Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
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|---|---|---|
Extended recliner without the third part (6)
|
LONGER
|
Definition: Extended
**LO**(u)**NGER** (recliner "without the third part")
|
Fearsome female artist seen in European port (6)
|
VIRAGO
|
Definition: Fearsome female
R.A. (artist) "seen in" VIGO (port in Spain, so "European port")
*R.A. stands for Royal Academy of Arts, which is an institution set up by King George III in 1768 to promote art. In crosswordland, RA and "artist" are interchangeable terms.
|
Chalmie had been first and did nothing (5)
|
IDLED
|
Definition: did nothing
**I'D** (Chalmonie had) + **LED** (been first)
|
Holiday company's American decline begins (4)
|
SAGA
|
Definition: Holiday company
**SAG** (decline) + **A**(merica)
|
Short of work, those one's up against for job (8)
|
POSITION
|
Short of work, those one's up against for job (8)
(op)**POSITION **("those one's up against" short of (ie without) OP ("work"))
|
Time to celebrate two scores in a match? (8)
|
FORTIETH
|
Time to celebrate two scores in a match? (8)
Cryptic definition – "two scores" married ("in a match") would mean you were celebrating your fortieth anniversary.
|
Head of clan, dressed in tartan still (6)
|
PLACID
|
Head of clan, dressed in tartan still (6)
**C**(lan) in **PLAID **("tartan")
|
Slip making pass, after missing header (5)
|
LAPSE
|
Slip making pass, after missing header (5)
(e)**LAPSE **("pass", missing its first letter ("header"))
|
False realities for Jacob's descendant (9)
|
ISRAELITE
|
False realities for Jacob's descendant (9)
(*realities)
|
Heart broken in half-decent relationship (6)
|
CENTRE
|
Heart broken in half-decent relationship (6)
Hidden in "half-de**CENT RE**lationship"
|
Boo jazz fan beginning to criticise everyone (7)
|
CATCALL
|
Boo jazz fan beginning to criticise everyone (7)
**CAT **("jazz fan") + **C**(riticise) + **ALL **("everyone")
|
Game's official useless? City back: "No!" (7)
|
REFUSAL
|
Game's official useless? City back: "No!" (7)
**REF** ("game's official") + **U/S **("useless") + <=**L.A. **("city", back)
|
Ringo's last group? (6)
|
CIRCLE
|
Ringo's last group? (6)
The last letter of Ringo is O (a circle)
|
Fishy bit of fish Ronaldo cooked after removing tails (6,3)
|
DORSAL FIN
|
Fishy bit of fish Ronaldo cooked after removing tails (6,3)
*(fis ronald) *The amagram fodder is obtained by removing the tails of FIS(h) and RONALD(o)
|
Place to consume tuck (5)
|
PLEAT
|
Place to consume tuck (5)
**Pl.**(ace) + **EAT** ("consume")
|
"Over the moon", as reported right away (6)
|
ELATED
|
"Over the moon", as reported right away (6)
(r)**ELATED **("reported", with the R(ight) away)
|
Pay to go and see a bit of Messi's skill (8)
|
FOOTWORK
|
Pay to go and see a bit of Messi's skill (8)
**FOOT** ("pay")
|
Island that gets confused with two small islands (6)
|
TAHITI
|
Island that gets confused with two small islands (6)
*(that ii) where the two i's are indicated by "two small islands"
|
Heather's carrying wood – a large amount (8)
|
LASHINGS
|
Heather's carrying wood – a large amount (8)
**LING'S **("heather's) carrying **ASH **("wood")
|
Females are covered in a layer of soft, fine hair? Nonsense! (6)
|
PIFFLE
|
Females are covered in a layer of soft, fine hair? Nonsense! (6)
**FF **("females") covered in **PILE **("layer of soft, fine hair")
|
Poor dominatrix might have done this? (8,3,4)
|
STRAPPED FOR CASH
|
Poor dominatrix might have done this? (8,3,4)
A dominatrix may be oaid for her "services".
|
Article about home that was yours once (5)
|
THINE
|
Article about home that was yours once (5)
**THE **("article") about **IN **("home")
|
Tedious rambling by socialist, showing outdated 1 across (7,4)
|
OUTSIDE LEFT
|
Tedious rambling by socialist, showing outdated 1 across (7,4)
*(tedious) + **LEFT** ("socialist")
*In football, the outside left is now more commonly called the left winger.
|
Prayer circle run for one getting things together (9)
|
COLLECTOR
|
Prayer circle run for one getting things together (9)
**COLLECT **("prayer") + **O **("circle") + **R**(un)
|
Hardly ever come with a lone bunion needing treatment (4,2,1,4,4)
|
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
|
Hardly ever come with a lone bunion needing treatment (4,2,1,4,4)
*(come a lone bunion)
|
In South of France, study in front of library that's been evacuated without warning (8)
|
SUDDENLY
|
In South of France, study in front of library that's been evacuated without warning (8)
**SUD **("south" in French) + **DEN **("study") in front of **L**(ibrar)**Y
|
Idle chap is unable to, working with a footballer and movie star (4,7)
|
ERIC CANTONA
|
Idle chap is unable to, working with a footballer and movie star (4,7)
**ERIC **(Idle) + **CAN'T **("is unable to") + **ON **("working") + **A ***Ex-Manchester United player, Eric Cantona is now an actor.
|
Will try people in a court, ultimately (9)
|
TESTAMENT
|
Will try people in a court, ultimately (9)
**TEST **("try") + **MEN **("people") in **A **(cour)**T**, so **TEST-A(MEN)T
|
Reading about time one might be one in 11 (8)
|
GRADIENT
|
Reading about time one might be one in 11 (8)
*(reading) + **T**(ime)
|
City's cricketer keeps burning (6)
|
STOKES
|
City's cricketer keeps burning (6)
**STOKE'S **("city's")
*The cricketer is Ben Stokes, vice captain of England
|
No hesitation shown by player in Baseball Ground (5)
|
PITCH
|
No hesitation shown by player in Baseball Ground (5)
**PITCH **(er) – the baseball equivalent of a bowler, with no ER ("hesitation")
|
He drew out clues to lure a criminal (8-7)
|
TOULOUSE LAUTREC
|
He drew out clues to lure a criminal (8-7)
*(out clues to lure a)
*Referring of course to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, (1864-1901), the prolific French post-Impressionist, closely associated with the decadent nightlife of Paris at the end of the nineteenth century.
|
Loathsome agent returning to fix it (9)
|
REPTILIAN
|
Loathsome agent returning to fix it (9)
**REP** ("agent") + <+**NAIL IT** ("to fix it", returning)
|
Cook finally serves crew (5)
|
STEAM
|
Cook finally serves crew (5)
(serve)**S **+ **TEAM **("crew")
|
Upright sage pursuing objective (7)
|
ENDWISE
|
Upright sage pursuing objective (7)
**WISE** ("sage") pursuing **END** ("objective")
|
Nutmeg's got over depression, that's clear (7)
|
EVIDENT
|
Nutmeg's got over depression, that's clear (7)
<=**I'VE** ("Nutmeg's", got over) + **DENT** ("depression")
|
Last of our media men dispersed (3)
|
RAN
|
Last of our media men dispersed (3)
Last letters of "ou**R **medi**A **me**N**"
|
Old vessel, extremely dangerous, blows up (7)
|
EXPANDS
|
Old vessel, extremely dangerous, blows up (7)
**EX** ("old") + **PAN** ("vessel") + **D**(angerou)**S
|
Remove date (4,3)
|
TAKE OUT
|
Remove date (4,3)
Double definition
|
Number, say, coming or going in Bury (7)
|
INTEGER
|
Number, say, coming or going in Bury (7)
**e.g.** ("say", coming or going) in **INTER** ("bury")
*Not convinced by "coming or going", which to my mind would indicate a palindrome, rather than a reversal.
|
Horse bit fairy lovers on the way back (7)
|
SNAFFLE
|
Horse bit fairy lovers on the way back (7)
<= **ELF FANS** ("fairy lovers", on the way back)
|
Dessert on this is ready and waiting (3)
|
ICE
|
Dessert on this is ready and waiting (3)
Double definition
|
Eager to gather complete cereal crop? (3,4)
|
ALL EARS
|
Eager to gather complete cereal crop? (3,4)
**ALL** ("complete") + **EARS** ("cereal crop")
|
Was benefactor hosting immoderate dance? (7)
|
GAVOTTE
|
Was benefactor hosting immoderate dance? (7)
**GAVE** ("was benefactor") hosting **O.T.T.** (over the top, so "immoerate")
|
Admitted wearing dress, topless (5)
|
OWNED
|
Admitted wearing dress, topless (5)
(g)**OWNED **("wearing dress", topless)
|
Region's temperature and ice chart changing (3,6)
|
THE ARCTIC
|
Region's temperature and ice chart changing (3,6)
**T**(emperature) + *(ice chart)
|
Family's last member is the limit! (3,3,2,3,4)
|
THE END OF THE LINE
|
Family's last member is the limit! (3,3,2,3,4)
Double definition
|
Coxed pair booked? (5,3,2,1,4)
|
THREE MEN IN A BOAT
|
Coxed pair booked? (5,3,2,1,4)
A coxed pair would be "three men in a boat".
*"Three Men in a Boat" (1889) by Jerome K Jerome is the source of one of my favourite quotes – "I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours"
|
Gave birth — all but first raised (5)
|
UPPED
|
Gave birth — all but first raised (5)
(p)**UPPED **("gave birth", all but first)
|
Bulb obscuring private eye's view (7)
|
OPINION
|
Bulb obscuring private eye's view (7)
**ONION** ("bulb") obscuring **P.I.** ("private eye")
|
Weavers briefly disperse in disarray (7)
|
SPIDERS
|
Weavers briefly disperse in disarray (7)
*(dispers)
|
Liberal leader in news that is breaking fast (7)
|
LENIENT
|
Liberal leader in news that is breaking fast (7)
**N**(ews) + **i.e.** ("that is") breaking **LENT** ("fast"), so **LE(N-I.E.)NT
|
Free credit granted to global union? (7)
|
UNSTICK
|
Free credit granted to global union? (7)
**TICK** ("credit") granted to **U.N.** ("global union") would be **UN'S TICK
|
Ran through and staggered out (6,3)
|
REELED OFF
|
Ran through and staggered out (6,3)
**REELED** ("staggered") + **OFF** ("out")
|
Helped EEC cut horsemeat supply (4,2,3,6)
|
CAME TO THE RESCUE
|
Helped EEC cut horsemeat supply (4,2,3,6)
*(EEC cut horsemeat)
|
Favourite uncle hurt about aunt's initial pique (9)
|
PETULANCE
|
Favourite uncle hurt about aunt's initial pique (9)
**PET** ("favourite") + *(uncle) about **A**(unt)
|
Expected sound of early precipitation (3)
|
DUE
|
Expected sound of early precipitation (3)
Homophone of **DEW** ("early precipitation")
|
Girl close to granny's heart (3)
|
ANN
|
Girl close to granny's heart (3)
(gr)**ANN**(y's)
|
Info about youth meeting daughter, please (7)
|
GLADDEN
|
Info about youth meeting daughter, please (7)
**GEN** ("info") about **LAD** ("youth") meeting **D**(aughter), so **G(LAD-D)EN
|
Dish in Olympic venue's very dry (7)
|
RISOTTO
|
Dish in Olympic venue's very dry (7)
In **RIO** ("Olympic venue), **SO T.T.** ("very dry")
|
Fixed clothing US agents cut up (7)
|
SEGMENT
|
Fixed clothing US agents cut up (7)
**SET** ("fixed") clothing **G-MEN** ("U.S. agents")
|
Unpromising poetry of the last 2000 years (7)
|
ADVERSE
|
Unpromising poetry of the last 2000 years (7)
**A.D. VERSE **(i.e. "poetry" since the birth of Christ)
|
Just under half an ice cream for musicians, collectively (5)
|
TUTTI
|
Just under half an ice cream for musicians, collectively (5)
Just under half of **TUTTI**-FRUTTI. (an "ice-cream" flavour)
|
Customary problem user has upgrading ageing laptops primarily (8)
|
HABITUAL
|
Customary problem user has upgrading ageing laptops primarily (8)
**HABIT** ("problem user has" – think drugs, for example) + **U**(pgrading) **A**(geing)** L**(aptops)
|
Figure in one's wake had an effect that's paltry (3-3)
|
TWO-BIT
|
Figure in one's wake had an effect that's paltry (3-3)
TWO ("figure in one's wake") + BIT ("had an effect")
|
Put lower limb in a tree swaying (8)
|
RELEGATE
|
Put lower limb in a tree swaying (8)
**LEG** ("limb") in *(a tree)
|
A father pocketing little money finds hope (6)
|
ASPIRE
|
A father pocketing little money finds hope (6)
**A** + **SIRE** ("father") pocketing **P**(enny, so "little money")
|
Unmitigated cut by the sound of it (5)
|
SHEER
|
Unmitigated cut by the sound of it (5)
Homophone of **SHEAR
|
Desist from computers and the like? Don't be ridiculous! (4,3,2)
|
COME OFF IT
|
Desist from computers and the like? Don't be ridiculous! (4,3,2)
**COME OFF** ("desist from") **I.T.** ("computers and the like")
|
Sailor put in base with potential for growth? (6)
|
VIABLE
|
Sailor put in base with potential for growth? (6)
**A.B.** (able-bodied "sailor") put in **VILE** ("base")
|
Spiritual number is put in hands of six-footer as source of music (7)
|
PIANIST
|
Spiritual number is put in hands of six-footer as source of music (7)
**PI** ("spiritual" or "number", or "spritual number"?) + **IS** in **ANT** ("six-footer")
*I'm not 100% sure on this parsing, as I can't decide if Sleuth has used a cryptic clue within a crytic clue.
|
Writer beginning to promote revolutionary policy about Cuba (6)
|
PENCIL
|
Writer beginning to promote revolutionary policy about Cuba (6)
**P**(romote) + <=**LINE** ("policy") about **C**(uba)
*C is the international car resignation abbreviation for Cuba.
|
Profitable travel I organised entertaining posh clients principally (9)
|
LUCRATIVE
|
Profitable travel I organised entertaining posh clients principally (9)
*(travel I) entertaining (**U** ("posh") + **C**(lients))
|
Faint bit of writing readily accepted (5)
|
SWOON
|
Faint bit of writing readily accepted (5)
**W**(riting) accepted by **SOON** ("readily")
|
A set of executives on a train? (6)
|
ABOARD
|
A set of executives on a train? (6)
**A** + **BOARD** ("set of executives")
|
A lemon is liquidised in pudding (8)
|
SEMOLINA
|
A lemon is liquidised in pudding (8)
*(a lemon is)
|
Allure in English and French resort over time (6)
|
ENTICE
|
Allure in English and French resort over time (6)
**E**(nglish) + **NICE** ("French resort") over **T**(ime)
|
Opinion shown by two men is breach of trust (8)
|
BETRAYAL
|
Opinion shown by two men is breach of trust (8)
**BET** ("opinion", as in "it's me bet he's up to no good") + **RAY** + **AL** ("two men")
|
Badger, timid mammal almost when close to humans (6)
|
HARASS
|
Badger, timid mammal almost when close to humans (6)
**HAR**(e) ("timid creature", almost) + **AS** ("when") + (human)**S
|
Liberal in Arab line trained as a theatrical performer (9)
|
BALLERINA
|
Liberal in Arab line trained as a theatrical performer (9)
**L**(iberal) in *(Arab line)
|
Golfer among friends in row about golf (5)
|
TIGER
|
Golfer among friends in row about golf (5)
**TIER** ("row") about **G**(olf)
To his friends, Tiger Woods, the golfer, would be simply "Tiger".
|
Supplier of lines needed by anchor? (7)
|
AUTOCUE
|
Supplier of lines needed by anchor? (7)
Cryptic definition – an autocue wouold supply lines to a (news) anchor.
|
Sun is among western symbols popular in state (9)
|
WISCONSIN
|
Sun is among western symbols popular in state (9)
**S**(un) among **W**(estern) **ICONS** ("symbols") + **IN **("popular"), so **W-I(S)CONS-IN
|
Short statement of aims (5)
|
BRIEF
|
Short statement of aims (5)
Double definition
|
Period elapsed in ruined site (8)
|
TWENTIES
|
Period elapsed in ruined site (8)
WENT ("elapsed") in *(site)
|
Singular idiot of a conceited nature (4)
|
SMUG
|
Singular idiot of a conceited nature (4)
**S**(ingular) + **MUG** ("idiot")
|
British gallery with British artist about to show old curios (4-1-4)
|
BRIC-A-BRAC
|
British gallery with British artist about to show old curios (4-1-4)
**Br**(itish) + **I.C.A.** ("gallery") +** B**(ritish) + **R.A.** ("artist") + **c** (circa, so "about")
*I.C.A. stands for Instirute of Contemporary Art, an art museum and exhibition space in Boston, USA.*
*R.A. stands for Royal Academy (of Arts) and is standard crosswrodese for "artist".
|
It may so spread around province as hatred (9)
|
ANIMOSITY
|
It may so spread around province as hatred (9)
*(it may so) around **N.I.** (Northern Ireland, so "province")
|
End of copious loot? There's evidence of waste (8)
|
SPILLAGE
|
End of copious loot? There's evidence of waste (8)
(copiou)**S** + **PILLAGE** ("loot")
|
Unaccountable dislike when spurning good diet? (4)
|
THIN
|
Unaccountable dislike when spurning good diet? (4)
(THIN)g ("unaccountable dislike", as in "I have a thing about spiders")
|
Introduce pressure with arbitrary decree (7)
|
PRECEDE
|
Introduce pressure with arbitrary decree (7)
**P**(ressure) + *(decree)
|
Side with name describing some doctors? (2,4)
|
ON CALL
|
Side with name describing some doctors? (2,4)
**ON** ("side" – think cricket) + **CALL** ("name")
|
Influence clubs over ill-mannered person (5)
|
CLOUT
|
Influence clubs over ill-mannered person (5)
**C**(lubs) + **LOUT** ("ill-mannered person")
|
Examine thoroughly part of this coursework (5)
|
SCOUR
|
Examine thoroughly part of this coursework (5)
Hidden in "thi**S** **COUR**sework"
|
Country that informally gives boozer heart (9)
|
AUSTRALIA
|
Country that informally gives boozer heart (9)
The heart of "bo**OZ**er" is Oz, an informal name for Australia.
|
Advantage of top-cut grass (4)
|
EDGE
|
Advantage of top-cut grass (4)
(s)**EDGE **("grass", with its top cut)
|
Canadian resort artist (8)
|
WHISTLER
|
Canadian resort artist (8)
Double definition
*Refers to Whistler, a mountain resort in the Canadian Rockies, and James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), whose most famous painting was "Arrangement in Grey and Black, No 1", more commonly known as "Whistler's Mother".
|
Grey hat tipped or removed (6)
|
SOMBRE
|
Grey hat tipped or removed (6)
** SOMBRE**(ro) "hat" with <=OR removed
|
Cross, if Yorkshire holds become fixed (6)
|
OSSIFY
|
Cross, if Yorkshire holds become fixed (6)
Hidden in "cr**OSS** **IF** **Y**orkshire"
|
Wasn't the only entertainer to fashion hoods etc (2-6)
|
CO-HOSTED
|
Wasn't the only entertainer to fashion hoods etc (2-6)
*(Hoods etc)
|
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