Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
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|---|---|---|
Blair Atholl plays host to traitor (3)
|
RAT
|
Blair Atholl plays host to traitor (3)
Hidden in "Blai**R AT**holl"
|
What might be ideal as housing for male couple causes problem (7)
|
DILEMMA
|
What might be ideal as housing for male couple causes problem (7)
*(ideal) "housing" **MM **(a couple of males)
|
Article from Rabelais put in after secrecy (7)
|
SILENCE
|
Article from Rabelais put in after secrecy (7)
**LE** (French for "the", so "article from Rabelais") "put in" **SINCE **("after")
|
Wife abandoning film director becomes intimate (5)
|
INNER
|
Wife abandoning film director becomes intimate (5)
(Michael) (W)**INNER **Michael Winner was an English director, most famous for the *Death Wish* franchise, and for being s food critic and star of TV ads.
|
City defender's last to leave the airport (2,7)
|
LA GUARDIA
|
City defender's last to leave the airport (2,7)
**L.A. **("city") + **GUARDIA**(n) ("defender", with last letter "left")
La Guardia is one of the three major airports serving New York City.
|
Girl is left outside Lincoln for example (6)
|
ISABEL
|
Girl is left outside Lincoln for example (6)
**IS L**(eft) "outside" **ABE **(Lincoln)
|
How one should bat, wild shot threatening to be unleashed? (8,4,3,4)
|
STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE
|
How one should bat, wild shot threatening to be unleashed? (8,4,3,4)
*(wild shot threatening)
|
Celebs get trial arranged to cover the crucial point (10)
|
GLITTERATI
|
Celebs get trial arranged to cover the crucial point (10)
*(get trial) "to cover" **IT** ("the crucial point")
|
Sentimental Labour leader once an employee of mine (10)
|
TENDERFOOT
|
Sentimental Labour leader once an employee of mine (10)
**TENDER** ("sentimental") + (Michael) **FOOT**
I didn't know this, but according to online sources, a tenderfoot was a newcomer to mining and ranching in America.
|
Boast superiority in constant quarrel (4)
|
CROW
|
Boast superiority in constant quarrel (4)
**C**(onstant) + **ROW **("quarrel")
|
Moral quality bachelor renounced in sex with frenzied brute (6)
|
VIRTUE
|
Moral quality bachelor renounced in sex with frenzied brute (6)
Can't parse this one – I can see RTUE being an anagram of BRUTE with the B of "bachelor" renounced, but the VI has me beat.
|
Totally truthful, they'd go for rewrite with Thessalonians (6,2,3,3,2,4)
|
HONEST AS THE DAY IS LONG
|
Totally truthful, they'd go for rewrite with Thessalonians (6,2,3,3,2,4)
*(they'd go thessalonians)
|
Sure to corral fish with line dipped in river (10)
|
DEPENDABLE
|
Sure to corral fish with line dipped in river (10)
**PEN **("to corral") **DAB** ("fish") "with" **L**(ine) "dipped in" **DEE **("river"), so **DE(PEN-DAB-L)E
|
Currency held to assist trade, or our deal restructured to save pound (10)
|
EURODOLLAR
|
Currency held to assist trade, or our deal restructured to save pound (10)
*(as our deal) "to save" **L **("pound")
|
Well-illuminated student's taken in sustenance and literature (8)
|
FLOODLIT
|
Well-illuminated student's taken in sustenance and literature (8)
**L**(earner) ("student") "in" **FOOD **("sustenance") + **LIT**(erature)
|
Ms Le Pen drenches a Democrat in spicy sauce (8)
|
MARINADE
|
Ms Le Pen drenches a Democrat in spicy sauce (8)
**MARINE **(Le Pen) "drenches" **A D**(emocrat)
Marine Le Pen was recently defeated in the French elections.
|
His mum's Conservative leader embracing Republican (4)
|
MARY
|
His mum's Conservative leader embracing Republican (4)
**MAY **("Conservative leader") "embracing" **R**(epublican)
I assume that the **HIS MUM** in the clue refers to Mary, Mother of God, but as an atheist, I can't be sure.
|
Wise man first to show the advancing years (4)
|
SAGE
|
Wise man first to show the advancing years (4)
**S**(how) + **AGE **("to show the advancing years")
|
Capital, once a way to make an artist (7)
|
BONNARD
|
Capital, once a way to make an artist (7)
**BONN **(once the capital of Germany) + **A Rd. **("a way")
Refers to French post-impressionist painter Pierre Bonnard.
|
Set aside sci-fi film ring (7)
|
ANNULET
|
Set aside sci-fi film ring (7)
**ANNUL **("set aside") + **E.T. **("sci-fi film")
|
Big shot: "How annoying to be rejected" (4)
|
STAR
|
Big shot: "How annoying to be rejected" (4)
<=**RATS **("How annoying!")
|
Thrift makes old man cut drink (9)
|
HUSBANDRY
|
Thrift makes old man cut drink (9)
**HUSBAND** ("old man") + **RY**(e) ("drink", cut)
|
Bear stall (5)
|
STAND
|
Bear stall (5)
Double definition
|
Not like Cambridge cherry loaf? (3,5)
|
RED BRICK
|
Not like Cambridge cherry loaf? (3,5)
**RED **("cherry") + **BRICK **("loaf")
|
Sort of bordering on tense (4)
|
EDGY
|
Sort of bordering on tense (4)
I suppose if a border is an edge. then "sort of bordering" could be "edgy"
|
Much abbreviated service offered by some councils to motorists' family group (5)
|
PRIDE
|
Much abbreviated service offered by some councils to motorists' family group (5)
I assume the setter is referring to **P**(ark and) **RIDE
|
Provided partially overlapping state singer (4)
|
PIAF
|
Provided partially overlapping state singer (4)
**IF** ("provided") "partially overlapping" **Pa. **(Pennsylvania, so "state")
|
Get back into the habit of playing to lecher (8)
|
RECLOTHE
|
Get back into the habit of playing to lecher (8)
*(to lecher)
|
Second heat gets crowd (5)
|
SWARM
|
Second heat gets crowd (5)
**S**(econd) + **WARM **("heat")
|
Oil neck part with hesitation? (9)
|
PETROLEUM
|
Oil neck part with hesitation? (9)
**PET **("neck") + **ROLE **("part") + **UM **("hesitation")
|
Clio's motorway exploit? (4)
|
MUSE
|
Clio's motorway exploit? (4)
**M**(otorway) + **USE** ("exploit")
Clio was the Muse of History, in Greek mythology.
|
Puts on shades (7)
|
SCREENS
|
Puts on shades (7)
Double definition
|
Ego-less, trembling internal light (7)
|
LANTERN
|
Ego-less, trembling internal light (7)
*(nternal) (INTERNAL minus I ("ego"))
|
Son welcomed by fashionable party-giver (4)
|
HOST
|
Son welcomed by fashionable party-giver (4)
**S**(on) "welcomed by" **HOT **("fashionable")
|
Cry from wolf, perhaps, breaking gate (8)
|
ENTREATY
|
Cry from wolf, perhaps, breaking gate (8)
**EAT **("wolf, perhaps") "breaking" **ENTRY **("gate")
|
Mythical sea monster, camouflaged — blooming thing! (6)
|
ORCHID
|
Mythical sea monster, camouflaged — blooming thing! (6)
**ORC **("mythical sea creature") + **HID **("camouflaged")
"Orc" as a mythical sea monster is a rare reference, with Orcs are more commonly associated with ogre-like creatures in the stories of Perrault and Tolkien.
|
Ground: land used to bring rider to earth (8)
|
UNSADDLE
|
Ground: land used to bring rider to earth (8)
*(land used)
|
Top champion horse raised (6)
|
MURDER
|
Top champion horse raised (6)
<= **RED RUM **(three-time winner of the Grand National, so a "champion horse")
|
Females gathered for drink (4)
|
BEVY
|
Females gathered for drink (4)
Double definition
I hope that the setter is referring to a generic bevy of people, rather than the more sexist "bevy of birds"…
|
Divine drawing of lots of egrets smeared with oil (9)
|
SORTILEGE
|
Divine drawing of lots of egrets smeared with oil (9)
*(egrets oil)
Sortilege, a new term to me, is apparently a type of fortune-telling using cards.
|
Spades have advantage on grass (5)
|
SEDGE
|
Spades have advantage on grass (5)
**S**(pades) + **EDGE **("advantage")
|
Wrong to follow cocaine appeal (5)
|
CHARM
|
Wrong to follow cocaine appeal (5)
**C**(ocaine) + **HARM **("wrong")
|
Cup certain to be too big for its container (3-5)
|
POTBOUND
|
Cup certain to be too big for its container (3-5)
**POT** ("cup") + **BOUND **("certain")
|
One in nursery, possibly cultivated yam wearing coat (8)
|
PLAYMATE
|
One in nursery, possibly cultivated yam wearing coat (8)
*(yam) "wearing" **PLATE **("coat")
|
Refuse transport for patient (6)
|
LITTER
|
Refuse transport for patient (6)
Double definition
|
Craft's auxiliary masts tops stuck in bridge (6)
|
SAMPAN
|
Craft's auxiliary masts tops stuck in bridge (6)
"tops of" **A**uxiliary **M**asts "stuck in" **SPAN **A sampan was a small Chinese boat
|
Four suits put in case? (4)
|
PACK
|
Four suits put in case? (4)
Double definition
|
Fail to stick with one channel sea feature (4)
|
SURF
|
Fail to stick with one channel sea feature (4)
Double definition
|
, according to Spooner (4,3)
|
JOSEPH
|
, according to Spooner (4,3)
In the Bible, Joseph, Mary's husband, was a carpenter, but there was also a Joseph in the Book of Genesis.
|
Jack's out of bed, after taking a nap to refresh (4,2)
|
JAZZ UP
|
Jack's out of bed, after taking a nap to refresh (4,2)
**J**(ack) + **UP** ("out of bed") "taking" **A ZZ **("a nap")
|
Yellow Sea aluminium forged most valuable pendant (4,5)
|
GOLD MEDAL
|
Yellow Sea aluminium forged most valuable pendant (4,5)
**GOLD **("yellow") + **MED**(iterranean "Sea") + **Al**(uminium)
|
Bend a neat collar? (2-3)
|
OX-BOW
|
Bend a neat collar? (2-3)
**OX** ("neat") + **BOW** ("collar")
NEAT is an old term for cattle
|
Paper declaimed Brownshirts (5)
|
ESSAY
|
Paper declaimed Brownshirts (5)
Homophone of **S.A. **The Sturmabteilung (S.A. for short) were the paramilitary wing of the German Nazi party, and were also known as the Brownshirts.
|
Ancient Greek hotel cesspool erupted (9)
|
SOPHOCLES
|
Ancient Greek hotel cesspool erupted (9)
*(h cesspool) where "h" = "hotel"
Sophocles was a Greek poet and dramatist.
|
Drive all round No.1 vehicle in motorsport competition (8)
|
TRACTION
|
Drive all round No.1 vehicle in motorsport competition (8)
<= **No. 1 CAR **in **T.T.**. so **T(RAC)T.1.oN, **where T.T. stands for Tourist Trophy ("motorsport competition")
|
Brief statement from homesick American housewife (6)
|
MISS US
|
Brief statement from homesick American housewife (6)
A homesick American may say "miss U.S."
|
Greek goddess composed each note (6)
|
HECATE
|
Greek goddess composed each note (6)
*(each) + **TE **(musical "note")
Hecate was the Greek goddess of fertility.
|
Walk out on Helen Mirren, honoured to return as Lady Macbeth? (5,3)
|
QUITE MAD
|
Walk out on Helen Mirren, honoured to return as Lady Macbeth? (5,3)
**QUIT **("walk out on") + <=**DAME **("Helen Mirren, honoured")
|
One influential in court, like Col. Tom Parker? (9)
|
KINGMAKER
|
One influential in court, like Col. Tom Parker? (9)
Col. Tom Parker was the manager of Elvis Presley, so could be described as the maker of The King.
|
Retails sports goods (5)
|
WARES
|
Retails sports goods (5)
Triple defintiion?
|
Travelling west, go overseas regularly for machine requiring slave labour? (5)
|
SERVO
|
Travelling west, go overseas regularly for machine requiring slave labour? (5)
Regular letters in "g**O **o**V**e**R**s**E**a**S**", "travelling west" (ie from right to left)
I'm no mechanic, so don't know anything about servos, but the wordplay workd and a quick Google search does bring up terms such as "servo slave" and "slave cylinders".
|
Japanese theme on the menu at The Savoy? (3,6)
|
THE MIKADO
|
Japanese theme on the menu at The Savoy? (3,6)
"The Mikado" is an opera by Gilbert & Sullivan, the most commonly performed Savoy opera, so named because it was originally staged at the Savoy Theatre.
|
New York Times leader first to cover corrupt Fifa ring from here? (7)
|
TIFFANY
|
New York Times leader first to cover corrupt Fifa ring from here? (7)
**T**(imes) + **N**(ew) **Y**(ork) "to cover" *(Fifa)
Tiffany's, of course, is the famous New York jewellery store.
|
Paltry North Sea gas supply boosted by kinetic energy (2,5,6)
|
NO GREAT SHAKES
|
Paltry North Sea gas supply boosted by kinetic energy (2,5,6)
*(north sea gas ke) where ke = "**K**inetic **E**nergy"
|
Rains heavily on A1, heading north somewhere in Central Europe (7)
|
SILESIA
|
Rains heavily on A1, heading north somewhere in Central Europe (7)
**SILES **("rains heavily") + <=**A1 **Hadn't come across "sile" before, but apparently it's a Northern English dialect word for "pour with rain". Silesia is a region of Europe, mostly in Poland.
|
Prize Judi's first TV award (5)
|
JEMMY
|
Prize Judi's first TV award (5)
**J**(udi) + **EMMY **("TV award")
|
Report to police following overdose in confines of Betty Ford Clinic? (4,4)
|
BODY SHOP
|
Report to police following overdose in confines of Betty Ford Clinic? (4,4)
**SHOP **("report to police") "following" **OD **("overdose") in **B**ett**Y**, so **B(OD)Y SHOP **A Ford with damaged bodywork would be taken to a body shop (a "Ford clinic")
|
American sucker takes cut in old banger (6)
|
JALOPY
|
American sucker takes cut in old banger (6)
**JAY **(in America, a "sucker" or gullible person) "takes" **LOP **("cut")
|
Famously, Darwin (Australia) got upset over its logo being rubbished (9)
|
ZOOLOGIST
|
Famously, Darwin (Australia) got upset over its logo being rubbished (9)
<=**OZ** ("australia") + *(its logo)
|
Releases subaltern arrested by angry bosun (7)
|
UNBOLTS
|
Releases subaltern arrested by angry bosun (7)
**Lt. **(liutenant ~ "subaltern") "arrested by" *(bosun)
|
Show Conservative support for May's broadcast on the 15th? (4,4,5)
|
WEST SIDE STORY
|
Show Conservative support for May's broadcast on the 15th? (4,4,5)
**TORY** ("conservative") "support for" **WEST'S **(indicated by "May's broadcast" = homophone of "Mae's", as in Mae West) + **IDES **(the middle of the month, so "15th"), thus **WEST'S + IDES + TORY
|
It has various symbols; "ritenuto", "tempo: lento" included (5,4)
|
TOTEM POLE
|
It has various symbols; "ritenuto", "tempo: lento" included (5,4)
Hidden in "ritenu**TO TEMPO LE**nto"
|
Food fanatic: "Nothing in Paris arrives on time" (8)
|
NUTRIENT
|
Food fanatic: "Nothing in Paris arrives on time" (8)
**NUT** ("fanatic") + **RIEN **(French for "nothing", so "nothing in Paris") + **T**(ime)
|
I break bucking bronco, hitting it forcefully (3,4)
|
CON BRIO
|
I break bucking bronco, hitting it forcefully (3,4)
**I **"break" *(bronco)
In music, "con brio", means "with vigour", so "forcefully"
|
Sadly, memory's completely flipped; it's the wine! (7)
|
MARSALA
|
Sadly, memory's completely flipped; it's the wine! (7)
<= **ALAS** (sadly)** + RAM **(Random Access Memory, in computing)
|
Outline plan of musket charge (6)
|
SKETCH
|
Outline plan of musket charge (6)
Hidden in "mu**SKET CH**arge"
|
Smell smoke (5)
|
WHIFF
|
Smell smoke (5)
Double definition
|
Singer from Blur accepting back payment (8)
|
MELODIST
|
Definition: Singer
**MIST **("blur") "accepting" <=**DOLE **("payment")
|
Carrier following police procedure (6)
|
METHOD
|
Definition: procedure
**HOD **(brick "carrier") "following" **MET**(ropolitan "police")
|
Utterly confused bishop, briefly calm after Reformation (9)
|
SHAMBOLIC
|
Definition: Utterly confused
*(bisho calm)
|
Quickly runs and hides (5)
|
PELTS
|
Definition: Quickly runs
Double definition
|
More and more bread on this slippery bit of fish? (7,5)
|
SLIDING SCALE
|
Definition: More and more bread
**SLIDING **(~ "slippery") + **SCALE** ("bit of fish")
If you're paid on a sliding scale, you earn more and more "bread" as you progress.
|
They'll oppose candidates other than mine (4)
|
NOES
|
Definition: They'll oppose
**NO**(mine)**ES **("candidates")
|
Persistently queries limiting space for eating places (5,5)
|
GRILL ROOMS
|
Definition: eating places
**GRILLS **("persistently queries") "limiting" **ROOM** ("space")
|
Don't be childish, like pundit at start of play? (3,4,3)
|
ACT ONE’S AGE
|
Definition: Don't be childish
**SAGE **("pundit") "at" **ACT ONE** ("start of play")
|
Long, endless length of time (4)
|
YEAR
|
Definition: length of time
**YEAR**(n)
|
Harsh island superficially off-limits to map-makers (12)
|
UNCHARITABLE
|
Definition: Harsh
**I**(sland) in **UNCHARTABLE **("off-limits to map-makers")
|
Theatrical dame, succinctly recorded, just placed (5)
|
THIRD
|
Definition: just placed
Thora Hird, a theatrical dame, succinctly recorded, would be **T. HIRD**.
|
Setting award blocked by Nutmeg not working (5,4)
|
GOING DOWN
|
Definition: Setting
**GONG** ("award") "blocked by" **I **("Nutmeg") + **DOWN** ("not working")
|
No sluggard: a lot put back into party (6)
|
DYNAMO
|
Definition: No sluggard
<=**MANY** ("a lot") "into" **DO **("party")
|
Subtle ascent by railway line (8)
|
ANCESTRY
|
Definition: line
*(ascent) "by" **RY **("railway")
|
Mummy's hot potatoes? (4)
|
MASH
|
Definition: potatoes
**MA'S **+ **H**(ot)
|
Premier article in key write-up (4)
|
LEAD
|
Definition: Premier
**A** ("article") in <=**DEL**(ete "key")
|
In valley, very black ducks do it (6)
|
DABBLE
|
Definition: ducks do it
**BB **("very black") "in" **DALE **("valley")
|
Israeli regularly speaking with relish? (5,8)
|
SALAD DRESSING
|
Definition: relish
i**S**r**A**e**L**i + **ADDRESSING** ("speaking with")
|
Alpinists must guard against such publicity (8)
|
EXPOSURE
|
Definition: Alpinists must guard against such
Double definition
|
Barely any sleep before noon or six? (4,1,5)
|
HALF A DOZEN
|
Definition: six
**HALF A DOZE** ("hardly any sleep") "before" **N**(oon)
|
Chemist's putting small enclosures in log (10)
|
DISPENSARY
|
Definition: Chemist
**S**(mall) **PENS** ("enclosures") "in" **DIARY **("log")
|
Conspicuous consumption from Tory on standard allowance? (13)
|
CONFLAGRATION
|
Definition: Conspicuous consumption
**CON**(servative, thus "Tory") + **FLAG **("standard") + **RATION **("allowance")
|
Awkward characters from FA at United transported (10)
|
INFATUATED
|
Definition: Awkward
*(fa at united). *The definition should be "transported", and the anagrind is "awkward (characters from)"
|
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