Clue
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|---|---|---|
Head of finance in love is unusually articulate (8) | VOCALISE | Definition: articulate
CA (Chief Accountant) in (LOVE IS) |
Coofs trapping French lady in brasseries (7) | BAMMERS | Definition: Coofs
MME (Madame) in BARS. Coof and bammer are both Scots words for a fool; bammer is a variant of bampot or barmpot |
British girl swallowing last of pot in US rave-ups (6) | BLASTS | Definition: US rave-ups
B + [po]T in LASS |
English name for Trèves: it's familiar to mountaineers (6) | ETRIER | Definition: it's familiar to mountaineers
E + TRIER (formerly known in English as Trèves); an etrier is a short rope ladder used in mpountaineering |
Popular circus character, hard up (4) | EROS | Definition: Popular circus character
Reverse of SORE (hard) – the "circus character" is the famous statue in Piccadilly Circus, usually called Eros, though it actually depicts his brother Anteros |
Burnsian pie, still with a bit of pastry on it (4) | PYET | Definition: Burnsian pie
P[astry] + YET |
One beyond the wall once lives well, having climbed up (4) | OSSI | Definition: One beyond the wall once
Reverse of IS SO – slang for an East German |
Herb Alpert's debut, one regularly covered by British Sign Language (5) | BASIL | Definition: Herb
A[lpert] and I (one) inserted regularly into BSL |
Complex to explain (9) | ELABORATE | Definition: Complex
Double definition |
Passing time with artist playing tennis (9) | TRANSIENT | Definition: Passing
T RA (artist) + TENNIS |
Catholic girl's lesson in style (5) | CLASS | Definition: lesson
C + LASS, and two definitions |
Leader's a supporter of independence? (7) | SKIPPER | Definition: Leader
S (from Leader'S) + KIPPER (member of UKIP, supporter of so-called "independence") |
Wow! Not even posh journalist suffered an attack of the giggles (7) | CORPSED | Definition: suffered an attack of the giggles
COR (wow) + odd letters of PoSh + ED – to corpse is to laugh uncontrollably when on stage |
'After dark' piece on the radio (5) | NIGHT | Definition: After dark
Homophone of "knight" (chess piece) |
Slow boat merely capsized … (3) | TUB | Definition: Slow boat
Reverse of BUT (merely, only); is "capsized" a valid reversal indicator for an across clue (cf yesterday's discussions…) |
… crew too heavy? Not half! (5) | EIGHT | Definition: crew
Half of overwEIGHT – the crew of a rowing eight |
Dishes a world away, fine for the Springboks? (7,6) | WALDORF SALADS | Definition: Dishes
(A WORLD) + F[ine] + S.A. LADS (as the Springboks might be described) |
Up-to-date creep keeps dashing out (2,5) | IN TOUCH | Definition: Up-to-date
OUT* in INCH (to creep) |
Where to stay after golf? (5) | HOTEL | Definition: Where to stay
Double definition – a place to stay, and Hotel comes after Golf in the NATO phonetic alphabet |
Seducer of fifty-one sexy maidens (6,3) | LADIES’ MAN | Definition: Seducer
L (50) + A (1) + MAIDENS |
One should look thoroughly for trendy magazine wanting adult's clothing (9) | INSPECTOR | Definition: One should look thoroughly
IN (trendy) + SPECTATOR (magazine) less (wanting) the "clothes" of AdulT |
Change shirt owned by real model (5) | ALTER | Definition: Change
T (shirt) in REAL |
Help one gamble (4) | ABET | Definition: Help
A + BET |
Paces about at home, close to staying, then getting away (8) | ESCAPING | Definition: getting away
PACES* + IN (at home) + [stayin]G |
Luxurious and rich, 80%+ (4) | PLUS | Definition: +
80% of PLUSH |
Rodent's sin: entering waste flow (5,3) | SEWER RAT | Definition: Rodent
ERR in WASTE |
Approach tailless urban feline from behind (6) | TACTIC | Definition: Approach
Reverse of CIT[y] CAT |
Accompanying dog into party about books (10) | CONCURRENT | Definition: Accompanying
CUR in CON (Conservative party) + RE (about) + NT (New Testament, books) |
Looks up and down (4) | SEES | Definition: Looks
SEES is a palindrome |
Power is rising by three quarters (5) | SINEW | Definition: Power
Reverse of SI + N, E, W (compass points) |
Anaesthetise small dog biting tot, else in trouble (3,2,5) | PUT TO SLEEP | Definition: Anaesthetise
TOT + ELSE* in PUP |
Cockney wife's nationality … (5) | DUTCH | Definition: Cockney wife
Double definition. Dutch for wife, as in the music-hall song "My Old Dutch" is a shortening of "Duchess"; but not, as sometimes claimed, rhyming slang from "Duchess of Fife" – see here for more |
… their old money, trading capital for a billion workers (8) | BUILDERS | Definition: workers
GUILDERS (old Dutch currency) with the first letter replaced by B[illion] |
Most of bottle satisfied special connoisseurs (8) | GOURMETS | Definition: connoisseurs
GOUR[d] + MET (satisfied) + S[pecial] |
Most recent Hollywood trial? (6) | LATEST | Definition: Most recent
LA (Los Angeles) TEST |
Documents describe the end of government cuts (6) | FILETS | Definition: cuts
[governmen]T in FILES |
Hydrogen gas shock (4) | HAIR | Definition: shock
H + AIR |
Dash through Dixieland (4) | ELAN | Definition: Dash
Hidden in dixiELANd |
King managed to go up and annoy (4) | NARK | Definition: annoy
Reverse of K RAN |
Covert behaviour's appropriate, though heartless (7) | STEALTH | Definition: Covert behaviour
STEAL (appropriate) + T[houg]H |
Bail due for revision in hearing (7) | AUDIBLE | Definition: in hearing
(BAIL DUE) |
Bare minimum of instructional books — effectively treat as one (2,3,10) | IN THE ALTOGETHER | Definition: Bare
I[nstructional] + NT (books) + HEAL TOGETHER |
Gifts of pink and yellow roses to make up? (5,9) | PEACE OFFERINGS | Definition: Gifts of pink and yellow roses to make up
I can't see this, except as a not-very-cryptic definition, perhaps involving the symbolism of rose colours |
Reason address fails to start? One may be drunk (9) | RATIONALE | Definition: Reason
[O]RATION (speech, address) + ALE (which may be drunk) |
Vestment about to be given extravagant lining (5) | COTTA | Definition: Vestment
OTT (extravagant) in CA (circa, about); a cotta is a kind of surplice |
Gathering clamour breaks record (5) | CROWD | Definition: Gathering
ROW (clamour) in CD |
Powerful ray left sea bream floundering (5,4) | LASER BEAM | Definition: Powerful ray
L + (SEA BREAM) |
Glimpses tenor in embrace of lovelorn soprano (9) | SIGHTINGS | Definition: Glimpses
T in SIGHING (loverlorn) + S |
New acid revitalised battery (5) | NICAD | Definition: battery
N + ACID* – short for Nickel-Cadmium, as in some rechargeable batteries |
A tyrannical male condemned food processor (10,5) | ALIMENTARY CANAL | Definition: food processor
(A TYRANNICAL MALE) |
Showcase clothing in general (7,7) | KITCHEN DRESSER | Definition: Showcase
DRESS (clothing) in KITCHENER (WW1 general) |
There's no end of unstable footwear (7) | SLIPPER | Definition: footwear
SLIPPER[y] |
Particularly reliable source of cash among sweetshop's stock? (5,6,4) | EXTRA STRONG MINT | Definition: among sweetshop's stock
EXTRA STRONG (particularly reliable) + MINT (where cash is made) |
Vassal's superior, grand persona sent up in song (5,4) | LIEGE LORD | Definition: Vassal's superior
G + reverse of ROLE (persona) in LIED (song) |
Below-zero greeting? (5) | HELLO | Definition: greeting
HELLO ("below") + 0 |
Distance from a kid climbing headland (9) | ALOOFNESS | Definition: Distance
A + reverse of FOOL (to kid) + NESS (headland) |
Bleak start for Doctor Foster (5) | DREAR | Definition: Bleak
D[octor] + REAR (to foster) |
Like badly-synced dialogue offstage? (6,3,6) | BEHIND THE SCENES | Definition: offstage
Double definition |
Set up a route regularly crossing one continent or two (7) | EURASIA | Definition: two
Reverse of A + alternate letters or RoUtE "crossing" or contaning I (one) SA (South America – one continent); Eurasia is geologically a single continent but historically regarded as two, so it would be nice to include "one continent or" in the definition, but that would mean the words were doing double duty |
Favourite leader's lost weight where some US VIPs have gained stones (9) | ARLINGTON | Definition: where some US VIPs have gained stones
DARLING (favourite) less its "leader" + TON (weight); Arlingont National Cemetery, near Washington DC, is mainly for military personnel (not necessarily VIPs) killed in war, but presidents can also be buried there, as John F Kennedy was |
Extremely little basis for appalling narrative (9) | CHRONICLE | Definition: narrative
CHRONIC (appaling) + L[ittl]E |
Slavonic firms on fire (7) | COSSACK | Definition: Slavonic
COS (companies, forms) + SACK (to fire) |
A rum old collection assembled bit by bit (7) | MODULAR | Definition: assembled bit by bit
(A RUM OLD) |
Sufficient power to operate choppers (5) | TEETH | Definition: Sufficient power to operate
Double definition |
Perceptive wife cleared out grate (5) | SHRED | Definition: grate
SHREWD less W |
Alleged killer tan Her Majesty sports, with A&E, for once, not needed (5,8) | JAMES HANRATTY | Definition: Alleged killer
Anagram of of TAN HER MAJESTY, with an extra A and less one of the Es. James Hanratty known as the A6 Murderer, was one of the last few people to be hanged in the UK. There was much controversy about the case though recent DNA evidence apparently points to his guilt |
Bit left over is not even intended for broadcast (7) | ODDMENT | Definition: Bit left over
ODD (not even) + MENT (homophone of "meant") |
Most are recycling one sort of plastic (7) | MAESTRO | Definition: one sort of plastic
(MOST ARE)*; Maestro is a pre-paid debit card, hence a "sort of plastic" |
Bug? There's a small number in a place over the pond (5) | ANNOY | Definition: Bug
NO (number) in A NY |
Now touring Channel Islands, knowing about things in advance (9) | PRESCIENT | Definition: knowing about things in advance
CI in PRESENT |
Airdrie resident's more in need of liquid refreshment (5) | DRIER | Definition: more in need of liquid refreshment
Hidden in airDRIE Resident, with the inclusion indicated by the possessive 's |
Nice area street map's showing in red, with nothing cut out (4,5) | COTE D’AZUR | Definition: Nice area
AZ (street map – the "A to Z") in anagram of RED O CUT. Nice is the main city of the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera |
Old fellows in charge, one wearing glasses by virtue of current position (2,7) | EX OFFICIO | Definition: by virtue of current position
EX (old) + FF IC I in OO (glasses) |
System for detecting characters involved in arson, repeatedly (5) | SONAR | Definition: System for detecting
Hidden in arSON ARson; since SONAR and ARSON are anagrams, I think the clue would have worked without "repeatedly": no harm in it though |
Tipping Point? It's where shoes may be fashionable pale yellow colour (4,5) | LAST STRAW | Definition: Tipping Point
LAST (where shoes are ~~made~~ fashioned – thanks to TheZed) + STRAW (pale yellow) |
Novel written using small pen (5) | SCOOP | Definition: Novel
S + COOP – Evelyn Waugh's comic novel about overseas journalism |
Possibly the last newspaper with adult material (7) | ORGANZA | Definition: material
The last newspaper might be ORGAN Z, plus A |
When drunk, mostly refuse gin shots (7) | GUNFIRE | Definition: shots
Anagram of REFU[se] GIN, with a rather vague use of "mostly" |
Honour tourist that's caught male killer (4,3,6) | JACK THE RIPPER | Definition: killer
JACK (honour, in card games) + HE in TRIPPER |
Two articles about daughter into running quite slowly (9) | ANDANTINO | Definition: quite slowly
D in AN AN + INTO |
An abrasive comedian (5) | EMERY | Definition: An abrasive
Double definition: as in emery paper, used for smoothing, and comedian Dick Emery, who is likely to be unfamiliar to many younger solvers. We had EMERY PAPER in a Pasquale puzzle in December, clued as "Old comic publication seen as abrasive (5,5)" |
Agitated by appearance of some white hairs? (3,2) | HET UP | Definition: Agitated
HET is UP in whiTE Hairs |
Deputy's short cut (6,3) | NUMBER TWO | Definition: Deputy
Double definition: assistant and a short style of haircut |
Some of the cell numbers American does care about (4,5) | AREA CODES | Definition: Some of the cell numbers
A + (DOES CARE)* – an area code might be part of a cellphone number, in US terminology |
Hat-wearing model? That's right (5) | TITLE | Definition: right
T (model) in TILE (hat) |
A Trump lie's non-malignant? It's a killer (6,7) | DONALD NEILSON | Definition: a killer
DONALD (a Trump) + (LIES NON)*; Neilson was known as the Black Panther |
Killer piano in Prince cover potentially, if you were to do this (6,7) | DOCTOR CRIPPEN | Definition: Killer
If you were to DOCTOR (i.e. anagram) CRIPPEN, you could get P[iano] in ("covered by") PRINCE |
Dissident wanting official employment upset relatives (9) | REFUSENIK | Definition: Dissident
REF (referee, official) + USE + reverse of KIN |
Spooner's music teacher? He's six feet under! (9) | COCKROACH | Definition: He's six feet under
Spoonerism of ROCK COACH; cockroaches are insects, so have six legs |
Pigment? Unknown number to ring for its formula (4,5) | ZINC OXIDE | Definition: Pigment
The chemical formula of Zinc Oxide is ZnO – Z (unknown) + n (number) + O (ring); it's used as a white pigment |
Letter E missing: game is lost (5) | SIGMA | Definition: Letter
Anagram of (GAME IS) less E |
Punt in which to practise going on river (5) | WAGER | Definition: Punt
WAGE (to practise, as in wage war) + R |
What happens soon after Aurora raises matter involving a Parisian (5) | SUNUP | Definition: What happens soon after Aurora
UN (French "a") in reverse of PUS (matter); Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn |
Loud little boy turned modest (6) | FLASHY | Definition: Loud
Reverse of ALF + SHY |
Record playing in calm, calm water (8) | MILLPOND | Definition: calm water
LP (record) ON (playing) in MILD (calm) |
Saint high on life, ultimately blessed, starts back in big city (8) | ISTANBUL | Definition: big city
SAINT* + reverse of the initial letters of Life Uttimately Blessed |
Connect first of ropes and lift (6) | RELATE | Definition: Connect
R[opes] + ELATE (to life) |
Article of faith I spoon-feed to fool with solemn declaration (12,4,2,6) | PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE | Definition: solemn declaration
A remarkable anagram, of ARTICLE OF FAITH I SPOON FEED |
Writer's movement finished, author's right significantly advanced? (8) | UPSTROKE | Definition: Writer's movement
UP (finished) + [Bram] STOKER, with the R "advanced" to an earlier position: "significantly" because it moves quite a long way |
Curtain level in hole (8) | PORTIERE | Definition: Curtain
TIER (level) in PORE (hole); a portière is "a curtain hung over a door or doorway." |
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