Clue
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|---|---|---|
Seeing return of predator, run! (4) | FLOW | Definition: run
Reverse of WOLF |
A political clown and jester initially slipping over in oil (6) | JOJOBA | Definition: oil
BOJO (nickname of Boris Johnson) in A[nd] J[ester], all reversed. This word always reminds me of Billy Connolly's joke: "In Glasgow, Jojoba is the month before November" |
Whatever Russian collected proving suspicious (1,7,4,4) | I COULDN’T CARE LESS | Definition: Whatever
(RUSSIAN COLLECTED)* – another nice anagram |
Old pianist, I say, shares playing (4,4) | MYRA HESS | Definition: Old pianist
MY (I say!) + SHARES; Myra Hess was famous for her lunchtime recitals during World War 2, and for her arrangement of Bach's *Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring |
Nut with piece of cake, but different starter (6) | NODDLE | Definition: Nut
DODDLE (something easy, a piece of cake) with the first letter changed to give a slang word for the head or "nut"; I'm not keen on clues like this that tell you to change a letter to something unspecified. |
Most elegant content of baby's nappies, terrifying! (9) | SNAPPIEST | Definition: Most elegant
Hidden in baby'S NAPPIES Terrifying |
Talk bringing decrease in fish up (6) | YABBER | Definition: Talk
EBB in RAY, reversed |
Problem raised about outfield isn't surprising, given this many errors? (9,2,4) | MULTITUDE OF SINS | Definition: many errors
(OUTFIELD ISN'T)* in reverse of SUM |
Giving great yawns, tedious chore ends (8) | LARGESSE | Definition: Giving
LARGE (great) + last letters of yawnS tediouS chorE |
Driver having to edge skyward (5) | PILOT | Definition: Driver
Reverse of TO LIP |
Too unfunny hiding something up one's sleeve — I don't want it! (2,5,3) | NO THANK YOU | Definition: I don't want it
HANKY in (TOO UN) |
Gold stolen by mischievous altar boy — might trial happen here? (10) | LABORATORY | Definition: might trial happen here
OR in (ALTAR BOY) |
Wine bottles bloke endlessly passed round university, topped up again (9) | REFUELLED | Definition: topped up again
U in FELLE[r] (bloke), in RED (wine) |
Adonis lowers bar (8) | BEEFCAKE | Definition: Adonis
BEEF (cattle – those that low) + CAKE (bar, as in soap) |
Blue dressing is cut off (6) | DISOWN | Definition: cut off
IS in ("dressed by") DOWN (sad, blue) |
I see nothing well after turning up for performance (3-2) | HOO-HA | Definition: performance
Reverse of AH ("I see") O (nothing) OH (well) |
Dye brown paper, cutting top and bottom (4) | ANIL | Definition: Dye
MANILA with the first and last letters removed |
Boat on page in blue artist's notebook (6,3) | SKETCH PAD | Definition: artist's notebook
KETCH (boat) + P[age] in SAD (blue) |
Sticky stuff for catching birds in tree (4) | LIME | Definition: Sticky stuff for catching birds
Double definition – birdlime is, or was, used to catch birds |
Processed meat from old sheep given to setter (8) | PASTRAMI | Definition: Processed meat
PAST (old) + RAM (sheep) + I (the setter) |
Slave travelling round island with small bag (6) | VALISE | Definition: small bag
I in SLAVE |
Threat posed by fellow expert (6) | MENACE | Definition: Threat
MEN (fellow?) + ACE(expert); there seems to be a singular/plural problem here |
Soprano in Italian city runs over artist (8) | PISSARRO | Definition: artist
S in PISA + R[uns] O[ver] – the artist is the impressionist Camille Pissarro |
Correct relative inhaling cannabis (4,2) | SPOT ON | Definition: Correct
POT in SON |
Ancient language in church (Latin) used by a senior cleric (8) | CHALDEAN | Definition: Ancient language
CH[urch] + A + L[atin] + DEAN (senior cleric); Today I Learnt that Chaldean is another name for the Aramaic language |
Container broken by mad macho driver (8) | COACHMAN | Definition: driver
MACHO* in CAN |
All one's possessions stored in highest ateliers (6) | ESTATE | Definition: All one's possessions
Hidden in highEST ATEliers |
Trees covering space by northern English hills (8) | PENNINES | Definition: English hills
EN (typographical space) + N in PINES |
Nasty relative listened to row (6) | MALIGN | Definition: Nasty
MA (mother, relatie) + LIGN (homophone of "line") |
Clever head of Apple taking on Doctor of New Technology (6) | ADROIT | Definition: Clever
A[pple] + DR + O' (short for "of") + IT (Information Technology); I think of adroit as meaning physically skilful rather than clever, but I suppose you can say "clever with his hands" |
Get rid of judge with jumbled notes about it returned (8) | JETTISON | Definition: Get rid of
J[udge] + reverse of IT on NOTES |
Piano tuner's first to leave punctually for concert (4) | PROM | Definition: concert
PROMPT (punctually) less P (piano) + first letter of Tuner |
Writer holding Underground up for one making her first appearance (9) | DEBUTANTE | Definition: one making her first appearance
Reverse of TUBE in DANTE; this really needs to be a down clue to work properly |
Comment unfavourably on part of roof (5) | SLATE | Definition: Comment unfavourably on
Double definition |
Remove actor in crowd scene to join depleted cast (7) | EXTRACT | Definition: Remove
EXTRA + C[as]T |
Pursue legal proceedings involving hospital (5) | CHASE | Definition: Pursue
H in CASE |
Couple standing in picture concerned with male sexuality (7) | PRIAPIC | Definition: concerned with male sexuality
Reverse or PAIR in PIC – from the Greek god Priapus |
Prospective partner harbouring grudge, ultimately leading to huge waste (9) | DEVASTATE | Definition: waste
[grudg]E + VAST in DATE |
Everyone held back by master, a 14th-century reformer (7) | LOLLARD | Definition: a 14th-century reformer
Reverse of ALL in LORD – the Lollards were a religious reform movement of the 14th to 16th centuries |
Villain's crimes upset social worker (9) | MISCREANT | Definition: Villain
CRIMES* + ANT – "social worker" for ANT (or sometimes BEE) used to be a common trick, but I don't think I've seen it for a while |
Food for trader (9) | PROVENDER | Definition: Food
PRO (for) + VENDER (alternative spelling of "vendor") |
Unusual net domain chosen (9) | NOMINATED | Definition: chosen
(NET DOMAIN) |
Fit in with conservative class (7) | CONFORM | Definition: Fit in
CON + FORM (class, in a school) |
Doctor Jones meeting old boy in surgery (7) | NOSEJOB | Definition: surgery
JONES* + OB – I would have expected this to be two words, or at least hyphenated |
City with great watering hole (7) | TALLINN | Definition: City
TALL + INN – the capital of Estonia |
Second tenor given central part of sketch in short piece of music (5) | MOTET | Definition: short piece of music
MO (short time, second) + T[enor] + the middle of skETch |
Fellow leaving tree in swamp for wood (5) | GROVE | Definition: wood
MANGROVE (swamp) less MAN (another fellow, but the right number this time) |
Flag-carrying soldier resolved to clear surgeon (6,8) | COLOUR SERGEANT | Definition: Flag-carrying soldier
(TO CLEAR SURGEON) |
Illicit affairs of spymaster running major industry (6,8) | MONKEY BUSINESS | Definition: Illicit affairs
M (spymaster, in the James Bond stories) + ON (running) KEY BUSINESS |
Rant and rave, as sacked gardener might? (4,3,4) | LOSE THE PLOT | Definition: Rant and rave
Double definition |
Grim time that husband's taken into consideration (7) | THOUGHT | Definition: consideration
H in TOUGH + T |
Four breaking oath joined up (7) | CURSIVE | Definition: joined up
IV in CURSE (oath) |
Fresh source of water first for annual purification? (6,5) | SPRING CLEAN | Definition: annual purification
SPRING (source of water) + CLEAN (fresh) |
Preposterous list often added to with conviction? (8,6) | CRIMINAL RECORD | Definition: often added to with conviction
CRIMINAL (preposterous) + RECORD (list) |
Long-haul workers from Manchester somehow getting the last word (8,6) | MERCHANT SEAMEN | Definition: Long-haul workers
MANCHESTER* + AMEN (last word in a prayer) |
Bright rising copper's temporarily given housing (6) | LUCENT | Definition: Bright
Reverse of CU in (housed by) LENT (temporarily given) |
Local runner joining army unit is no monarchist (10) | REPUBLICAN | Definition: no monarchist
RE (army unit) + PUBLICAN (one running a local) |
A good outcome to queen's labour? Brilliant! (8) | AGLITTER | Definition: Brilliant
A G + LITTER (this queen is a female cat, and her labour is in giving birth) |
Struggle across line to finish (8) | COMPLETE | Definition: to finish
L in COMPETE |
Outsider is dying, feverish (4,4) | LONG SHOT | Definition: Outsider
LONGS (is dying [for something]) + HOT |
Plotters regularly use such weapons (4) | AXES | Definition: Plotters regularly use such
Double defiition, with two different pronunciations: the plurals of axis (as used by one plotting a graph) and axe (weapon) |
Only the odd contrary characters suss out pitch (4) | TOSS | Definition: pitch
Reverse of alternate letters of SuSs OuT |
Name adopted by setter in a novel proves amusing (10) | ENTERTAINS | Definition: proves amusing
N in (SETTER IN A) |
Naturalist may study this 22 23 at end of a sentence (4,4) | LIFE FORM | Definition: Naturalist may study this
LIFE (prison sentence) + FORM (criminal record) |
Checked what monarch did, abandoning grand home (6,2) | REINED IN | Definition: Checked
REIGNED less G + IN (home) |
Greenery, at first a modest innovation in late Georgian streets (8) | GASLIGHT | Definition: innovation in late Georgian streets
G[reenery] + A SLIGHT |
Pronounced 'basic', as ship will be before sailing (6) | CREWED | Definition: as ship will be before sailing
Homophone of "crude" (basic) |
Riff-raff making unpleasant film (4) | SCUM | Definition: Riff-raff
Double definition |
Storyteller's rung up (4) | LIAR | Definition: Storyteller
Reverse of RAIL (e.g. a rung of a laader, which is a short rail) |
Plot devising counterfeit degree (6) | SHAMBA | Definition: Plot
SHAM + B.A. – it's a Swahili word for a plot or smallholding |
Plum creation with bits of sweet mango in part of orange? (6) | PSMITH | Definition: Plum creation
S[weet] M[ango] in PITH. Psmith (with a silent P) is a character created by P G Wodehouse, who was nicknamed "Plum", from his childhood pronunciation of his first name, Pelhem |
Man receiving what a tailor's fashioned, divine (9) | HARIOLATE | Definition: divine
(A TAILOR)* in HE |
A bit of enjoyment? Rest fitfully inside as treatment for sore back? (8) | AFTERSUN | Definition: treatment for sore back
REST* in A FUN, the sore back being a sunburnt one needing aftersun lotion |
Range about a church (5) | REACH | Definition: Range
RE A CH |
Group of dormant reptiles in e.g. Wookey Hole (5) | ANTRE | Definition: e.g. Wookey Hole
Hidden in dormANT REptiles; it's a kind of cave, as is Wookey Hole (in Somerset) |
Play casually in lea, mostly between two rivers (10) | TWEEDLEDEE | Definition: Play casually
LE[a] between the rivers TWEED and DEE. Chambers gives this as a variant of "tweedle", meaning to play casually on an instrument |
Gull once died in grip of crab's 'pincers'? (4) | COBB | Definition: Gull once
OB (dies) in the outer letters of CraB; "once" because it's an archaic word |
Old teacher favoured pupil circumventing grade of proficiency (6) | PEDANT | Definition: Old teacher
DAN (grade in martial arts) in [teacher's] PET |
Great excitement, what one associates with Luton player missing second half (6) | HOOP-LA | Definition: Great excitement
HOO + PLA[yer] |
Edible tuber fed to spoiled donkey (4) | EDDO | Definition: Edible tuber
Hidden in spoilED DOnkey. Strangely, Chambers gives the plural "eddoes" as the main entry, with the singular form in brackets |
Grand Italian gating fancy egress of luxuriant lawn? (10) | GRASS-GREEN | Definition: of luxuriant lawn
EGRESS* in GRAN (Italian for "grand") |
Horse as alternative for antelope (5) | NAGOR | Definition: antelope
NAG + OR (as an alternative) |
Town stocking ordinary food from the east (5) | BOURG | Definition: Town
Reverse of (O in GRUB) |
Some foreign cash that may be exchanged for Asian rug (8) | GUARANIS | Definition: Some foreign cash
(ASIAN RUG) – Guarani is the currency of Paraguay; also the name of an indigenous people, and their language |
Indicate distinctly choppy sailing in Kent region? (9) | SIGNALISE | Definition: Indicate distinctly
SAILING* in SE |
Tidy unit given a fresh coat of paint? (6) | RE-DONE | Definition: given a fresh coat of paint
RED (variant of redd, to tidy) + ONE |
With good forecast, Tuesday, not always stormy, was blustery (6) | GUSTED | Definition: was blustery
G + anagram of TUESDAY less AY (always); quite appropriate in view of the recent storms |
Dishonest dealer caught, imprisoned by snappish ultra-severe judge? (12) | SHORT‑CHANGER | Definition: Dishonest dealer
C in SHORT (snappish) + HANGER (severe judge) |
Stained furniture material doubled around court (8) | HAREWOOD | Definition: Stained furniture material
WOO (to court) in HARED (went fast, doubled) |
Source of ghee used in Peshawar naans (4) | ARNA | Definition: Source of ghee
Yet another hidden answer, in peshawAR NAans; Arna is an Indian water-buffalo, whose milk might be used for ghee |
Finely chop egg with a bit of chilli in (5) | MINCE | Definition: Finely chop
C[hilli] in MINE (the explosive device, nicknamed an egg) |
Fodder plants: one flourished about Florida? The reverse (7) | ALFALFA | Definition: Fodder plants
Reverse of A (one) + FL (*floruit*, flourished) + A (about) + FLA (Florida) |
Belt loop shaped with the hand, concealing end (5) | PATTE | Definition: Belt loop
PATTE[d] – Chambers gives "to shape by patting" as one defintion of "pat" |
What the ravenous could eat, and 'ad gobbled once served? (7) | STEADED | Definition: once served
'AD in STEED (as in "I could eat a horse"); from an old sense of "stead", which is also the main element of the next answer… |
Sin sporting with dodgy date in place of another (7) | INSTEAD | Definition: in place of another
SIN* + DATE |
Outing in French city, endless (4) | TOUR | Definition: Outing
TOUR[S] |
Ground wherein you'll observe Eton guy, deviously eloquent (12) | HONEY‑TONGUED | Definition: eloquent
(ETON GUY)* in HONED; I suppose to hone a blade is to grind it |
Sinuous artifice being insufficiently exploited (8) | UNDERUSE | Definition: being insufficiently exploited
UNDE (wavy, in heraldry) + RUSE (artifice) |
It's terrifying to northerners to haul trap uphill (7) | BOGGARD | Definition: It's terrifying to northerners
Reverse of DRAG (haul) GOB (mouth, trap) |
Family welcoming jaunty air for coalminers' bands, lustrous (7) | CLARAIN | Definition: coalminers' bands, lustrous
AIR* in CLAN – "lustrous, brightly-coloured bands in coal" |
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