Clue
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| Explanation
stringlengths 5
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|---|---|---|
Object to nurse cutting break (6) | RESENT | Definition: Object to
EN (enrolled nurse) in REST (break) *thanks to muffin for pointing out a typo here |
European side left with no goals (5) | PORTO | Definition: European side
PORT (left) + O (no goals, as in football scores such as 1-0) |
Out-of-shape group of patients receiving exercise classes (6) | WARPED | Definition: Out-of-shape
PE (exercise classes) in WARD (group of patients in a hospital) |
Cleaner bum (6) | SPONGE | Definition: Cleaner
Double definition |
Supporting being raised on farm (9) | UPHOLDING | Definition: Supporting
UP (raised) + HOLDING (farm) |
Help to smuggle cocaine: tips for drug users (4,5) | ACID HEADS | Definition: drug users
C[ocaine] in AID + HEADS (tips) |
Balloon with delivery following small present (8) | SNOWBALL | Definition: Balloon
S[mall] + NOW (present) + BALL (delivery, in cricket). Balloon and snowball can both mean to grow rapidly |
Part of salad not left on a plate (6) | RADISH | Definition: Part of salad
R (right, not left) + A DISH |
Relax with partner after endless sex (6) | SEDATE | Definition: Relax
SE[x] + DATE |
Pure soprano voices (6) | UTTERS | Definition: voices
UTTER (pure) + S |
Country harvest picked up (5) | GHANA | Definition: Country
Homophone (with the usual proviso about rhotic pronunciation) of "garner" |
One's rolled up with soldier upset in vehicle (5) | CIGAR | Definition: One's rolled up
Reverse of GI (soldier) in CAR |
Upper house abroad, not happy about English one (6) | SEANAD | Definition: Upper house abroad
E AN in SAD – the Irish Senate |
Signs of discord? International lost has relevance (6) | APPLES | Definition: Signs of discord
APPLIES less I, with a reference to the Apple of Discord |
Panel irritated with sot, one who's needlessly verbose (8) | PLEONAST | Definition: one who's needlessly verbose
(PANEL SOT) |
One dramatically educated to hold a lasso (5) | RIATA | Definition: lasso
A in RITA – from Willy Russell's play (and film) *Educating Rita |
Needing a drink, son gets stuck into Triple X? (7) | THIRSTY | Definition: Needing a drink
S in THIRTY (three times ten, or X) |
One carousing in Scotland, girl Reg led astray fed with narcotic stuff (10) | GILRAVAGER | Definition: One carousing in Scotland
AVA in (GIRL REG) |
Book by US novelist, nourishing brew (5) | BROTH | Definition: nourishing brew
B + ROTH (Philip Roth, author of *Portnoy's Complaint* among many others |
Old clothes folded in chest severally (5) | VESTS | Definition: Old clothes
Hidden in reverse of cheST SEVerally; "vests" is a current word, of course, but the "old" tells us that it has an obsolete meaning of clothes generally |
Like riverine creature seen in lake, quickly returning (5) | LOTIC | Definition: Like riverine creature
L + reverse of CITO (Latin "fast") |
Wines and other alcoholic drink (not soft) (5) | ASTIS | Definition: Wines
PASTIS less P |
Time to get going, about to burst a boundary in space (10) | TROPOPAUSE | Definition: boundary in space
POP (burst) A in T (time) ROUSE (get going) |
Handles changed sail in sea changing (7) | ALIASES | Definition: Handles changed
SAIL* in SEA |
I had lizard with tail brought right forward as glove material? (7) | KIDSKIN | Definition: glove material
I'D SKINK with last letter moved to the beginning |
Passage in book cut before point with page twice removed (5) | LOCUS | Definition: Passage in book
LOP (cut) + CUSP less both Ps |
Harbours once providing periods of calm sheltering core of fleet (6) | RESETS | Definition: Harbours once
[fl]E[et] in RESTS – obsolete (Scots) word meaning to harbour, related to receive, receipt |
Typical of country gent, tense and far from robust (6) | TWEEDY | Definition: Typical of country gent
T + WEEDY; fun fact – the name of the material tweed is the probably result of a mistake, from a misreading of "tweel" (twill); no connection to the River Tweed |
Birdie at Troon, first of several, putting initially secure as of old (5) | SPRUG | Definition: Birdie at Troon
S[everal] P[utting] + RUG – Scots word for a sparrow |
Observer missing maybe he lost here and there (5) | NOTER | Definition: Observer
I think this is NOT HERE (missing) with the letters of HE removed from non-adjacent positions (hence "here and there") |
Obsessive shrink's work half ignored? (4) | ANAL | Definition: Obsessive
ANAL[ysis] |
Appointment? Four written in in case (6) | DATIVE | Definition: case
IV in DATE |
Some potash largely fashioned masonry (6) | ASHLAR | Definition: fashioned masonry
Hidden in potASH LARgely |
Large Indian minority in grammar classes involving English (7) | PARSEES | Definition: Large Indian minority
E in PARSES – Chambers only gives "parse" as a verb, so I'm not sure how "grammar classes" works |
Model of ineptitude breaking off shutter's opener? (5) | LOSER | Definition: Model of ineptitude
[C]LOSER |
Shakespeare's woven together complex suits in what's recorded (12) | ENTERTISSUED | Definition: Shakespeare's woven together
SUITS* in ENTERED |
Shot dominating point being withdrawn (7) | SHYNESS | Definition: being withdrawn
SHY + NESS |
Niche that's followed by deerstalker (4) | SLOT | Definition: Niche
Double definition – the second is from the meaning a deer's footprints |
What's left in cup becoming increasingly cold (7) | BLEAKER | Definition: increasingly cold
L in BEAKER |
Ties being knotted round head creates link for pedallers (7) | TIRASSE | Definition: link for pedallers
RAS in TIES* – the pedallers here are organists |
It perks up old wine, substance including last in vat (4) | STUM | Definition: It perks up old wine
[va]T in SUM |
Questions for the Scots about independence press for resolution (6) | SPEIRS | Definition: Questions for the Scots
I in PRESS |
Cooking pot not once found in place (6) | POSNET | Definition: Cooking pot
NE (archaic "not") in POST |
Rising deposit men dredged in coastal waters (5) | TIDES | Definition: coastal waters
Reverse of SEDIMENT less MEN |
Greek conflict with East in historical past (5) | AGONE | Definition: historical past
AGON + E |
Drunken 'aye aye' (does one assume?) including sailor's first attempt (5) | ESSAY | Definition: attempt
S[ailor] in AYES |
Sharp detectives returned fool to court (8) | DISTINCT | Definition: Sharp
DIS (Detective Inspectors) + reverse of NIT (fool) + CT |
Resilience of black cat (6) | BOUNCE | Definition: Resilience
B + OUNCE (the Snow Leopard) |
Prang rear end of jeep (4) | BUMP | Definition: Prang
BUM (bottom, rear) + [jee]P |
Recent sex: cold, messy and unnecessary (10) | EXCRESCENT | Definition: unnecessary
Anagram of RECENT SEX C; the noun form "excresence" is perhaps more common – often used as an insult by Bertie Wooster |
Mix up wet earth with roots of old laurel tree (6) | MUDDLE | Definition: Mix up
MUD (wet earth) + last letters ("roots") of olD laureL treE |
Let raven free in wind from the east (8) | LEVANTER | Definition: wind from the east
(LET RAVEN)* – another less-common word, though easily gettable from the anagram and a few crossers |
Powerful ballad captures Beatrice's heart (6) | STRONG | Definition: Powerful
[Bea]TR[ice] in SONG |
Excessively craving grass after good year (6) | GREEDY | Definition: Excessively craving
G + REED (grass) + Y |
First exam includes one trap (8) | ORIGINAL | Definition: First
I GIN (trap) in ORAL (exam0 |
Sample from tesla plant (6) | TASTER | Definition: Sample
T (tesla – unit of magnetic induction) + ASTER; I think the "tesla" in the clue would benefit from a capital T, as the surface is suggesting the car company |
Caught milliner with case for windbag (10) | CHATTERBOX | Definition: windbag
C + HATTER + BOX |
Verbally cross and discourteous (4) | RUDE | Definition: discourteous
Homophone of "rood" – old English name for a cross, supplanted by the Latin/French word we now use |
Creature fell finally during hostilities with America (6) | WALRUS | Definition: Creature
[fe]L in WAR + US |
Affairs where cats entertain ladies regularly (8) | LIAISONS | Definition: Affairs
Alternate letters of lAiDiEs in LIONS |
Left squire dancing, having consumed posh drinks (8) | LIQUEURS | Definition: drinks
U (posh) in anagram of L SQUIRE |
Stamp stuck to envelope portrayed heads (4) | STEP | Definition: Stamp
First letters ("heads") of Stuck To Envelope Portrayed; I suppose a stamp is a sort of step.. |
Start to smoke joints audibly, showing sign of irritation (6) | SNEEZE | Definition: sign of irritation
S[moke] + homophone of "knees" (joints) |
Old boy has computer paper (8) | OBSERVER | Definition: paper
OB + SERVER |
Curse can be broken for pirates (10) | BUCCANEERS | Definition: pirates
(CURSE CAN BE) |
Voices concerns about candlestick (6) | SCONCE | Definition: candlestick
Hidden in voiceS CONCErn |
Touch hat covering Charlie King (6) | TICKLE | Definition: Touch
C K in TILE (hat) |
Embarrassed about own goal, a politician becomes offensive (10) | DEROGATORY | Definition: offensive
Reverse of RED + O.G. + A TORY |
Aroma around poles inside of tent is rubbish (8) | NONSENSE | Definition: rubbish
N S (poles) + [t]EN[t] in NOSE (aroma – as in wine) |
Diligently ignoring timeline in order to be flexible (8) | YIELDING | Definition: flexible
Anagram of DILIGENTLY less T[ime] and L[ine] |
Posh lass hiding fling with general (6) | GLOBAL | Definition: general
LOB (to throw, fling) in GAL (girl, as said by a toff) |
Upset after woman rising to increase temperature again (6) | REHEAT | Definition: increase temperature again
Reverse of HER + EAT (to worry, upset) |
Volunteers mutant superhero to be one overseeing duty (6) | TAXMAN | Definition: one overseeing duty
TA (Territorial Army) + X-MAN (one of the X-Men) |
Smooth surface partly turned over for race (4) | RUSH | Definition: race
Hidden in reverse of smootH SURface |
Managing to be top (6) | COPING | Definition: Managing
Double definition – coping is a top layer of a brick wall, also seen in "coping-stone" |
Short garments — test out the cloth (8) | MINISTRY | Definition: the cloth
MINIS (miniskirts) + TRY (test out); cloth as in "man of the cloth" |
Greek character, sailor, about to cross river — the quickest route? (3,3) | RAT RUN | Definition: the quickest route
R[iver] in NU (Greek letter) + TAR (sailor), all reversed |
Perplexing activity on the cricket field (8) | STUMPING | Definition: Perplexing
Double definition |
Support wickedness, bumping off one in proximity (11) | PROPINQUITY | Definition: proximity
PROP (support) + INIQUITY less the second I. The word reminds me of the quip "nothing propinks like propinquity", which (as I think I once knew but had forgotten) is said by Felix Leiter in the James Bond novel *Diamonds are Forever |
Bar money in famous wedding location (7) | CANTINA | Definition: Bar
TIN (money) in CANA (site of the wedding where Jesus turns water into wine in John 2) |
Perform inadequately as less fancied competitor? Not good (7) | UNDERDO | Definition: Perform inadequately
UNDERDOG less ~~D~~ G – not a common word, but easy to get from the wordplay |
Donkey isn't moving with energy — a hard problem (6,5) | KIDNEY STONE | Definition: a hard problem
(DONKEY ISN'T)* + E |
Messengers and companions wasting time (8) | COURIERS | Definition: Messengers
COURTIERS less T |
Smooth language (6) | POLISH | Definition: Smooth
Another (very familiar) double definition |
A gremlin up in the air is a malicious type (8) | MALIGNER | Definition: a malicious type
(A GREMLIN)* – I saw the anagram almost at once, but wasn't sure it was right, asking myself "is there such a word as malig-ner?" Of course it's actually one who maligns |
Hooligans attempted to switch sides (6) | TOUGHS | Definition: Hooligans
SOUGHT (attempted) with the outer letters swapped |
To cancel, one rings (6) | ANNULI | Definition: rings
ANNUL + I |
Broadcast from underworld with acclaim (10) | DISTRIBUTE | Definition: Broadcast
DIS (Roman underworld) + TRIBUTE |
Demoralised, like the Tories with Theresa gone? (8) | DISMAYED | Definition: Demoralised
DIS-MAY-ED, as the Tories were when Theresa May ceased to be leader and PM |
Get cover quickly behind vehicle (8) | CARAPACE | Definition: cover
CAR + APACE |
Like a plant in difficulty — spots show this (3-5) | POT-BOUND | Definition: Like a plant in difficulty
POT is "bound" in sPOTs |
Namely, loveless idiot (4) | TWIT | Definition: idiot
TO WIT less O (love) |
Immature adult — a Parisian lacking discipline (4) | YOGA | Definition: discipline
YOUNG A less UN (French "a") |
When in Paris, stars will create difficult situations (10) | QUANDARIES | Definition: difficult situations
QUAND (French "when") + ARIES (constellation). Seems a bit strange to have Parisian/in Paris in consecutive clues |
Slobbering attracted Heather, it's said (8) | DROOLING | Definition: Slobbering
Homophone of "drew ling" |
Jewish historian to tease our sort, penning record (8) | JOSEPHUS | Definition: Jewish historian
EP (record) in JOSH US – this was easy for me from the definition, as I don't think I could name another Jewish historian |
Oxford literary group in Cambridge college, entertaining learner (8) | INKLINGS | Definition: Oxford literary group
L in IN KING'S. The Inklings included C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien |
Boy that's 5? You've got it! (4,2) | SPOT ON | Definition: You've got it
POT in SON. We have to read "that's" as "that has" for the cryptic meaning |
Being heartless, get away with trick (4) | SCAM | Definition: trick
SCRAM less its middle letter |
Good shot brings oppressor to premature end (4) | BULL | Definition: Good shot
BULL[Y] |
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