is rather weak, as it has essentially the same meaning as in the answer
Top of loft in the morning frozen up: that's beside the point (7)	DECIMAL	Definition: that's beside the point Reverse of L AM ICED
During drinking bout, large mixer (7)	BLENDER	Definition: mixer L in BENDER (drinking bout)
India feeds pest with a cucumber preparation (5)	RAITA	Definition: cucumber preparation I in RAT + A
Sow chews end of one waistcoat (5)	GILET	Definition: waistcoat [on]E in GILT (new to me: a dialect word for "a young sow")
Check those printing religious tracts? (7)	REPRESS	Definition: Check An R[eligious] E[ducation] PRESS might produce the tracts
Beaten revolutionary featured in flyer (7)	BIRCHED	Definition: Beaten CHE [Guevara] in BIRD
How sugar can be used, if at all? (3,6)	FOR TOFFEE	Definition: if at all Double definition – Chambers defines "for toffee" as "at all", giving the example "he can't dance for toffee"; the "if" seems redundant for the cryptic reading
Chest protected by father's waterproof (5)	PARKA	Definition: waterproof ARK (a chest, as in the Ark of the Covenant) in PA
Brought books back on approval (4)	TOOK	Definition: Brought Reverse of O[ld] T[estament] + OK (approval)
Perseveres and catches a little bird (6,2,2)	STICKS AT IT	Definition: Perseveres STICKS (catches – in the meanings "to jam" or "to be detained by an impediment") + A TIT
Gulf national sounding full of cold (6)	QATARI	Definition: Gulf national Homphone of "catarrh-y"
Brexiteers asking for this defeat on polling day (7)	OUTVOTE	Definition: defeat on polling day The Brexiteers wanted (and unfortunately got) a VOTE for "OUT"
Bear from America digging into soil (7)	SUSTAIN	Definition: Bear US in STAIN
Most utter support after turning up (6)	PUREST	Definition: Most utter Reverse of UP + REST
Bloke gets the way things are done in small part of Cornwall (6,4)	BODMIN MOOR	Definition: part of Cornwall BOD (bloke) + MO (modus operandi) in MINOR
Each individually at an advantage (5)	AHEAD	Definition: at an advantage A HEAD (each) – I'm not sure what "individually" is doing here, as the surface works without it: does it just intensify "each"?
Sum up chapter cut from historic volume one's penned (9)	EPITOMISE	Definition: Sum up chapter EPIC less C[hapter] + 1'S in TOME
Speeds up in speech, as ten strikes (7)	HASTENS	Definition: Speeds up Hidden in speecH, AS TEN Strikes – "in speech" might lead one to expect a homophone here
Oriental crane ultimately like seabird (7)	EASTERN	Definition: Oriental [cran]E + AS TERN
Update troops before attack (5)	REFIT	Definition: Update RE (Royal Engineers, troops) + FIT (an attack)
An account traveller set, up providing support for climbers (7)	PERGOLA	Definition: support for climbers Reverse of A LOG + REP (travelling salesman)
Liberal prone to adopting Conservative hairstyle (4,4)	ETON CROP	Definition: hairstyle C in (PRONE TO)
Crowd security? (6,2,7)	SAFETY IN NUMBERS	Definition: Crowd security Cryptic definition
Case based on word of chap, or chaps, before I'm involved (6,2,7)	BREACH OF PROMISE	Definition: Case based on word of chap (OR CHAPS, BEFORE I'M)
Treasury theatre put on old romance with current investment (10)	REPOSITORY	Definition: Treasury REP (theatre) + I (symbol for electric current) in O STORY
His friend has Hamlet's first speech abridged (7)	HORATIO	Definition: His friend H[amlet] + ORATIO[n], and Horatio is Hamlet's friend in the play ("there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…")
Doctor gets a payment covering time he has to serve in US (7)	DRAFTEE	Definition: he has to serve in US DR + T in A FEE
Tense liar added ridiculous nonsense (10)	TARADIDDLE	Definition: nonsense T + (LIAR ADDED)
Rebellious graduates wash thoroughly one day a week (7)	SABBATH	Definition: one day a week Reverse of B.A.S + BATH
Injured Danes coming aboard in gloom (7)	SADNESS	Definition: gloom DANES* in SS (in a ship, so "aboard") – perhaps a reference back to *Hamlet
Abject drunk lives without ever losing heart (7)	SERVILE	Definition: Abject E[ve]R in LIVES
What diver may do with bill, on cutting pound (5)	PREEN	Definition: What diver may do with bill RE (about, on) in PEN (animal cage, pound), and a diver (bird) preens its feathers with its bill
Employment from IT entrepreneur? (4)	JOBS	Definition: Employment Double definition, the second referring to the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of the Apple corporation
Something metallic covering behind or something 18 covering much more? (6)	CAFTAN	Definition: something 18 covering much more AFT (behind) in CAN – the garment is more usually spelt with a K, but no doubt the C makes it easier to clue; see also 1d..
Acquaintance gets sealed deal? Not right (7)	CONTACT	Definition: Acquaintance CONTRACT less R
Suit constrains part of belly (9)	PINSTRIPE	Definition: Suit PINS (constrains) + TRIPE (cow's stomach, used as food)
Where some Brummies find home in Glastonbury (5)	ASTON	Definition: Where some Brummies find home Hidden in glASTONbury
Move furtively and quietly behind cowboy's enemy? (5)	CREEP	Definition: Move furtively CREE (native American tribe, as in Cowboys and Indians) + P (piano, quietly)
Former type of exam: English composition (9)	PASTORALE	Definition: composition PAST (former) + ORAL (exam) + E
What colonist will do, having captured a foreign city (7)	SEATTLE	Definition: foreign city A in SETTLE (what a colonist does)
Meal with nasty smell, the thing to send back (6)	TIFFIN	Definition: Meal Reverse of NIFF + IT
Rev in moving circle? (6)	CLERIC	Definition: Rev CIRCLE* – Rev as in Reverend
Little dog eats poet's works and causes trouble (5,2)	PLAYS UP	Definition: causes trouble LAYS (poems) in PUP
Subsequently stifles one pet's noise, solution being found (4,5)	LIME WATER	Definition: solution 1 MEW in LATER – Lime water is "a diluted solution of calcium hydroxide" according to Wikipedia, but a "suspension", which I'm pretty sure is not the same thing, according to Chambers. Both give it as a single word rather than two
Indication of freezing time (5)	TEMPO	Definition: time If it's freezing then the TEMP[erature] is 0 [degrees] (Celsius – sorry, Americans)
Kind of senior officer leading army corps (5)	GENRE	Definition: Kind GEN[eral] + R[oyal] E[ngineers]
Get your butts on the ground! (5,4)	ORDER ARMS	Definition: Get your butts on the ground Cryptic definition of the drill sergeant's order to "hold a rifle with its butt on the ground close to one's right side"
After travelling, you finally stayed for 24 hours (7)	TUESDAY	Definition: 24 hours Anagram of [yo]U + STAYED
Like a rogue child invading a railway (6)	ARCHLY	Definition: Like a rogue CH in A RLY (railway – an alternative to the more familiar "ry")
Strikes briefly undermining firm making money (7)	COPECKS	Definition: money CO (company, firm) PECKS (strikes briefly); one-hundredth of a rouble; more usually spelt with an initial K, which Pasquale could have used he'd had KAFTAN for 1a, but again the C makes the clueing easier
Crime, but not of one type of criminal (5)	FENCE	Definition: one type of criminal OFFENCE less OF
Alexander the Great's regent rebelling against father? (9)	ANTIPATER	Definition: Alexander the Great's regent ANTI-PATER – he was indeed regent to Alexander the Great
One may shed some light, destroying secrets (7)	CRESSET	Definition: One may shed some light SECRETS
Maoris hang around New Zealand writer (5,5)	NGAIO MARSH	Definition: New Zealand writer (MAORIS HANG)* – an appropriate anagram for the NZ branch of the 'Queens of Crime'. I wonder how well known she is today, in comparison to her near-contemporary Agatha Christie, for example
A curate is naughty? We understand the risks (9)	ACTUARIES	Definition: We understand the risks (A CURATE IS)
Mess about with difficult puzzle, not beginning (6)	TINKER	Definition: Mess [S]TINKER – as an example. the Glasgow Herald has a crossword called the Wee Stinker, notorious for its difficult and highly non-Ximenean clueing
Extra money request when in need of a drink (6)	TIPPLE	Definition: drink TIP (extra money) + PLE[A]
In Parisian avenue, fellow would briefly dance (9)	ALLEMANDE	Definition: dance MAN'D in ALLEE (you'd think a Parisian avenue would be an avenue, as in Avenue des Champs-Elysées, but this is a valid alternative)
French brother endlessly drinking coffee is 11 (9)	FLATTERER	Definition: 11 LATTE (coffee – yes, I know the word is Italian for "milk", but it's well-estabished in English as a type of coffee) in FRER[E]. A flatterer may be a CREEP (11a)
Like some fabric in bed, fashionable (7)	COTTONY	Definition: Like some fabric COT (bed) + TONY – this meaning is listed under "tone" in Chambers ("high-toned, fashionable"), not "ton" ("fashion, people of fashion") as I expected
Remuneration restricts staff — it's a travesty (6)	PARODY	Definition: a travesty ROD (staff) in PAY
Collecting financial documents, work steadily and devotedly (7)	PIOUSLY	Definition: devotedly IOUS in PLY
Escape from land after start of fighting (6)	FLIGHT	Definition: Escape F[ighting] + LIGHT (to alight, land)
Exercise in part of south-east England being reported (5)	WIELD	Definition: Exercise Homophone of "Weald", an area of SE England between the North and South Downs
German sectarian in school, reverse of learned, following senior (13)	SCHWENKFELDER	Definition: German sectarian SCH[ool] + KNEW< + F[ollowing] ELDER
Type of flagellate from domain that's obscure (10)	MONADIFORM	Definition: Type of flagellate (FROM DOMAIN)
What's central to change is moving to end emergency? (5)	ALERT	Definition: emergency ALTER with the middle letter moved to the end
Extra noggin set before the assembled company (6)	NO-BALL	Definition: Extra NOB + ALL, and a no-ball is an extra in the cricket sense
Nile low? (4)	BLUE	Definition: Nile Double definition
Tower up, like dish with recipe for stuffing (6)	ASPIRE	Definition: Tower up AS + R[ecipe] in PIE, with a less usual meaning of 'aspire', which the OED says is influenced by the unrelated 'spire'

A tipsy mate restricting Rex to Italian liqueur (8)

AMARETTO

Definition: Italian liqueur A + R in MATE* + TO

Animals eating farmer's last cereal product (6)

GROATS

Definition: cereal product [farme]R in GOATS. I hadn't heard of this cereal product: the word is not related to the name of the old coin, but it is to grits, as eaten in the US

Private clubs hidden in trees, oddly (6)

SECRET

Definition: Private C in TREES

Lose balance, upsetting lager (4)

SLIP

Definition: Lose Reverse of PILS

Lexicographer seeking to preserve minority language (4)

ERSE

Definition: minority language Hidden in lexicographER SEeking – an (old) alternative name for Irish, or sometimes Scottish Gaelic

Black stuff found on top of Turkish dessert (4)

TART

Definition: dessert TAR + T[urkish]

In scientific study trip miss coach; pity! (6,7)

ATOMIC PHYSICS

Definition: scientific study (MISS COACH PITY)* – this was obviously going to be an anagram, but I wasn't sure whether "trip" or "pity" was the indicator

Engineers new fabulous figures for property lists (4,5)

RENT ROLLS

Definition: property lists RE (Royal Engineers) + N + TROLLS (figure of fable)

Old mnemonic device a joke at university (5)

QUIPU

Definition: Old mnemonic device QUIP + U. The quipu is an Incan counting device made of knotted cords

Legume, very hot, to eat with the others … (5)

VETCH

Definition: Legume ETC in VH

… guy has a way to avoid legume (9)

MANGETOUT

Definition: legume MAN + GET-OUT (a way to avoid..)

Force that turns English out at a yard in town (7)

TORQUAY

Definition: town TORQUE less E + A + Y

Where one may read the news, telling of traffic congestion (7)

AUTOCUE

Definition: Where one may read the news Homophone of "auto ~~cue~~ queue". I originally thought this might be "article", sounding like artic-al, as a queue of lorries might be…

Led astray and misused a month back (7)

SEDUCED

Definition: Led astray USED* ("mis-used") + reverse of DEC[ember]

Time went fast, they say; it's sickening (4,3)

BIRD FLU

Definition: it's sickening BIRD (prison sentence, time) + "flew"

Cell for one on the staff, briefly, at Oxford college (9)

CORPUSCLE

Definition: Cell CORPUS [Christi] CLE[F] (as found on a musical staff)

Needle, say, reversed to make lace (3,2)

GET AT

Definition: Needle Reverse of EG (say) + TAT (make lace)

Hesiod is truly entertaining poet (5)

ODIST

Definition: poet Hidden in hesiOD IS Truly. Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet – I could not tell you whether he was entertaining

Male deadlier when swinging the hammer here (6,3)

MIDDLE EAR

Definition: the hammer here ~~(MALE DEADLIER)*~~ M + DEADLIER* – the hammer or malleus is one of the three small bones of the middle ear

Chap in key wager collapses complex mathematical construction (10,3)

MANDELBROT SET

Definition: complex mathematical construction MAN + ROTS in DEL (computer key) BET. By coincidence (and for reasons too complicated to explain) I was thinking about the Mandelbrot set while lying in bed last night, and perhaps as a result this was one of my first entries. It's a geometrical object of astonishing complexity and great beauty (and complex in another way, as its definition uses the so-called complex numbers)

Showing a slight tinge, metal smoked, keeping temperature well up (9)

TINCTURED

Definition: Showing a slight tinge TIN + T in CURED. I suppose the "well up" just indicates that the T is near the beginning of CURED

Graphically transform most of pain relief (5)

MORPH

Definition: Graphically transform MORPH[ine] – where, rather unsatisfactorily I think, "most of" means "more than half". I suppose it could also be a shortening of the more old-fashioned MORPHIA, but the same objection applies

Lying undisturbed at first in peaceful state (7)

CALUMNY

Definition: Lying U in CALM + N[ew] Y[ork]

Cry of joy as overweight girl takes on husband (7)

HOSANNA

Definition: Cry of joy H + OS (outsize) ANNA

Appropriate person looking for most prosperous area of the country? (9)

SEQUESTER

Definition: Appropriate The South-east is the most prosperous part of the UK, and someone looking for it might be an SE QUESTER

Punch hole in cloth (5)

CHINO

Definition: cloth CHIN (to punch) + O (hole)

Grunt, adjusting corset — it's no business of the state! (7,6)

PRIVATE SECTOR

Definition: it's no business of the state PRIVATE (grunt is slang for a menial worker or low-ranking soldier) + CORSET

"Pooch! That sweet sauce!", as Spooner might do well to say (3,3,7)

CUT THE MUSTARD

Definition: do well Spoonerism of "Mutt! The Custard". The wordplay and definition are rather mixed up together in this clue, but I think it works

So great a number deprived of noble title? (9)

UNCOUNTED

Definition: So great a number The nobleman deprived of his title might be UN-COUNT-ED

This on table in diner on Level 5 (9)

CAFETIERE

Definition: This on table CAFE (diner) + TIER E (fifth in the sequence Tier A, B, etc). I think the use of CAFE in the wordplay is rather weak, as it has essentially the same meaning as in the answer

Top of loft in the morning frozen up: that's beside the point (7)

DECIMAL

Definition: that's beside the point Reverse of L AM ICED

During drinking bout, large mixer (7)

BLENDER

Definition: mixer L in BENDER (drinking bout)

India feeds pest with a cucumber preparation (5)

RAITA

Definition: cucumber preparation I in RAT + A

Sow chews end of one waistcoat (5)

GILET

Definition: waistcoat [on]E in GILT (new to me: a dialect word for "a young sow")

Check those printing religious tracts? (7)

REPRESS

Definition: Check An R[eligious] E[ducation] PRESS might produce the tracts

Beaten revolutionary featured in flyer (7)

BIRCHED

Definition: Beaten CHE [Guevara] in BIRD

How sugar can be used, if at all? (3,6)

FOR TOFFEE

Definition: if at all Double definition – Chambers defines "for toffee" as "at all", giving the example "he can't dance for toffee"; the "if" seems redundant for the cryptic reading

Chest protected by father's waterproof (5)

PARKA

Definition: waterproof ARK (a chest, as in the Ark of the Covenant) in PA

Brought books back on approval (4)

TOOK

Definition: Brought Reverse of O[ld] T[estament] + OK (approval)

Perseveres and catches a little bird (6,2,2)

STICKS AT IT

Definition: Perseveres STICKS (catches – in the meanings "to jam" or "to be detained by an impediment") + A TIT

Gulf national sounding full of cold (6)

QATARI

Definition: Gulf national Homphone of "catarrh-y"

Brexiteers asking for this defeat on polling day (7)

OUTVOTE

Definition: defeat on polling day The Brexiteers wanted (and unfortunately got) a VOTE for "OUT"

Bear from America digging into soil (7)

SUSTAIN

Definition: Bear US in STAIN

Most utter support after turning up (6)

PUREST

Definition: Most utter Reverse of UP + REST

Bloke gets the way things are done in small part of Cornwall (6,4)

BODMIN MOOR

Definition: part of Cornwall BOD (bloke) + MO (modus operandi) in MINOR

Each individually at an advantage (5)

AHEAD

Definition: at an advantage A HEAD (each) – I'm not sure what "individually" is doing here, as the surface works without it: does it just intensify "each"?

Sum up chapter cut from historic volume one's penned (9)

EPITOMISE

Definition: Sum up chapter EPIC less C[hapter] + 1'S in TOME

Speeds up in speech, as ten strikes (7)

HASTENS

Definition: Speeds up Hidden in speecH, AS TEN Strikes – "in speech" might lead one to expect a homophone here

Oriental crane ultimately like seabird (7)

EASTERN

Definition: Oriental [cran]E + AS TERN

Update troops before attack (5)

REFIT

Definition: Update RE (Royal Engineers, troops) + FIT (an attack)

An account traveller set, up providing support for climbers (7)

PERGOLA

Definition: support for climbers Reverse of A LOG + REP (travelling salesman)

Liberal prone to adopting Conservative hairstyle (4,4)

ETON CROP

Definition: hairstyle C in (PRONE TO)

Crowd security? (6,2,7)

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

Definition: Crowd security Cryptic definition

Case based on word of chap, or chaps, before I'm involved (6,2,7)

BREACH OF PROMISE

Definition: Case based on word of chap (OR CHAPS, BEFORE I'M)

Treasury theatre put on old romance with current investment (10)

REPOSITORY

Definition: Treasury REP (theatre) + I (symbol for electric current) in O STORY

His friend has Hamlet's first speech abridged (7)

HORATIO

Definition: His friend H[amlet] + ORATIO[n], and Horatio is Hamlet's friend in the play ("there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…")

Doctor gets a payment covering time he has to serve in US (7)

DRAFTEE

Definition: he has to serve in US DR + T in A FEE

Tense liar added ridiculous nonsense (10)

TARADIDDLE

Definition: nonsense T + (LIAR ADDED)

Rebellious graduates wash thoroughly one day a week (7)

SABBATH

Definition: one day a week Reverse of B.A.S + BATH

Injured Danes coming aboard in gloom (7)

SADNESS

Definition: gloom DANES* in SS (in a ship, so "aboard") – perhaps a reference back to *Hamlet

Abject drunk lives without ever losing heart (7)

SERVILE

Definition: Abject E[ve]R in LIVES

What diver may do with bill, on cutting pound (5)

PREEN

Definition: What diver may do with bill RE (about, on) in PEN (animal cage, pound), and a diver (bird) preens its feathers with its bill

Employment from IT entrepreneur? (4)

JOBS

Definition: Employment Double definition, the second referring to the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of the Apple corporation

Something metallic covering behind or something 18 covering much more? (6)

CAFTAN

Definition: something 18 covering much more AFT (behind) in CAN – the garment is more usually spelt with a K, but no doubt the C makes it easier to clue; see also 1d..

Acquaintance gets sealed deal? Not right (7)

CONTACT

Definition: Acquaintance CONTRACT less R

Suit constrains part of belly (9)

PINSTRIPE

Definition: Suit PINS (constrains) + TRIPE (cow's stomach, used as food)

Where some Brummies find home in Glastonbury (5)

ASTON

Definition: Where some Brummies find home Hidden in glASTONbury

Move furtively and quietly behind cowboy's enemy? (5)

CREEP

Definition: Move furtively CREE (native American tribe, as in Cowboys and Indians) + P (piano, quietly)

Former type of exam: English composition (9)

PASTORALE

Definition: composition PAST (former) + ORAL (exam) + E

What colonist will do, having captured a foreign city (7)

SEATTLE

Definition: foreign city A in SETTLE (what a colonist does)

Meal with nasty smell, the thing to send back (6)

TIFFIN

Definition: Meal Reverse of NIFF + IT

Rev in moving circle? (6)

CLERIC

Definition: Rev CIRCLE* – Rev as in Reverend

Little dog eats poet's works and causes trouble (5,2)

PLAYS UP

Definition: causes trouble LAYS (poems) in PUP

Subsequently stifles one pet's noise, solution being found (4,5)

LIME WATER

Definition: solution 1 MEW in LATER – Lime water is "a diluted solution of calcium hydroxide" according to Wikipedia, but a "suspension", which I'm pretty sure is not the same thing, according to Chambers. Both give it as a single word rather than two

Indication of freezing time (5)

TEMPO

Definition: time If it's freezing then the TEMP[erature] is 0 [degrees] (Celsius – sorry, Americans)

Kind of senior officer leading army corps (5)

GENRE

Definition: Kind GEN[eral] + R[oyal] E[ngineers]

Get your butts on the ground! (5,4)

ORDER ARMS

Definition: Get your butts on the ground Cryptic definition of the drill sergeant's order to "hold a rifle with its butt on the ground close to one's right side"

After travelling, you finally stayed for 24 hours (7)

TUESDAY

Definition: 24 hours Anagram of [yo]U + STAYED

Like a rogue child invading a railway (6)

ARCHLY

Definition: Like a rogue CH in A RLY (railway – an alternative to the more familiar "ry")

Strikes briefly undermining firm making money (7)

COPECKS

Definition: money CO (company, firm) PECKS (strikes briefly); one-hundredth of a rouble; more usually spelt with an initial K, which Pasquale could have used he'd had KAFTAN for 1a, but again the C makes the clueing easier

Crime, but not of one type of criminal (5)

FENCE

Definition: one type of criminal OFFENCE less OF

Alexander the Great's regent rebelling against father? (9)

ANTIPATER

Definition: Alexander the Great's regent ANTI-PATER – he was indeed regent to Alexander the Great

One may shed some light, destroying secrets (7)

CRESSET

Definition: One may shed some light SECRETS

Maoris hang around New Zealand writer (5,5)

NGAIO MARSH

Definition: New Zealand writer (MAORIS HANG)* – an appropriate anagram for the NZ branch of the 'Queens of Crime'. I wonder how well known she is today, in comparison to her near-contemporary Agatha Christie, for example

A curate is naughty? We understand the risks (9)

ACTUARIES

Definition: We understand the risks (A CURATE IS)

Mess about with difficult puzzle, not beginning (6)

TINKER

Definition: Mess [S]TINKER – as an example. the Glasgow Herald has a crossword called the Wee Stinker, notorious for its difficult and highly non-Ximenean clueing

Extra money request when in need of a drink (6)

TIPPLE

Definition: drink TIP (extra money) + PLE[A]

In Parisian avenue, fellow would briefly dance (9)

ALLEMANDE

Definition: dance MAN'D in ALLEE (you'd think a Parisian avenue would be an *avenue*, as in *Avenue des Champs-Elysées*, but this is a valid alternative)

French brother endlessly drinking coffee is 11 (9)

FLATTERER

Definition: 11 LATTE (coffee – yes, I know the word is Italian for "milk", but it's well-estabished in English as a type of coffee) in FRER[E]. A flatterer may be a CREEP (11a)

Like some fabric in bed, fashionable (7)

COTTONY

Definition: Like some fabric COT (bed) + TONY – this meaning is listed under "tone" in Chambers ("high-toned, fashionable"), not "ton" ("fashion, people of fashion") as I expected

Remuneration restricts staff — it's a travesty (6)

PARODY

Definition: a travesty ROD (staff) in PAY

Collecting financial documents, work steadily and devotedly (7)

PIOUSLY

Definition: devotedly IOUS in PLY

Escape from land after start of fighting (6)

FLIGHT

Definition: Escape F[ighting] + LIGHT (to alight, land)

Exercise in part of south-east England being reported (5)

WIELD

Definition: Exercise Homophone of "Weald", an area of SE England between the North and South Downs

German sectarian in school, reverse of learned, following senior (13)

SCHWENKFELDER

Definition: German sectarian SCH[ool] + KNEW< + F[ollowing] ELDER

Type of flagellate from domain that's obscure (10)

MONADIFORM

Definition: Type of flagellate (FROM DOMAIN)

What's central to change is moving to end emergency? (5)

ALERT

Definition: emergency ALTER with the middle letter moved to the end

Extra noggin set before the assembled company (6)

NO-BALL

Definition: Extra NOB + ALL, and a no-ball is an extra in the cricket sense

Nile low? (4)

BLUE

Definition: Nile Double definition

Tower up, like dish with recipe for stuffing (6)

ASPIRE

Definition: Tower up AS + R[ecipe] in PIE, with a less usual meaning of 'aspire', which the OED says is influenced by the unrelated 'spire'