Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
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|---|---|---|
Time to put letters in order (5) | SPELL | Definition: Time
Double definition |
Time out of time — it's simple (4) | MERE | Definition: simple
METRE (musical time) less T |
Reward staggering, but no end to poverty (6) | BOUNTY | Definition: Reward
(BUT NO)* + [povert]Y |
Very brief dance around yard (6) | FLYING | Definition: Very brief
Y in FLING |
Old-time dance from theatre's top male surgeons? (3,7) | THE LANCERS | Definition: Old-time dance
T[heatre] + HE LANCERS (lancer is another name for a surgeon's lancet) |
I didn't catch that release (6) | PARDON | Definition: I didn't catch that
Double definition |
European match abandoned — accepted by Brown (8) | DUTCHMAN | Definition: European
MATCH* in DUN |
Central company in theatre production (2,3,4) | AT THE CORE | Definition: Central
CO in THEATRE |
Shrub came back to life — army mobilised! (8) | ROSEMARY | Definition: Shrub
ROSE (came back to life) + ARMY |
Stuffing knocked out of Lulu in break of service — retiring (9) | RECLUSIVE | Definition: retiring
L[ul]U in SERVICE |
Secret drinker comes to earth in Morecambe? (8) | ESOTERIC | Definition: Secret
SOT + E[arth] in ERIC (Morecambe, comedian) |
High Court division disposes of hollow ruby, making fortune (6) | CHANCE | Definition: fortune
CHANCERY less R[ub]Y |
Take butterfly and name 'Bambi'? (10) | COMMANDEER | Definition: Take
COMMA (type of butterfly) + N + DEER (e.g. Bambi) |
Folk hero's bonnet (4) | HOOD | Definition: Folk hero
Double definition – Robin Hood is the hero; I wondered whether a hood was the same as a bonnet, but of course as well as headgear they're also US and British names for part of a car |
Musical token of affection cut short by opera house (6) | KISMET | Definition: Musical
KIS[S] + MET (the Metropolitan Opera House in New York) |
Strong punch that would make you croak? (6,4) | DEADLY BLOW | Definition: Strong punch that would make you croak
Just a cryptic definition, I think, with the surface trying to bring the drink to mind: not very successfully if you ask me |
Clanger: left out large fixed capital (7) | BELFAST | Definition: capital
BELL (clanger) less L[arge] + FAST (fixed) |
Nothing outstanding, no ring, no spouse! (5) | UNWED | Definition: no spouse
UNOWED ("nothing outstanding") less O (ring-shaped letter) |
Inca dances, led by bird, that didn't go down well (7) | TITANIC | Definition: that didn't go down well
TIT (bird) + INCA |
Building's unprofitable, as well as lacking love (4-2) | LEAN-TO | Definition: Building
LEAN (unprofitable) + TOO (as well) less O |
California-located, hilarious people working together (2,7) | IN CAHOOTS | Definition: working together
IN CA[lifornia] + HOOTS (as in "he's a hoot!") |
Dress put on mature bull (7) | GARBAGE | Definition: bull
GARB + AGE |
Showing an ironic sort of loving care, secret minder fiddled with electronic implant (6,7) | TENDER MERCIES | Definition: an ironic sort of loving care
E[lectronic] in (SECRET MINDER) |
Compact newspaper? That's novel (4,5) | HARD TIMES | Definition: novel
HARD (compact) + TIMES |
Got the wrong idea Adam is too kind at heart (7) | MISTOOK | Definition: Got the wrong idea
Hidden in adaM IS TOO Kind |
City relieving poor Uncle Remus of total raised (7) | LUCERNE | Definition: City
Anagram of UNCLE REMUS less the final MUS, which is the reverse of SUM (total) |
Year after Hugo's first success (7) | VICTORY | Definition: success
VICTOR + Y |
Sweep following round Peeler? (6) | ORANGE | Definition: Peeler
O (round) + RANGE (sweep) |
Louse's elevated state kept under wraps (5) | APHID | Definition: Louse
Reverse of PA (Pennsylvania) + HID |
Stock answer about new and current Bullingdon Club members, say (8) | OXONIANS | Definition: Bullingdon Club members, say
N (new) + I (electric current) in ~~OX (part of the stock on a farm)~~ OXO (stock cube) + ANS. The Bullingdon is a posh drinking club at Oxford University, which famously once had David Cameron and Boris Johnson as members *(Thanks to Roger N for correction) |
Problem in pirouettes after a bad feeling (6) | ANIMUS | Definition: bad feeling
A + reverse of SUM IN |
After husband leaves, kicks ornaments (6) | TRILLS | Definition: ornaments
THRILLS (kicks) less H. Trills are musical ornaments |
Walk out with host, perhaps Oprah Winfrey once (4,4) | TALK SHOW | Definition: perhaps Oprah Winfrey once
(WALK HOST)* – "perhaps" because Oprah's show is an example of a talk show, and "once" because it ended in 2011 |
The way things stand in lawsuits, ignoring the odds (2,2) | AS IS | Definition: The way things stand
The even letters of lAwSuItS |
Without cuts in bread, dug in excitedly (10) | UNABRIDGED | Definition: Without cuts
(BREAD DUG IN) |
Train outside of Eastbourne carrying coin (7) | EDUCATE | Definition: Train
DUCAT (coin) in the "outside" of E[astbourn]E |
Stop calling drummer loudly (4,3) | RING OFF | Definition: Stop calling
RINGO + FF (fortissimo, very loudly) |
Chagall's frame on the next page with plant-like design (10) | CLOVERLEAF | Definition: plant-like design
C[hagal]L + OVERLEAF (on the next page) |
Figure who may inflame aching back (4) | EROS | Definition: Figure who may inflame
Reverse of SORE |
Reviled old rogue? (8) | EVILDOER | Definition: Reviled old rogue
Anagram of REVILED O, &lit |
Person who hates games teacher, last in contest (6) | RABBIT | Definition: Person who hates games
RABBI + [contes]T |
Primitive scourge is polished (6) | URBANE | Definition: polished
UR (original, primitive) + BANE (scourge) |
Absent-minded copper's distinguishing feature (8) | DISTRAIT | Definition: Absent-minded
DI'S TRAIT |
Articulate way of speaking is a plus in post (7,8) | EXPRESS DELIVERY | Definition: a plus in post
EXPRESS (to articulate) + DELIVERY (way of speaking) |
Parliamentarians were on one side of this chair, swivelling around (7,5,3) | ENGLISH CIVIL WAR | Definition: Parliamentarians were on one side of this
(CHAIR SWIVELLING)* – the two sides in the English Civil War were the Parliamentarians and Royalists, or, as *1066 And All That* puts it, the Cavaliers (Wrong but Wromantic) and the Roundheads (Right but Repulsive) |
Before ruler, fathers and sons have to meet the standard (4,6) | PASS MUSTER | Definition: meet the standard
PAS + S + MUST (have to) + ER (ruler) |
Where butt is awfully hot, sat by sunlight (7) | ASHTRAY | Definition: Where butt is
Anagram of (H SAT)* + RAY |
Sacred hearts not breaking any laws (8) | HALLOWED | Definition: Sacred
H[earts] + ALLOWED |
Bachelor poet detailed superficial suffering (5-6,4) | FIRST‑DEGREE BURNS | Definition: superficial suffering
A Bachelor's is a FIRST DEGREE + (Robert) BURN[S]. First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of the skin |
Blunder, as one may in Balmoral? (3,4,4,2,2) | PUT ONE’S FOOT IN IT | Definition: Blunder
Double definition – the Balmoral is type of shoe |
Most unusual, smuggling dope in threatened area (10) | RAINFOREST | Definition: threatened area
INFO (dope) in RAREST |
Pair of journos about to accept shocking rag's disgrace (7) | DEGRADE | Definition: disgrace
RAG* in ED reversed, twice |
Advice unsuited to shy type attending fancy dress party (2,8) | BE YOURSELF | Definition: Advice unsuited to shy type attending fancy dress party
Double/cryptic definition |
Chances of good kids getting half cut (4) | ODDS | Definition: Chances
The second halves of goOD kiDS |
Medical approach entailing silent treatment? (3,2,5) | NIL BY MOUTH | Definition: Medical approach
Double/cryptic definition |
European knocked over loses a necklace (4) | TORC | Definition: necklace
Reverse of CROAT less A |
Actor embodied outcome of Little Bighorn, according to Spooner (6,6) | BUSTER KEATON | Definition: Actor
Spoonerism of "Custer beaten": rather nice, I thought, though the "Custer" part is easy to guess |
Additional indicators (four in all) found in this puzzle (4,5) | PLUS SIGNS | Definition: Additional indicators
The grid has four plus signs formed by black squares |
Old house often mocked in the suburbs (5) | TUDOR | Definition: Old house
Double definition: the House of Tudor, and a reference to the mock-Tudor style of houses found in suburbs |
Serious award given to senior … (5) | SOBER | Definition: Serious
OBE in SR – "given to" is perhaps a slightly dodgy insertion indicator, but I suppose it makes sense; see also 1d |
… evicted, with seller hiding underground (6,3) | TURNED OUT | Definition: evicted
UNDER* (i.e. under "ground") in TOUT (seller) |
Engineer's rig somehow providing power again (2-10) | RE‑ENERGISING | Definition: providing power again
(ENGINEER'S RIG) |
Something Blue gets an occasional Epsom run (4) | PORN | Definition: Something Blue
Alternate letters of ePsOm RuN (with the capitalisation suggesting that Something Blue is the name of a racehorse, as might run at Epsom – as apparently it is) |
Cut line into heart? Funny story that (3,7) | RIB TICKLER | Definition: Funny story
RIB (a cut of meat) + L[ine] in TICKER (heart). Chambers only gives this as hyphenated rather than two words |
Catch Euripides play on vacation (4) | ESPY | Definition: Catch
Outer letters of EuripideS PlaY – i.e. they are emptied or "vacated" |
Gorse and grass running wild — they will become belligerent (10) | AGGRESSORS | Definition: they will become belligerent
(GORSE GRASS) |
Offer to acquire new tie (4) | BIND | Definition: tie
N[ew] in BID (offer) – again, "acquire" is unusual as an insertion indicator, but makes sense |
Cry out for the old record format (4) | YELP | Definition: Cry out
YE (old "the", as in Ye Olde Gifte Shoppe – of course the Y should actually be a thorn) + LP (long-player) |
Insult nurse in conversation — that's fine for you? (2,4,6) | UP YOUR STREET | Definition: that's fine for you
UP YOURS (an insult) + TREET (homophone of "treat", to nurse) |
Small but perfectly formed animal (5) | STOAT | Definition: animal
S + TO A T – the "but" is needed to make the cliché, though it doesn't make much sense in the wordplay |
Busy retailers rarely see one when they open (4,5) | LATE RISER | Definition: rarely see one when they open
RETAILERS* – if you're a late riser then you won't get to the shops until after they're open |
Type of salesman providing non-stop transport service? (4-2-4) | DOOR-TO-DOOR | Definition: Type of salesman
Double definition, though door-to-door transport needn't be non-stop: "direct" might have been better |
Back rank is just not good enough (6-4) | SECOND-RATE | Definition: just not good enough
SECOND (back) + RATE (rank) |
American marines sent here lack preparation (12) | LEATHERNECKS | Definition: American marines
(SENT HERE LACK)* – I didn't know this nickname for the US Marines: it probably comes from an old protective piece of their uniform |
It's often abused by grocers dealing with multiples (10) | APOSTROPHE | Definition: It's often abused by grocers dealing with multiples
Reference to the grocer's (or greengrocer's) apostrophe, as seen on signs such as "apple's and pear's" |
Purchase protection, but may get popped eventually! (6,4) | BUBBLE WRAP | Definition: Purchase protection
Extended definition – bubble wrap can protect your purchases, and you might want to pop it afterwards |
Wins with standard moves (4,5) | GETS GOING | Definition: moves
GETS (wins) + GOING (standard – as in "the going rate", I suppose) |
Very tasty piece raised spirit (5) | SATYR | Definition: spirit
Hidden in reverse of veRY TASty |
She inspired historians starting to chart life in Oxford (4) | CLIO | Definition: She inspired historians
Initial letters of Chart Life In Oxford – Clio is the Muse of History |
Short text describing benefits (4) | PROS | Definition: benefits
PROS[E] |
Random motion of particles when speed is altered (7) | PEDESIS | Definition: Random motion of particles
(SPEED IS)* – I didn't know this alternative name for Brownian motion |
Punishment not supported, basically (7) | HANGING | Definition: Punishment
Double definition – I'm not sure why "basically" is there, unless it's that something hanging is not supported at its base |
Short story about not switching energy (5) | CONTE | Definition: Short story
C (circa, about) + NOT* + E |
Computer entry a pundit corrected (time advanced) (5,4) | INPUT DATA | Definition: Computer entry
(A PUNDIT)* + T[ime] + A[dvanced] |
One, following destruction of Reims, is close to death (2,8) | IN EXTREMIS | Definition: close to death
I NEXT (following) + REIMS |
Extremely insensitive (4) | DEAD | Definition: Extremely
Double definition – for the first, dead = very = extremely |
Very early form of cocaine belonging to French? (5,2,4) | CRACK OF DAWN | Definition: Very early form
CRACK (form of cocaine) + OF DAWN (belonging to comedian D. French) |
Street cred possibly involves a hush-hush manufacturing advantage (5,6) | TRADE SECRET | Definition: hush-hush manufacturing advantage
A in (STREET CRED) |
Still, a reticent person needs a change of heart (4) | CALM | Definition: Still
CLAM (reticent person) with the middle letters reversed |
Reverend's mistake: lovey-dovey type is married (10) | SPOONERISM | Definition: Reverend's mistake
SPOONER (one who spoons) + IS + M |
Old Cicero's untidy file (9) | CROCODILE | Definition: file
(OLD CICERO)* – as in a file of walking children |
Say backing away from offence is a shadowy area (5) | UMBRA | Definition: shadowy area
UMBRAGE (offence) less reverse of E.G. (say) |
'Brummie King' breaks shower dish (7) | RAMEKIN | Definition: dish
ME (the setter, Brummie) + K in RAIN |
Plea from French criminal (7) | DEFENCE | Definition: Plea
DE (French of, from) + FENCE (criminal) |
Excursion — choose to cut both ends off (6) | PICNIC | Definition: Excursion
PIC[k] (choose) + NIC[k] (cut) |
Rough end absorbed by outstanding city (6) | DUNDEE | Definition: city
END* in DUE (outstanding, as in a debt) |
A better means of seeing the sights (10) | SPECTACLES | Definition: A better means of seeing
Double definition |
Do exceptionally well in cutting a Victorian adventure novel (5) | SHINE | Definition: Do exceptionally well
IN in SHE (novel by H Rider Haggard) |
Seasonal worker's dance, a groundbreaker, about to get backing (3-6) | HOP-PICKER | Definition: Seasonal worker
HOP (dance) + PICK ("groundbreaker") + reverse of RE (about) |
Shock over bananas (4) | NUTS | Definition: bananas
Reverse of STUN – I've seen variations of this a few times… |
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