Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
Job abroad? Whiff about it's coming up (7) | POSTING | Definition: Job abroad
Reverse of ITS in PONG (bad smell, whiff); a posting doesn't *have* to be abroad, hence the question mark |
Char in French capuchin? (5) | SINGE | Definition: Char
Double definition: singe is French for monkey, of which the capuchin (named for its resemblence to Capuchin friars) is an example |
Upmarket transport delivering supplies from the bakery? (5) | ROLLS | Definition: Upmarket transport
Another DD – Rolls Royce and bread |
Former measure of cloth, a French one (for women?) (4) | AUNE | Definition: Former measure of cloth
A + UNE (feminine French "one") |
Domestic appliance, a must-have for the community (4) | UNIT | Definition: Domestic appliance
Hidden in commUNITy |
(See special instructions) (7,6) | COMPASS POINTS | (See special instructions) (7,6)
Giving the theme |
Excited male briefly moans, making complaint (8) | MELANOMA | Definition: complaint
Anagram of MALE + MOAN[s] |
What helps bowlers hit their mark? (4) | BIAS | Definition: What helps bowlers hit their mark
A bit of a stab in the dark: I think this refers to the bias in the balls in the game of bowls, which either helps or hinders hitting the jack, depending on the player's skill level. Not very helpful to have a rather vague crptic defnitiion whose last letter is crucial to the ambiguous 10a |
Count on this to put muscle on since boxing copper (6) | ABACUS | Definition: Count on this
AB[dominal] + CU in AS (since) |
Accommodation in camp protected by river (7) | DÉTENTE | Definition: Accommodation
TENT in DEE |
Set of six dogs out of bounds (4) | OVER | Definition: Set of six
[r]OVER[s]; Rover is (or was) a stereotypical dog's name, but this could do with a question mark as "Rovers" isn't really a definition of "dogs". The "set of six" is an over in cricket |
Old preacher's lectern made from Wilde's cooler seat? (7,3) | READING PEW | Definition: Old preacher's lectern
READING (Oscar Wilde was imprisoned in Readin Gaol) + PEW (seat) |
Behind and acting tough (6) | ASTERN | Definition: Behind
A[cting] + STERN |
Rut results from this — it's the plain fact (5,5) | NAKED TRUTH | Definition: it's the plain fact
If you remove the "clothes" or outer letters of TRUTH then you get RUT |
Missing the first cereal — gone … (3) | AGO | Definition: gone
[s]AGO |
… and not one of those here lacking finales (3) | NOR | Definition: and not
NORTH less its last two letters, "those here" being the compass points; an irrelevant bugbear of mine: as NOR does indeed mean "and not", it annoys me when people say or write "and nor.." |
Fence in field ignored at the outset after stable unfinished (8) | SURROUND | Definition: Fence in
SUR[e] + [g]ROUND |
Maybe noisily and repeatedly engineer raved when given tripe (7) | ADVERBS | Definition: Maybe noisily and repeatedly
Anagram (indicated by "engineer") of RAVED + BS (bullshit, rubbish, tripe); noisily and repeatedly are examples of advebs |
Plant gall (6) | NETTLE | Definition: Plant
Double definition |
Note passed on to groom in the past (6) | TIDIED | Definition: to groom in the past
TI (not, in sol-fa) + DIED (passed on) – "in the past" indicating that the answer is the past tense of "tidy" (= groom) |
Serving up — about to feed genetically modified root (4) | GERM | Definition: root
Reverse of RE (about) in GM |
Fish and calamari originally hard to see through glasses (4) | COHO | Definition: Fish
C[alamari] + H in OO (representing a pair of glasses); the coho is a type of salmon found in the Pacific |
Houdini act — legend that will clear 22 down in 10 (6,3) | ESCAPE KEY | Definition: that will clear 22 down in 10
ESCAPE (oudini act) + KEY (legend – the escape key on a computer keyboard can be used to clear a CELL in [Microsoft] EXCEL, at least while you're typing in it |
Sounds like very big is better? (5) | EXCEL | Definition: better
Homphone of XL (extra large, as on clothes) |
Houdini's act two recurrence — lethal ties loosened (7,5,7,4) | CHINESE WATER TORTURE CELL | Definition: Houdini's act
Anagram of TWO RECURRENCE LETHAL TIES |
Stop! Time to get out without wearing straps (5) | REINS | Definition: straps
REST (stop) less T "without" (i.e. uotside of) IN (wearing) |
Spot journalist and paper giving false hope (4,5) | PIPE DREAM | Definition: false hope
PIP (a spot) + ED + REAM (quantity of paper) |
Simple Harry Houdini act with steps (15) | UNSOPHISTICATED | Definition: Simple
Anagram (indicated by "Harry") of HOUDINI ACT STEPS |
Irregular pressure: expression of surprise in danger (9) | HAPHAZARD | Definition: Irregular
P[ressure] + HA (expression of surprise) in HAZARD |
Reached top of cold water with arms at side (7) | CLIMBED | Definition: Reached top of
C (cold water, as on a tap) + LIMBED (i.e. with limbs); the surface might be a description of Houdini escaping from the Chinese Water Torture Cell |
A long time after dropping cage (7) | DUNGEON | Definition: cage
DUNG (dropping) + EON |
Fat conjuror ultimately saws woman in half (5) | LARDY | Definition: Fat
[conjuro]R in LADY |
They let out zebras regularly to chase on fields (9) | RELEASERS | Definition: They let out
RE (about, on) + LEAS (fields) + alternate letters of zEbRaS |
Clear to detect the lies (3-7) | SEE-THROUGH | Definition: Clear
Double definition (without the hyphen for the second) |
Scrambles signal, primarily reaching foreign dishes (8) | SCURRIES | Definition: Scrambles
S[ignal] + CURRIES |
Rabbits run out of veg (6) | SPOUTS | Definition: Rabbits
SPROUTS less R – rabbits in the sense of talks |
Air final part of Love Island (4) | SKYE | Definition: Island
SKY + [lov]E |
NYPD case to get resolved having been shortened (10) | SYNCOPATED | Definition: having been shortened
(NYPD CASE TO)*; syncopate is most commonly seen as a musical term, but it can also mean " to omit a sound or a letter from a word" |
Regular exercise — shaving seconds off an Olympic record? (8) | PERIODIC | Definition: Regular
PE (exercise) + RIO (2016 Olympics venue) + DISC less S |
First couple from Scotland seen on border with English map (6) | SCHEME | Definition: map
SC[otland] + HEM + E |
Tone down adult clues for this? (4) | BLUE | Definition: Tone
Triple definition – colour; down=sad; as in "blue movie" |
Plays around with free 20 hand (10) | PHILANDERS | Definition: Plays around
Anagram of PLIERS HAND |
Mrs needs no foreign currency (10) | MODERNESS | Definition: currency
(MRS NEEDS NO) |
Pleasure-seekers find love in parking spaces by the roadside (8) | PLAYBOYS | Definition: Pleasure-seekers
O in P + LAY-BYS |
Tied: one's left in that place locked up? (8) | TETHERED | Definition: Tied: one's left in that place locked up
THERE (in that place) in TIED less I (one), and I think it's meant to be an &lit, though I'm not totally convinced |
Stud could come out with these stories about royal? Prince goes first (6) | PLIERS | Definition: Stud could come out with these
P + R in LIES |
Feature of magazine article with small piece making cover (4,2) | WANT AD | Definition: Feature of magazine
AN (artice) in W (with) TAD (small piece) |
Artist buried alive, partially (4) | DALI | Definition: Artist
Hidden in burieD ALIve |
Trendy sultry Romeo's stripped (7) | TOPICAL | Definition: Trendy
TROPICAL less R[omeo] |
CID managed with help from ambiguous source (7) | DELPHIC | Definition: ambiguous source
Anagram of CID + HELP. The Delphic Oracle was famous for giving ambiguous or misleading answers to questions |
This writer's article abridged an old wives' tale (4) | MYTH | Definition: an old wives' tale
MY (the writer's) + TH[e] |
Back plan to expand talent and charm (10) | AMIABILITY | Definition: charm
I presume ABILITY is from "talent", but I can't explain the AMI part. *Thanks to Shirl: it's reverse of AIM (plan) in ABILITY |
Euphorbia's left out of ostentatious display (6) | SPURGE | Definition: Euphorbia
SPLURGE (ostentatious display) less L |
Old Latin god saved unknown vessel for Greek traveller (8) | ODYSSEUS | Definition: Greek traveller
Y (unknown) + SS (ship, vessel) in O DEUS (Latin for god) |
French region's ageless tongue and revolutionary law (9) | LANGUEDOC | Definition: French region
LANGUAGE less AGE + reverse of CODE |
Trees defining boundary of the Roman Empire (5) | LIMES | Definition: Trees
Double definition: the Latin word Limes (related to "limit") can be used to describe to boundaries of the Roman empire, though it wasn't used in this sense by the Romans themselves. Perhaps a bit unfair to those who (like me) didn't know it, as PINES would fit just as well (and reminded me of Respighi's symphonic poem *Pines of Rome*) |
She oversaw agriculture before entering civil service (5) | CERES | Definition: She oversaw agriculture
ERE (before) in CS; Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture |
Leave Scottish woman running temple (9) | PARTHENON | Definition: temple
PART (to leave) + HEN (Scots term for a woman) + ON (running) |
Consequence of impact made by old ship's cat? (8) | BACKLASH | Definition: Consequence
The cat o' nine tails was used to LASH the BACK of its unfortunate victims |
Not quite the perfect ancient city (6) | THEBES | Definition: ancient city
THE BES[t] |
Essential function shortly to entertain queen (4,3,3) | SINE QUA NON | Definition: Essential
QU in SINE (trigonometric function) + ANON (soon, shortly) |
Bought horse, one clad in black (4) | GOTH | Definition: one clad in black
GOT (bought) + H, with the definition referring to a member of the goth subculture |
Jam in a city in Italy (7) | MESSINA | Definition: city in Italy
MESS + IN A |
Former chemical business head's hostility (7) | ICINESS | Definition: hostility
ICI (former chemical company) + NESS (geographical head) |
I'm struggling with old play for London venue (7) | OLYMPIA | Definition: London venue
Anagram of I'M + OLD PLAY |
Unlimited rich ore that filled ancient vessels (5) | ICHOR | Definition: that filled ancient vessels
[r]ICH OR[e]; it's "the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods and/or immortals." |
Plug English in top universities (7) | ACADEME | Definition: universities
AD (plug) + E in ACME (top) |
Possible result of congress organised by Rome (6) | EMBRYO | Definition: Possible result of congress
(BY ROME)* – the congress being the sexual kind |
Contested area in case pamphleteer comes round (9) | PALESTINE | Definition: Contested area
LEST (in case) in [Thomas] PAINE |
Disturb cow in roundabout with no hesitation (7) | INTRUDE | Definition: Disturb
ERMINTRUDE (the cow in The Magic Roundabout) less ERM; I think you need to be of a certain age to have a chance of parsing this,,, |
Forget about plump female in new very big play (5,2,6) | TIMON OF ATHENS | Definition: play
Reverse ("about") of OMIT (forget) + FAT HEN in N + OS (large) |
Aegean islands perhaps make meandering patterns (5,4) | GREEK KEYS | Definition: meandering patterns
GREEKL (Aegean) + KEYS (Islands). A Greek Key is a meandering pattern used as a border. |
Roundabout very like one seen during the day before (7) | EVASIVE | Definition: Roundabout
V AS I in EVE (day before) |
Stupendous upstanding citizen wins one bronze (7) | TITANIC | Definition: Stupendous
I TAN (bronze) in reverse of CIT[izen] |
Ring about scenery put up for Euripides drama (7) | ORESTES | Definition: Euripides drama
O (ring) + RE (about) + reverse of SETS (theatrical scenery) |
Probes go round it and go under it (6) | SATURN | Definition: Probes go round it
SA (Sex Appeal, "it") + TURN (a go) |
River rises, overwhelming grand Scottish town (5) | ELGIN | Definition: Scottish town
G in reverse of NILE |
Dramatic Brendan, hard to get head around (5) | BEHAN | Definition: Dramatic Brendan
H in BEAN (slang for head) – Brendan Behan was another Irish playwright |
Heading for tenure? Too disorganised (2,5,2) | EN ROUTE TO | Definition: Heading for
(TENURE TOO) |
Helpful software about transport, something that bears fruit in market (9) | APPLECART | Definition: something that bears fruit in market
CAR (transport) in APPLET (software) |
Human with no end of hubris becoming dictator (5) | PERON | Definition: dictator
PERSON less [hubri]S |
Repeatedly obstruct a 26 across on stage (7) | BARBARA | Definition: 26 across on stage
BAR twice + A; the definition referring to Shaw's *Major BarBara |
Bond cut by M's predecessor? That's fair (7) | CLEMENT | Definition: fair
L (letter before M) in CEMENT |
Like some booms, not quite as enjoyable (5) | SONIC | Definition: Like some booms
SO NIC[e] |
Priest often in the limelight, delighting believers (3) | ELI | Definition: Priest
The biblical priest is hidden in all three of limELIght, dELIghting and bELIevers *and also, as Greensward points out, in thE LImelight |
One man and his dog coming to pass? (5,7) | SAINT BERNARD | Definition: One man
Just about a triple definition, St Bernard is a man, a breed of dog and a mountain pass; though the definitions overlap, as the dog is named after the pass, which is named after the saint |
Records including your old string players (7) | LYRISTS | Definition: old string players
YR in LISTS (records) |
Tory leader's opposed to miner in speech (5) | MAJOR | Definition: Tory leader
Sir John Major, former Tory leader and PM, and a contrast to the homophonic "minor" |
As 20, be turned into martyr (9) | SEBASTIAN | Definition: martyr
Anagram of AS SAINT (20a) BE. The unfortunate St Sebastian was eseentially martyred twice: first by arrows (which he miraculously survived) and then by being clubbed to death |
Mythological sculptor producing a sign after less than minute (9) | PYGMALION | Definition: Mythological sculptor
Slightly less than PYGM[y] (minute, small) + A LION (zodiac sign) |
Name enshrined in eternity as symbol of chastity (5) | AGNES | Definition: symbol of chastity
N in AGES; the name comes from a Greek word meaning pure or holy, and St Agnes is the patron saint of chastity. It's also the name of one of Shaw's elder sisters: she died of TB when he was 19. |
Rhyme scheme for group initially formed (4) | ABBA | Definition: Rhyme scheme
Double definition: the Swedish group was named after the initial letters of its members names: Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid |
Escort's car phone broken (8) | CHAPERON | Definition: Escort
(CAR PHONE) |
One-time ruler of style and manners, to some extent (4) | ANNE | Definition: One-time ruler
Two (related) definitions: Queen ANNE is the one-time ruler, who gave her name to a style of furniture etc, and she is hidden in mANNErs |
Different actor initially in role within grasp (8) | SEPARATE | Definition: Different
A in PART, all in SEE (to grasp) |
Person watching play — could be endless pain in neck about it? (6) | CRITIC | Definition: Person watching play
IT in CRIC[k] (I originally guessed EROTIC as meaning "about it", but sadly it won't parse) |
Have a drink with journalists or censor (10) | SUPPRESSOR | Definition: censor
SUP + PRESS + OR |
King acted madly in theatre, executed patron (6) | GEORGE | Definition: King acted madly in theatre
The King in Alan Bennett's *The Madness of George III*, and patron saint George, who was executed as a martyr |
Old man's sweetheart portrayed as 20 by 28 (4) | JOAN | Definition: Old man's sweetheart
References to the stereotypical old couple Darby and Joan, and Shaw's play *Saint Joan*, about Joan of Arc |
Name for boy, son protected by security (5) | BASIL | Definition: Name for boy
S in BAIL |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.