Clue
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| Answer
stringlengths 3
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| Explanation
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|---|---|---|
A Yardie's ground, supposedly (1,4,3) | I DARE SAY | Definition: supposedly
(A YARDIE'S) |
Shielding us, having disposed of a large sum of cash (8) | GUARDING | Definition: Shielding
GUARDIAN (us) less the second A + G (a grand – £1000) |
Dicky, given article and box, improvised (3,3,4) | OFF THE CUFF | Definition: improvised
OFF (dicky – in poor condition) + THE (article) + CUFF (to box) |
Revocation of a legacy, one associated with Piedmont organisation (9) | ADEMPTION | Definition: Revocation of a legacy
A + PIEDMONT* – another new word for me, from "adeem", which Chambers defines as "to cancel (a bequest) by destruction or sale of the thing bequeathed" |
Racer shares coach (5,3) | STOCK CAR | Definition: Racer
STOCK (shares in a company) + CAR (coach, e.g. of a train) |
Here are the ins and outs of a large office (8) | MAILROOM | Definition: Here are the ins and outs of a large office
Cryptic definition |
Historian, a big swinger (6) | GIBBON | Definition: Historian
Double definition – Edward Gibbon of the *The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire |
Run through one's barrier (6) | IMPALE | Definition: Run through
I'M (one is) + PALE (fence, barrier) |
One and minus one, continuously (2,3) | ON END | Definition: continuously
ONE + AND less A (one) |
Diamond tip (4) | ROCK | Definition: Diamond
Double definition, with tip=rock as verbs |
Maps Congo randomly like this for small dinosaur (13) | COMPSOGNATHUS | Definition: small dinosaur
(MAPS CONGO)* + THUS |
A group singing hearts out for The Sweet Flag (6) | ACORUS | Definition: The Sweet Flag
A CHORUS less H |
Part of buckle, e.g. Sam Browne's end piece? (5) | CHAPE | Definition: Part of buckle
CHAP (Sam is an example of a man's name) + [Brown]E |
Form of riata in leather, typical of steppe-dwellers? (8) | TATARIAN | Definition: typical of steppe-dwellers
RIATA* in TAN |
Vehicle on end of tail – waits may give you this (5) | CAROL | Definition: waits may give you this
CAR + O (on) + [tai]L – waits are carol-singers |
What may be shown by fancier fa-la isn't tremolo (8) | FANTAILS | Definition: What may be shown by fancier
(FA-LA ISN'T) |
What's sacred to Hindus leaving its source in the Himalaya etc? (6) | RANGES | Definition: the Himalaya etc
R[iver] [G]ANGES |
Tackle rings engineers dipped in solvent liquid (7) | TERRETS | Definition: Tackle rings
RE in TERTS (tetrachloroethylene, a solvent) |
Natural amphitheatres created by state of affairs, we hear (7) | CIRQUES | Definition: Natural amphitheatres
Homophone of "circs", slang shortening of "circumstances"; when I've had cause to use this word (I'd be more likely to use the Gaelic-derived "corrie") I've pronounced it in French style as "seerk", but Chambers only gives the anglicised version |
Mum has added salt with a spicy dish (6) | MASALA | Definition: spicy dish
MA + SAL + A |
Decorated with distinction that's overdue when it's about waste conveyor (8) | LAUREATE | Definition: Decorated with distinction
UREA in LATE |
Bony girls I fancy, odd ones being ignored (5) | ILIAC | Definition: Bony
Even letters of gIrLs I fAnCy |
I look masculine in unit of light or dull brown (8) | PHILOMOT | Definition: dull brown
I + LO + M in PHOT – I got myself into trouble by carelessly entering PHILAMOT here, as it works equally well; both spellings are variants of "filemot", from French *feuillemorte* = dead leaf |
Nursemaid, girl getting in a state (5) | NANNY | Definition: Nursemaid
ANN in NY |
Pineal shaped plant of upland regions (6) | ALPINE | Definition: plant of upland regions
PINEAL |
Part of abdomen cradling hot rubbery bottle, portable (usually large) (13) | GHETTO-BLASTER | Definition: portable (usually large)
H + BOTTLE* in GASTER (part of an insect's abdomen) |
Training with computers, very good for processing crude petroleum (11) | CAT-CRACKING | Definition: processing crude petroleum
CAT (Computer-Assisted Training) + CRACKING (very good) |
Learns flying with this light plane – on thermals (4) | MOTH | Definition: light plane
Composite anagram: LEARNS + MOTH is an anagram of ON THERMALS |
Blitz causing painful sensation round centre of Liverpool (5) | PRANG | Definition: Blitz
[Live]R[pool] in PANG |
One browsing, gaining in confidence about folio (6) | SURFER | Definition: One browsing
F[olio] in SURER |
It was a time of idleness, accepted behaviour with ten relaxing inside (7) | NON-TERM | Definition: It was a time of idleness
TEN* in NORM |
Hat rim damaged? Jock's may make a twang (6) | THAIRM | Definition: Jock's may make a twang
(HAT RIM) |
Powerful two-wheeler difficult daughter's abandoned on field (6) | HARLEY | Definition: Powerful two-wheeler
HARD less D + LEY |
What makes the eccentric fret, artless? No crank, certainly (11) | SELF-STARTER | Definition: No crank, certainly
(FRET ARTLESS) |
Intriguing group in California, not well after a ruin (9) | CAMARILLA | Definition: Intriguing group
A MAR (ruin) ILL in CA |
Mail carrier landed up for it in place (9) | POSTILION | Definition: Mail carrier
POSITION (place) with reverse of LIT replacing IT |
Rag-and-bone man, last to get central position, plunging straight down (7) | STEEP-TO | Definition: plunging straight down
STEPTOE with the last E moved to the middle |
Whence silk producers emerge, embroidering REGINA (6) | GRAINE | Definition: Whence silk producers emerge
REGINA |
English propeller e.g. on the Broads, device for gauging planetary movement (6) | EQUANT | Definition: device for gauging planetary movement
E + QUANT (punting pole) |
Mater's mantle round Spain, producing archetypal local dish? (6) | PAELLA | Definition: archetypal local dish
E (Spain) in PALLA (a Roman woman's mantle – hence the "mater") |
Seamen's clothes and bedding yielding old coppers (5) | SLOPS | Definition: Seamen's clothes and bedding
Double definition: "clothes and bedding issued to sailors", and old slang for policemen (coppers). My mistake at 29a made me nearly give up on this when I couldn't make anything reasonable out of S?APS |
In love, X scratched, mark in red (4) | SMIT | Definition: mark in red
SMITTEN (in love) less TEN (X) |
Relic I discovered in a rooftop crater (8) | ARCHAISM | Definition: Relic
I in A + R[oof] + CHASM |
Camp site oddly in the style of golf (6) | STALAG | Definition: Camp
Odd letters of SiTe + A LA G |
Weapon caused the sad end of Robert the Bruce (9) | TREBUCHET | Definition: Weapon
Anagram of [Rober]T THE BRUCE |
Little time lost amongst all that apprehension (5) | ANGST | Definition: apprehension
AMONGST less MO (moment) |
Green art evolved first sort of nursery (12) | KINDERGARTEN | Definition: nursery
KIND (sort) + (GREEN ART) |
Solo flight from German city is completed (4) | OVER | Definition: completed
HANOVER (German City) less HAN (Han Solo, character in the *Star Wars* films) |
'e by gum, camping? Having covered skin (10) | INTEGUMENT | Definition: skin
E by (beside) GUM in (covered by) IN TENT (camping) |
A ruse deployed by Ottoman retreat round a pickle (10) | SAUERKRAUT | Definition: pickle
(A RUSE)* + A in reverse of TURK (Ottoman) |
Break item? (4,4) | FREE TIME | Definition: Break
A "reverse anagram": TIME "freed" gives you ITEM |
Angry with contemporary conflicting tendency (12) | CROSSCURRENT | Definition: conflicting tendency
CROSS (angry) + CURRENT (contemporary) – Chambers only gives this as hyphenated cross-current, but other online sources have it as a single word |
Appearing shocked by deficit in part of hospital (5) | AGAPE | Definition: Appearing shocked
GAP (deficit) in A[ccident and] E[mergency] |
Wild flower from the Guardian is spotted in Leeds, perhaps (9) | EDELWEISS | Definition: Wild flower
WE (The Guardian) IS in LEEDS |
Substitute for 'taser' may be 'tazer', essentially (6) | ERSATZ | Definition: Substitute
TASER* + [ta]Z[er]. "Taser" is actually an acronym: from "Thomas A. Swift Electronic Rifle" |
Greedily eating suet pudding? Nothing French in that! (8) | ESURIENT | Definition: Greedily eating
RIEN (French "nothing") in SUET |
Fat cello playing? This is for viola! (4,4) | ALTO CLEF | Definition: This is for viola
(FAT CELLO)* – music for viola normally uses the alto clef |
Mummy's God transformed Nubia's black dog (6) | ANUBIS | Definition: Mummy's God
NUBIAS* – Anubis is an ancient Egyptian god (hence "Mummy's"), depicted as a man with with a black canine head |
Perverse pleasure in South African country having a dodgy referendum after scrapping borders (13) | SCHADENFREUDE | Definition: Perverse pleasure
S + CHAD (African country) + anagram of [r]EFERENDU[m] |
The Alamo, USA, most of all a vital relay station (8) | THALAMUS | Definition: vital relay station
TH[e] ALAM[o] US[a} – the Thalamus is an area in the brain "allowing hub-like exchanges of information." |
Girl has yet to travel a very long way (5,5) | LIGHT YEARS | Definition: a very long way
(GIRL HAS YET)* – I would hyphenate this: Chambers and other sources agree with me |
Ravel, go away (3,7) | GET KNOTTED | Definition: Ravel
Double definition |
Next clue needs this for a diarist's age (5,8) | THREE QUARTERS | Definition: Next clue needs this for a diarist's age
A reference to Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, the next clue being 13 |
Devote one's car etc for recycling (10) | CONSECRATE | Definition: Devote
(ONE'S CAR ETC) |
Bordeaux's appealing twice about a sweet top wine (10) | BEAUJOLAIS | Definition: wine
A in BEAU JOLI (two French words describing attractiveness) + S[weet] |
Future is mine (8) | PROSPECT | Definition: Future
Double definition – a noun and a verb |
We rang about a rodent (6) | GNAWER | Definition: a rodent
(WE RANG) |
Look here's ship entering port empty (4) | PSST | Definition: Look here
SS (Steam Ship) in P[or]T |
Old queen's honest with diarist (4,5) | ANNE FRANK | Definition: diarist
ANNE (old queen) + FRANK (honest) |
Core of world back to front (5) | HEART | Definition: Core
EARTH with the last letter moved to the front |
Poet recounts fifth item found on beach (7) | SHELLEY | Definition: Poet
Homophone (..ish) of SHELL E, which would be found after shell A, shell B, … |
Rolling Stone caught by Mr Big? Very! (7) | MONSTER | Definition: Big? Very!
STONE* in MR |
Reportedly, get lost pastry (5) | CHOUX | Definition: pastry
Homophone of "shoo!" (get lost!) |
They're involved in father's Star Trek battle — once timeless (9) | PARTAKERS | Definition: They're involved
PA (father) + anagram of STAR TREK less one T ("once timeless") |
Choose over Charlie or Michael involving a branch of science (15) | ELECTROCHEMICAL | Definition: involving a branch of science
ELECT (choose) + anagram of (C OR MICHAEL) |
Director left at the end holding hard part of shoe (5,4) | SPIKE HEEL | Definition: part of shoe
H[ard] in SPIKE LEE (director) with the L moved to the end – another name for a stiletto heel |
Encounters aliens on Earth following Martian leader (5) | MEETS | Definition: Encounters
M + E[arth] + ETS (extra-terrestrials) |
Revolutionary recalls loathing for large cat (7) | CHEETAH | Definition: large cat
CHE (Guevara) + reverse of HATE |
Starts to smoke, eventually saw someone tranquillised (7) | SEDATED | Definition: tranquillised
First letters of S[moke] E[ventually] + DATED (saw someone) |
Doubles taken from physicist's mug (5) | STEIN | Definition: mug
EINSTEIN less the first EIN, which is duplicated at the end |
To ensure sufficient funds remain below interest (9) | UNDERDRAW | Definition: To ensure sufficient funds remain
UNDER (below) + DRAW (something interesting). Chambers only gives the definitions "To draw or describe with moderation or reticence or short of the truth; To cover the underside of with boards or lath and plaster", but online sources also define it as a kind of opposite of the more familiar "overdraw" |
Pillagers back up to eat snack prepared by Saxon's chief (10) | RANSACKERS | Definition: Pillagers
SNACK* in reverse of REAR (back) + S[axon] |
Change 11p over old cover? (8) | ENVELOPE | Definition: cover
Anagram of ELEVEN P O[ver] |
Alternative fuel overwhelms fellow with unknown discharge (6) | EFFLUX | Definition: discharge
F in FUEL* + X(unknown) |
Woman to wed right away (4) | MARY | Definition: Woman
MARRY less one R |
Heavens above! On another planet 2001 computer is law enforcer (3,7) | SKY MARSHAL | Definition: law enforcer
SKY (the heavens above) + MARS + HAL (computer in the film *2001: A Space Odyssey*) |
Has tan spoiled in afternoon shadow? (8) | PHANTASM | Definition: shadow
(HAS TAN)* in P.M. |
Keep players on leg-side boundaries (6) | CASTLE | Definition: Keep
CAST (players) + the outer letters ("boundaries") of L[eg-sid]E |
Teacher admits time in prison (4) | STIR | Definition: prison
T in SIR (teacher) |
Titan unearthed in built-up Rome? The usual! (10) | PROMETHEUS | Definition: Titan
Hidden in built-uP ROME THE USual |
Climbing mountains with quiet descent on landing (10) | SPLASHDOWN | Definition: landing
Reverse of ALPS + SH (quiet!) + DOWN (descent) |
During Great Revolt, we English can be using social media (8) | TWEETING | Definition: using social media
WE E TIN in reverse of GT |
Animal around and about, adult male's lost (8) | CREATURE | Definition: Animal
C (circa, around) + RE (about) + MATURE less M |
Every so often big cheat began to drink (3,3) | ICE TEA | Definition: drink
Alternate letters of bIg ChEaT bEgAn |
Up-to-date style worn by sailors (6) | MODERN | Definition: Up-to-date
MODE + RN (Royal Navy, sailors) |
In court, large expense (4) | COST | Definition: expense
OS (outsize, large) in CT |
Rising troubles with this kind of bread (4) | SODA | Definition: kind of bread
Reverse of ADOS |
Charlotte races about in this? (7,7) | CHELSEA TRACTOR | Definition: Charlotte races about in this
(CHARLOTTE RACES)* &lit – Chelsea tractors are the oversized cars stereotypically driven in some affluent areas |
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