Clue
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Blessed with strength to catch fish (9) | FORTUNATE | Definition: Blessed
TUNA in FORTE ("my forte is..") |
Batty about following a high priest (5) | AARON | Definition: high priest
A + reverse of NORA (character in the long-running TV series *Last of the Summer Wine*) Aaron is Moses' brother and a high priest in Exodus |
Angry young man briefly accompanied returning book (7) | REBECCA | Definition: book
REBE[L] (angry young man) + reverse of ACC[ompanied] – book by Daphne du Maurier, made into a Hitchcock film |
Sneak look at conductor ignoring new duo playing (7) | PREVIEW | Definition: Sneak look
[André] PREVI[N] (conductor) + EW (East and West, bridge players). Previn, who died last year, appeared in a legendary Morecambe and Wise sketch, where he was addressed as "Mr Preview" |
Petulant refusal is the custom (4) | WONT | Definition: custom
[I] WON'T! is a petulant refusal |
In court, argue against jail in speech (10) | QUADRANGLE | Definition: court
QUAD (slang for a jail, I think, though I can't see it in Chambers) + homophone of "wrangle" (argue) *Thanks to WordPlodder for pointing out that "quod" is slang for a prison, so both it's a homophone of both elements. |
Buy a three-pound mix that soothes infant (7) | LULLABY | Definition: that soothes infant
Anagram of BUY A + three times L (pound) |
GP moves cautiously and cleans out bed (7) | DREDGES | Definition: cleans out bed
DR (doctor) + EDGES (moves cautiously) |
Feeble commercial ban a few accept (10) | THREADBARE | Definition: Feeble
AD (commercial) + BAR (ban) in THREE (a few) |
Greeting government agency circular (4) | CIAO | Definition: Greeting
CIA + O |
I hear someone coming to check (7) | AUDITOR | Definition: I hear
Double definition – an auditor is literally someone who hears, or one who checks company accounts |
Country roads twisting, say, near the middle (7) | SENEGAL | Definition: Country
E.G. (say) in reverse of LANES |
Fruit needing flood regularly eaten by half of us? (5) | MELON | Definition: Fruit
Alternate letters of [f]L[o]O[d] in MEN (about half of the human race) |
Unlikely to go up, if turned over and put down (9) | FIREPROOF | Definition: Unlikely to go up
Reverse of FI + REPROOF (a put-down) |
Its subject: in messy warfare, male lost (1,8,2,4) | A FAREWELL TO ARMS | Definition: Its subject: in messy warfare, male lost
(WARFARE MALE LOST)*, and a "synopsis" of Ernest Hemingway's novel |
Court case: what the Master of the Rolls may bring into it? (8) | TRIBUNAL | Definition: Court
BUN (what a "master of rolls" might provide) in TRIAL (case) |
Chew meal, having changed starter (5) | MUNCH | Definition: Chew
LUNCH with the first letter changed. I'm not keen on clues that ask us to change a letter to something unspecified, especially when the replacement is unchecked, but it's fairly clear in this case |
Country man dropped rope securing article (8) | PARAGUAY | Definition: Country
PARA (paratrooper – a "man dropped") + A in GUY (rope) |
A number entered here — vital to move quietly (6) | KEYPAD | Definition: A number entered here
KEY (vital) + PAD (move quietly) |
Torn material valued (9) | LACERATED | Definition: Torn
LACE RATED – I'm sure I've seen this construction a few times |
Opening for visitor at last not initially residing in Berlin (6) | IRVING | Definition: Berlin
Last letter of visitoR in [L]IVING (residing), giving the famous, and long-lived, songwriter Irving Berlin |
Restored health, but on borrowed time again? (1,3,5,2,4) | A NEW LEASE OF LIFE | Definition: Restored health
Double/cryptic definition |
England almost besotted with it, a cold dish (9) | GALANTINE | Definition: cold dish
Anagram of ENGLAN[d] + IT A |
In a city (not London) is nothing totally unimportant (8) | DERISORY | Definition: totally unimportant
IS O in DERRY (city, also called Londonderry, or "Stroke City" from "Derry/Londonderry") |
Sort of rate boy's bad behaviour (6-2) | GOINGS-ON | Definition: bad behaviour
GOING ("the going rate") + SON |
Free, led to crack puzzle (6) | RIDDLE | Definition: puzzle
RID (to free) + LED |
Deprived, be confident judge may intervene (6) | BEREFT | Definition: Deprived
REF (referee, judge) in BET (to be confident – "I bet I can..") |
Trim end of toe in waders (5) | SNIPE | Definition: waders
SNIP + [to]E |
Get rid of command, having lost time after time (9) | ERADICATE | Definition: Get rid of
ERA (time) + DICTATE (command) less the first T |
Every third Etonian studying shows dissatisfaction (5) | ENNUI | Definition: dissatisfaction
Every third letter of EtoNiaN stUdyIng |
The mace deployed as a weapon (7) | MACHETE | Definition: a weapon
(THE MACE) |
Soft assonance heard in preparation (7) | PRIMING | Definition: preparation
P (soft) + homophone of "rhyming" |
Find record at an end (8) | DISCOVER | Definition: Find
DISC (record) + OVER (at and end) |
Neat, polite and not totally Italian (10) | NEAPOLITAN | Definition: Italian
Not an anagram as it first appeared, but a truncation of the first three words of the clue: NEA[t] POLIT[e] AN[d] |
Starting telly is depressing: it normally gives sad news (7) | TIDINGS | Definition: news
First letters of Telly Is Depressing: It Normally Gives Sad, with the surface reading perhaps linked to the Nina |
Something from the florist, the ultimate in tulip arrangement for auntie (7) | PETUNIA | Definition: Something from the florist
[tuli]P + AUNTIE |
Strange locations featuring intro to Cockney Rebel (10) | ICONOCLAST | Definition: Rebel
C[ockney] in LOCATIONS |
They say massage before flu treatment is essential (7) | NEEDFUL | Definition: essential
Homophone of "knead" (massage) + FLU |
Drop Arab leader's story (7) | PARABLE | Definition: story
Hidden (indicated by the 's) in droP ARAB LEader |
Articles from Le Monde and the Guardian secure coverage of both sides of the moon (5) | LUNAR | Definition: of the moon
UN (French indefinite article) + A (English ditto) in L R ("both sides") |
Turning prude, I tut on seeing this (9) | TURPITUDE | Definition: Turning prude, I tut on seeing this
(PRUDE I TUT)* &lit |
Married but misbehaving, with view to getting lost here? (7,8) | BERMUDA TRIANGLE | Definition: getting lost here
(MARRIED BUT)* + ANGLE (view) |
Without religion? Possibly idealistic without it (8) | LAICISED | Definition: Without religion
Anagram of IDEALISTIC less IT |
Top notch communist broadcast (5) | AIRED | Definition: broadcast
A1 + RED |
Slipshod of the Spanish or French to intervene in stroke (8) | CARELESS | Definition: Slipshod
Either EL or LE (Spanish & French "the") in CARESS |
Maintain important-sounding little dog? (4,2) | KEEP UP | Definition: Maintain
Homophone of "key pup" |
Make laws member's passed on (9) | LEGISLATE | Definition: Make laws
LEG (member) IS LATE (dead, passed on) |
Home papers rejected by court charge (6) | INDICT | Definition: charge
IN (home) + reverse of ID (papers) + CT (court) |
Snake catches Native American airing out before it can climb walls (8,7) | VIRGINIA CREEPER | Definition: it can climb walls
AIRING* + CREE in VIPER |
Working blouse on either sex is doing very well (2,3,4) | ON TOP FORM | Definition: doing very well
ON (working) + TOP (e.g. a blouse) + F OR M (either sex) |
Travel essential for Dad's hobby (8) | PASSPORT | Definition: Travel essential
PA'S SPORT |
Unbelievably bad bile, out in colour (4,4) | NAVY BLUE | Definition: colour
Anagram of UNBELIEVABLY less BILE |
With 11, 12, 13 or 8 films as once directed (6) | OCEAN’S | Definition: With 11, 12, 13 or 8 films
(AS ONCE)*, with the definition referring to the *Ocean's …* series of films |
Without covers, all told, vital novel (6) | LOLITA | Definition: novel
With the outer letters or "covers" removed: aLl tOLd vITAl |
Fresh air in vacated tenement property (5) | TRAIT | Definition: property
AIR* in T[enemen]T |
Denies one's corking drinks (7) | DISOWNS | Definition: Denies
I'S (One's) in DOWNS (drinks) |
Arrogantly ordered with knobs on? (6) | BOSSED | Definition: Arrogantly ordered
Double definition, with 'boss' as a stud or knob for the second |
Capital fellow taking on jerk like Lothario? (8) | ROMANTIC | Definition: like Lothario
ROMAN (one who lives in Rome, a capital city) + TIC (jerk). I hadn't previously been aware that Lothario is a character in *Don Quixote* (in fact in a story within the novel) |
Similar times? That's handy (6) | NEARBY | Definition: handy
NEAR (similar) + BY (times, as in arithmetic) |
Lira — foreign currency in Guiana circulating as means of exchange (6,6) | LINGUA FRANCA | Definition: means of exchange
L[ira] + FRANC in GUIANA |
Buried treasure originally hidden by soldier at ground (4,2,4) | LAID TO REST | Definition: Buried
T[reasure] in (SOLDIER AT)* – a nicely, and appropriately, "buried" definition |
Personalised picture of military display? (6) | TATTOO | Definition: Personalised picture
Double definition: a tattoo is a picture on one's person |
Trooper runs after retreating gents bitten by croc (10) | CAVALRYMAN | Definition: Trooper
Reverse of LAV (lavatory: e.g. Gents) + R in CAYMAN (type of crocodile) |
Having bargained for housing, old rogue coughed up (12) | EXPECTORATED | Definition: coughed up
O RAT in EXPECTED (bargained for). The comma has to be ignored |
Edges of Estonian flag intact (6) | ENTIRE | Definition: intact
E[stonia]N + TIRE (to flag) |
Police eager to resolve conflict (8) | DISAGREE | Definition: conflict
DIS (Detective Inspectors) + EAGER |
Invective from first person caught in traffic (6) | TIRADE | Definition: Invective
I (first person, in grammar) in TRADE |
Heads turned when English introduced weapon (4,3) | STEN GUN | Definition: weapon
ENG in reverse of NUTS (heads) |
Last of dead nettle one could be stuck with (4) | DIRK | Definition: one could be stuck with
[dea]D + IRK (to annoy, nettle) – "stuck" as in "stabbed" |
A little problem spoken of (4) | SOME | Definition: A little
Homophome of "sum" |
Books kept by suspect townie investigated (4,4) | WENT INTO | Definition: investigated
NT (New Testament, books) in TOWNIE |
Music genre influential on election night? (5) | SWING | Definition: Music genre
Double definition |
Lines in support of love by female author (1,5) | O HENRY | Definition: author
O (zero, love) + HEN (female) + RY (railway, lines). O. Henry, real name William Sydney Porter, was an American (male) writer of short stories |
May get out of prison sentence? (10) | SPRINGTIME | Definition: May
SPRING (to get [someone] out) + TIME (prison sentence) |
Facility within plain car such as Bond might relish? (3,7) | DRY MARTINI | Definition: such as Bond might relish
ART in DRY MINI |
Greek character admitting a deep malaise (6) | NAUSEA | Definition: malaise
A in NU (Greek letter) + SEA (the deep) |
Everybody's first cheers? (3,3,4) | ALL THE BEST | Definition: Everybody's first
Double definition |
Biblical sinner turned saint: person with time to reform (5,5) | SIMON PETER | Definition: Biblical sinner turned saint
(PERSON TIME) |
Draw conclusion from About a Boy (6) | REASON | Definition: Draw conclusion
RE A SON (*About a Boy* is a novel by Nick Hornby, made into a film with Hugh Grant) |
Compound legislature headed by a Republican (8) | ARSENATE | Definition: Compound
A R + SENATE – a compound containing Arsenic in a particular configuration (cf Sulphate, Carbonate) |
Gained an advantage, being committed to staff (6) | SCORED | Definition: Gained an advantage
Double definition – the second refers to the staff (or stave) lines in a musical score |
Farewell drink I accepted served up (5) | ADIOS | Definition: Farewell
I in reverse of SODA |
Bluff chap's first kid (4) | CRAG | Definition: Bluff
C[hap] + RAG (to tease, kid) |
Dishonourable aim (4) | MEAN | Definition: Dishonourable
Double definition |
Jumper might go over this, missing tie (8,4) | SKIPPING ROPE | Definition: Jumper might go over this
SKIPPING (missing) + ROPE (tie) |
Pulls out of hospital procedure after doctor gives you bug (9) | EAVESDROP | Definition: bug
HEAVES (pulls) minus (out of) H + DR + OP |
Time for contraception? Strip (7) | PILLAGE | Definition: Strip
The age of the pill, or the PILL AGE |
Weary race to the bottom? (3-4) | RUN-DOWN | Definition: Weary
A race to the bottom is a RUN DOWN |
Perhaps rock and roll CD in US came out (5,5) | DANCE MUSIC | Definition: Perhaps rock and roll
(CD IN US CAME) |
Sit on river and fish (4) | RIDE | Definition: Sit on
R + IDE (fish) |
Suspect shot: unwind seeing crime dramas (10) | WHODUNNITS | Definition: crime dramas
(SHOT UNWIND) |
Performing it, Dua Lipa got idea for recording (7,5,4) | DIGITAL AUDIO TAPE | Definition: recording
(IT DUA LIPA GOT IDEA)* – I'm sorry to say this singer's name has completely passed me by (not that it matters for solving the clue) |
Around centre of town, spilled milk here? (7) | COWSHED | Around centre of town, spilled milk here? (7)
C (circa, about) + [t]OW[n] + SHED (spilled) |
English call on John Barnes, ultimately to lead dribbling (9) | SLAVERING | Definition: dribbling
[Barne]S + LAV (toilet, john) + E[nglish] + RING (call); "to lead" indicates that the S goes at the start |
Group of drivers right to restrict parking out of consideration (5) | APART | Definition: out of consideration
P in AA (Automobile Association – group of drivers) + RT (right) |
Serve sugarless cola without opening snacks (7,5) | SAUSAGE ROLLS | Definition: snacks
Anagram of SUGARLESS [C]OLA |
Relegated team getting stuffed (9) | SIDELINED | Definition: Relegated
SIDE (team) + LINED (stuffed) |
One piece of turf outside recently cut off (8) | ISOLATED | Definition: cut off
I + LATE (recently) in SOD |
Bit of pastry on outside of cake (5) | PIECE | Definition: Bit
PIE (pastry) + C[ak]E |
Forget it? Number always on memory (5,4) | NEVER MIND | Definition: Forget it
N + EVER + MIND (memory) |
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