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Painter back exactly between 8 and midday (5) | MANET | Definition: Painter
**Reversal of**(back) [ TEN A.M. ](time of day exactly between 8 a.m. and noon/midday).
Answer: Edouard, French painter. |
Object about island starting to make drone (9) | THRUMMING | Definition: drone
THING(an object that one cannot or does not wish to give a specific name to) **containing**(about) [ RUM(an island in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland) + **1st letter of**(starting to) "make" ].
Defn: …/a continuous low humming sound. |
Actor touches rear briefly by statue (3,6) | THE SPHINX | Definition: statue
THESP(informal term for "thespian", an actor) **plus**(touches) "hind"(the rear/posterior, of a, say, a person) **minus ****its last letter**(briefly) + X(symbol for the multiplication process/by as in "2 by 2 =4") |
Verse typified by poet know it? (5) | RHYME | Definition: Verse
A relationship between words or phrases, an example of which is/typified by the words "poet" and "know it". |
Chatterers in shoe shop maybe full of cold (14) | SCANDALMONGERS | Definition: Chatterers
SANDALMONGER'S(maybe/what you might call a shoe shop selling sandals) **containing**(full of) C(abbrev. for "cold"). |
Start to party with new hot tub at house? (4,3,4,3) | PUSH THE BOAT OUT | Definition: Start to party
**1st letter of**(Start to) "party" **plus**(with) **anagram of**(new) HOT TUB AT HOUSE.
Defn: To throw a party at extravagant expense to celebrate an event – installation of a new hot tub, perhaps). |
One who rebukes husband leaving drink (5) | CIDER | Definition: drink
"chider"(one who rebukes/chides) **minus**(… leaving) "h"(abbrev. for "husband"). |
Idle talk outside of tower with old school class member (9) | GASTROPOD | Definition: class member
GAS(idle talk/hot air) + **1st and last letters of**(outside of) "tower" **plus**(with) O(abbrev. for "old") + POD(collective noun for a herd/school of marine animals, say, whales).
Defn: A member of the class of invertebrate organisms, the Gastropoda, that includes snails, slugs and marine shellfish. |
A fun adult game dressed as big animals (9) | MEGAFAUNA | Definition: big animals
**Anagram of**(… dressed) [A FUN + A(abbrev. for "adult") + GAME]. |
City nearly finished Guide for Walkers (5) | CAIRN | Definition: Guide for Walkers
"Cairns"(city in Queensland, Australia) **minus ****its last letter**(nearly finished).
Defn: A mound/stack of rough stones built as a landmark, serving as a … in the countryside. |
Relentless bridging across Avignon's to pause (7) | NONSTOP | Definition: Relentless
**Hidden in**(bridging across) "Avignon's to pause". |
Seducer twice taking time to see ruler (7) | EMPRESS | Definition: ruler
"temptress"(a female seducer) **minus**(… taking …) **2x**(twice) "t"(abbrev. for "time"). |
Shy around German with good manners (6) | COMITY | Definition: good manners
COY(shy/bashful) **containing**(around) MIT(German for "with").
Defn: … and considerate behaviour towards others. |
Criminals having posted for female convicts (9) | SENTENCES | Definition: convicts
"fences"(criminals who deal in stolen goods) **with** SENT(posted/sent to addressees) **replacing**(having … for) "f"(abbrev. for "female").
Defn: …/declares someone is guilty and states the punishment he/she is to undergo, in a court of law. |
Endlessly recorded and always available (2,3) | ON TAP | Definition: always available
**Last letter deleted from**(Endlessly) "on tape"(recorded on audio or video tape for playing back). |
Bird event most birds would avoid, I'd say (9) | KITTIWAKE | Definition: Bird
, **Homophone of**(…, I'd say) "kitty wake"(whimsically the vigil/wake by other cats for a cat/kitty that has died, and which most birds would avoid because of the presence of their predators). |
Glassware on inside of host's vessel (5) | PYREX | Definition: Glassware
RE(on/about, as in "re your letter of …") **contained in**(inside of) PYX(the container/vessel used in Christian Churches to carry the host/Sacramental bread used in the Holy Communion). |
Mark overwhelmed by silly term "artist" (9) | REMBRANDT | Definition: artist
BRAND(an identifying mark burned on livestock) **contained in**(overwhelmed by) **anagram of**(silly) TERM. |
Instruct headless knights over vacuous foolery (5) | EDIFY | Definition: Instruct
**1st letter deleted from**(headless) "Jedi"(members of the knightly order in the Star Wars films) **placed above**(over, in a down clue) **1st and last letters deleted from**(vacuous) "foolery". |
Clear dirty bits off extremely dire film (8) | DEGREASE | Definition: Clear dirty bits off
**1st and last letters of**(extremely) "dire" + GREASE(1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John). |
Return of trawlerman perhaps before match (3,6) | NET PROFIT | Definition: Return
[ NET PRO ](what one might call/perhaps a trawlerman, an expert/professional at using trawl nets to fish) **placed above**(before, in a down clue) FIT(to match/to suit the requirements). |
Scene on satellite shows bottom part of coast (9) | MOONSCAPE | Definition: Scene on satellite
MOONS(shows/flashes one's bare bottom/rear end) + CAPE(part of coast, specifically, a headland). |
Balance supply of issues periodically (9) | EQUIPOISE | Definition: Balance
EQUIP(to supply with equipment/kit) + **1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th letters of**(… periodically) "of issues".
Defn: … of forces. |
Buzz for one who witnessed a 15 (8) | SPACEMAN | Definition: Buzz for one who witnessed a 15
Cryptic defn: Reference to Buzz Aldrin, one the two American astronauts who first landed on the moon and witnessed the moonscape/answer to 15 across. |
Eye candy gyrating on dais (6) | ADONIS | Definition: Eye candy
**Anagram of**(gyrating) ON DAIS.
Defn: Masculine … |
Prepare to resist chef's exhortation (3,2) | DIG IN | Definition: Prepare to resist,chef's exhortation
Double defn: 1st: …, as in the phrase "dig in your heels"; and 2nd: … to start eating/dig into your food, metaphorically. |
Bad-tempered person finally taking seat (5) | GRUMP | Definition: Bad-tempered person
**Last letter of**(finally) "taking" + RUMP(seat/the hind part of a mammal's body). |
Summary of climbing athlete to follow (5) | RECAP | Definition: Summary
**Reversal of**(climbing, in a down clue) PACER(an athlete who sets a fast pace and whom others follow at the start of a race, to help them achieve a very fast time). |
Occasionally, cell buddies escape (5) | ELUDE | Definition: escape
**2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th letters of**(Occasionally) "cell buddies". |
Meet nurse to consider medical TV show (9) | ENCOUNTER | Definition: Meet
EN(abbrev. for "Enrolled Nurse", a grade of qualified nurses) + COUNT(to consider/to take into account) + ER(the medical TV show, centred around a hospital's Emergency Room/Accidents and Emergencies Department). |
Understand queen's wearing crown lined with fine fabric (9) | PENETRATE | Definition: Understand
[ ER(abbrev. for "Elizabeth Regina"/Queen Elizabeth) **contained in**(…'s wearing) PATE(crown/one's head) ] **containing**(lined with) NET(fine fabric, consisting of yarn joined together with open spaces inbetween).
Defn: …/to gain insight into something complex or mysterious. |
In rehab I treated addiction (5) | HABIT | Definition: addiction
**Hidden in**(In) "rehab I treated". |
Simple crash involving vehicles blocking bridge (7) | SPARTAN | Definition: Simple
RTA(abbrev. for "road traffic accident"/a crash involving vehicles in traffic) **contained in**(blocking) SPAN(to extend from one side to another/to bridge). |
Tools cutting right into driers (7) | TROWELS | Definition: Tools
R(abbrev. for "right") **contained in**(into) TOWELS(pieces of absorbent material to dry wet surfaces/driers). |
Lobby in favour of fencing Yorkshire's border (5) | FOYER | Definition: Lobby
FOR(in favour of/in support of) **containing**(fencing) **1st and last letters of**(…'s border) "Yorkshire".
Defn: …/entrance hall in a building.
The sight as you walk in: |
Excellent soldier leaves coat (3) | MAC | Definition: coat
"magic"(excellent/wonderful and exciting) **minus**(… leaves) "GI"(a solder in the US military).
Defn: A full-length waterproof coat/a mackintosh, called a … in short-form. |
Fanta's first, then open Sprite (5) | FAIRY | Definition: Sprite
**1st letter of**(…'s first) "Fanta" **plus**(then) AIRY(open/spacious and well ventilated).
Defn: …/an imaginary spirit, in folklore. |
Runs with crazy idea, using rap sheets principally to identify looters (7) | RAIDERS | Definition: looters
R(abbrev. for "runs", in cricket scores) **plus**(with) **anagram of**(crazy) IDEA **plus**(using) **1st letters, respectively, of**(… principally) "rap sheets". |
Frightful person drinking vermouth before five brought back dizziness (7) | VERTIGO | Definition: dizziness
**Reversal of**(… brought back) [ OGRE(a frightful person/a monster) **containing**(drinking) IT(informal term for Italian vermouth) **plus**(before) V(Roman numeral for "five") ].
Defn: …/the sensation of being off-balance. |
Stayed in middle of Colditz with English officer (5) | DWELT | Definition: Stayed
**Middle letter of**(middle of Colditz) + W(abbrev. for "with") + E(abbrev. for "English") + LT(abbrev. for "lieutenant", an officer in the armed forces and in other services). |
Long-lasting stain finally covered by rug — it's coloured (9) | CHROMATIC | Definition: coloured
"chronic"(long-lasting/persisting for a long time) + **last letter of**(… finally) "stain" **replaced by**(covered by) MAT(a rug/a piece of material placed on a floor). |
Put together project, securing vote with an attitude (9) | JUXTAPOSE | Definition: Put together
JUT(to project/to extend beyond the main body of something) **containing**(securing) X(symbol used in a vote) **plus**(with) [A POSE](an attitude/a way of sitting or standing for a painting or photograph).
Defn: …/place close together. |
Start chess, ultimately, with pawn (5) | SHOCK | Definition: Start
**Last letter of**(…, ultimately) "chess" **plus**(with) HOCK(to pawn/to deposit a valuable with a pawnbroker as collateral for a loan).
Defn: …/a sudden surprised movement. |
Intense as, say, Jack Palance's debut (4) | DEEP | Definition: Intense
DEE(an example/say someone with that surname is Jack Dee, English comedian, entertainer and writer) + **1st letter of**(…'s debut) "Palance".
And Jack Palance is an American actor, of an older vintage. |
Q & A about uniform on railway creates a dilemma (8) | QUANDARY | Definition: dilemma
Q AND(represented by the & symbol) A **containing**(about) U(abbrev. for "uniform") **placed above**(on, in a down clue) RY(abbrev. for "railway"). |
Jazz age was best, conclusively, for enthusiasm (4) | ZEST | Definition: enthusiasm
**Last letters, respectively, of**(…, conclusively) "Jazz age was best". |
Woman visiting South American country with Mike every year (3,5) | PER ANNUM | Definition: every year
ANN(a woman's name) **contained in**(visiting) PERU(South American country) **plus**(with) M(letter represented by "Mike", in the phonetic alphabet). |
Tolerate mushroom in a cassoulet on vacation (6) | ACCEPT | Definition: Tolerate
CEP(an edible European mushroom) **contained in**(in) [A + **1st and last letters of**(… on vacation) "cassoulet" ]. |
Put Up, Up and Away under film, raising tempo initially, and cause a violent reaction (4,3,3) | PUSH TOO FAR | Definition: cause a violent reaction
**Reversal of**(Put Up, in a down clue) UP **plus**(and) [ FAR(away/separated by distance) **placed below**(under, in a down clue) SHOOT(to film/record with a camera) **with ****1st letter of**(… initially) "tempo" **moved up**(raising …, in a down clue) ]. |
Attempt French for the firm (6) | STABLE | Definition: firm
STAB(an attempt/a go at) + LE(French for "the"). |
Summons determination, making good whiskey (4) | WRIT | Definition: Summons
"grit"(determination/courage and resolve) **with** "g"(abbrev. for "good") **replaced by**(making …) W(letter represented by "whiskey", in the phonetic alphabet).
Defn: A legal … |
Less risky returning in the role of whistle-blower after retirement (5) | SAFER | Definition: Less risky
**Reversal of**(returning) AS(in the role of/being or acting) + **reversal of**(… after retirement) REF(short for "referee", literally the whistle-blower in a match, say, of football). |
Rotten liar's awful driving (10) | TORRENTIAL | Definition: driving
**Anagram of**(…'s awful) ROTTEN LIAR.
Defn: Describing rain falling rapidly and with great force. |
Military unit capturing last of enemy with zero authority (3-2) | SAY-SO | Definition: authority
SAS(abbrev. for the Special Air Service, a special unit in the British Army) **containing**(capturing) **last letter of**(last of) "enemy" **plus**(with) 0(letter representing 0/zero).
Defn; …/the go-ahead. |
Made merry, when Eddy's almost taken in by rogue (8) | CAVORTED | Definition: Made merry
"vortex"(an eddy/a whirling mass of gas or liquid) **minus ****its last letter**(…'s almost) **contained in**(taken in by) CAD(a rogue/a rascal). |
TV and papers ousting leader of party before fight (5,3) | IDIOT BOX | Definition: TV
ID(short for identity papers) + "riot"(a party, specifically an occasion of boisterous merry-making) **minus ****its 1st letter**(ousting leader of …) **plus**(before) BOX(to fight with one's fists).
Defn: Informal term for a … |
Cool chopper that could help to get one up a mountain (3,3) | ICE AXE | Definition: that could help to get one up a mountain
ICE(to cool with ice, such as to mix a drink with ice) + AXE(a chopper/a tool for chopping wood).
This chopper: … and not this cool chopper: |
Field men to support cult (6) | SECTOR | Definition: Field
OR(abbrev. for "other ranks", men in the military who are not commissioned officers) **placed below**(to support, in a down clue) SECT(a cult/a group with a system of beliefs not widely accepted). |
What the tabloids call Boris Johnson when Germany replaces British combat training site (4) | DOJO | Definition: combat training site
"Bojo"(what tabloids call Boris Johnson) **with** "D"(international code for Germany) **replacing**(when … replaces) B(abbrev. for "British").
Defn: …/a room or hall for training exponents of judo and other martial arts. |
Failed in audition for film (4) | MIST | Definition: film
**Homophone of**(… in audition) "missed"(failed/was unable to take advantage of an opportunity).
Defn: …/layer of fine liquid droplets. |
Drug that's acceptable in church? (4) | COKE | Definition: Drug
OK(okay/that's acceptable) **contained in**(in) CE(abbrev. for the Church of England).
Defn: Slang for the …, cocaine. |
Hurry up and get big diaper on son (4,2,6) | MAKE IT SNAPPY | Definition: Hurry up
[MAKE IT](to get/to become big/successful and famous) + [ NAPPY(diaper/napkin of soft absorbent material to absorb a baby's excrement) **placed after**(on) S(abbrev. for "son") ]. |
A reservation about rogue in galleries? (7) | ARCADES | Definition: galleries
A + RES(abbrev. for "reservation"/a booking, say, for hotel accommodation) **containing**(about) CAD(a rogue/a scoundrel). |
Soldier cried briefly, having necked rare port (7) | ANTWERP | Definition: port
ANT(a social animal, one of whose castes is the soldier) + "wept"(cried/shed tears) **minus ****its last letter**(briefly) **containing**(having necked) R(abbrev. for "rare").
Defn: … in Belgium. |
Drunks drinking drop of Caledonian? (5) | SCOTS | Definition: Caledonian
SOTS(drunks/habitual drunkards) **containing**(drinking) **1st letter of**(drop of) "Caledonian".
Defn: Another term for "Scottish"/relating to Scotland and things from there/…. |
Architectural feature on Odeon I'm converting (5,4) | ONION DOME | Definition: Architectural feature
**Anagram of**(… converting) ON ODEON I'M. |
One having three lines listened to stoned fancy (5) | HAIKU | Definition: One having three lines
**Homophone of**(listened to) [ "high"(stoned/under the influence of drugs) + "coo!"(like "fancy!", an exclamation expressing surprise") ].
Defn: A Japanese poem in three lines. |
People often found in The Den ogling wingers? (9) | TWITCHERS | Definition: People often found in The Den ogling wingers?
Cryptic defn: Those to be found in a blind/hideout/den ogling/watching wingers/birds. |
Turning red if Celia throws a paddy (9) | RICEFIELD | Definition: paddy
**Anagram of**(Turning) [RED IF + "Celia" **minus**(throws) "a" ]. |
One in Red Dwarf perhaps getting a step up? (5) | STAIR | Definition: a step up
I(Roman numeral for "one") **contained in**(in) STAR(an example of which/perhaps is a red dwarf/a small, old and relatively cool ball of burning gas in space). |
Haughty Hoskins is dangerous, but not ultimately evil (9) | IMPERIOUS | Definition: Haughty
I'M("I am"/ this setter, Hoskins is, self-referentially) + "perilous"(dangerous/risky) **minus ****last letter of**(but not ultimately) "evil". |
A setter enthralling foremost of newspapers? (5) | ANGEL | Definition: A setter
A + GEL(setter/a liquid substance that sets/turns into a semi-solid state) **contained in**(enthralling) **1st letter of**(foremost of) "newspapers".
Defn: Name of … of crosswords in The Independent (which some might say is the foremost of newspapers). |
With smells around, smell trainers? (7) | REEBOKS | Definition: trainers
REEKS(smells strongly and unpleasantly/stinks) **containing**(With … around) BO(abbrev. for "body odour", unpleasant sweaty body smell).
Defn: Footwear, including trainers, produced by Reebok International Limited. |
Joints engineers knocked back in Sandbanks (7) | REEFERS | Definition: Joints
**Reversal of**(… knocked back) RE(abbrev. for the Royal Engineers, a unit in the British military) **contained in**(in) REEFS(sandbanks/ridges of sand just above or below the sea surface).
Defn: …/cannabis cigarettes. |
Might you say American as Barack Obama? (12) | STATESPERSON | Definition: Might you say American,Barack Obama?
Double defn: 1st: Whom you might call/say is call a person from the United States/an American; and 2nd: A politician who is a leader in national or international affairs, an accolade you might give President Barack Obama. |
Butch old lady sits on church official's head (5) | MACHO | Definition: Butch
MA(like "old lady", a familiar term for one's mother) **placed above**(sits on, in a down clue) CH(abbrev. for "church") + **1st letter of**(…'s head) "official". |
Immature beasts ruin child's play (4,5) | KIDS’ STUFF | Definition: child's play
KIDS(immature beasts, specifically young goats) + STUFF(informal term for alcohol or drugs – which could be one's ruin/something that ruins one's life, as in the old days when "gin was mother's ruin" – I guess). |
Where liquor-drinking drunk might find solace briefly (2,5) | IN SHORT | Definition: briefly
Where a drunk might find solace, viz. in a short/a drink of liquor in small measure. |
Language so wantonly awful hussar is left incensed at front (7) | SWAHILI | Definition: Language
**1st letters, respectively, of**(… at front) "so wantonly awful hussar is left incensed". |
A criminal casing back of flat in London district (5) | ACTON | Definition: London district
A + CON(short for "convict", a criminal) **containing**(casing) **last letter of**(back of) "flat". |
Remarkable events men phone up about at summit (9) | PHENOMENA | Definition: Remarkable events
**Anagram of**(… up about) MEN PHONE + **1st letter of**(… summit, in a down clue) "at". |
Predatory flapper is cruel bride, Spooner said (5,7) | MARSH HARRIER | Definition: Predatory flapper
**Spoonerism of**(Spooner said) [ "harsh"(cruel/pitiless) "marrier"(a bride/one who is about to marry). |
Don't give so many orgasms? That's no fun! (12) | PLEASURELESS | Definition: no fun
[PLEASURE LESS](to give less pleasure to your partner in terms of the number of orgasms, ie. fewer/not so many orgasms). |
Just starting nice pint (I must get trashed) (9) | INCIPIENT | Definition: Just starting
**Anagram of**(… must get trashed) NICE PINT (I. |
Actors like being around ten flipping clappers (9) | CASTANETS | Definition: clappers
CAST(the set of actors in a play or film) + AS(like/similar to, as in similes) **containing**(around) **reversal of**(… flipping) TEN.
Defn: … clicked by the fingers: |
Say love is nursing street people with swollen heads (7) | EGOISTS | Definition: people with swollen heads
EG(abbrev. for "exempli gratia"/for example/say) + O(letter representing 0/"love" in tennis scores) + IS **containing**(nursing) ST(abbrev. for "street"). |
Merit editor's upset and be a man! (7) | DESERVE | Definition: Merit
**Reversal of**( , in a down clue) ED(abbrev. for "editor") **plus**(and) SERVE(to be a man/manservant and serve/attend to your employer). |
Search hard around south for a place to sleep (5) | ROOST | Definition: a place to sleep
ROOT(to search hard/to rummage) **containing**(around) S(abbrev. for "south). |
Emerald, perhaps one with a hole in it? (5) | GREEN | Definition: Emerald, perhaps,one with a hole in it
Double defn: 1st: … is a shade/perhaps of this colour; and 2nd: …, out of eighteen in a regulation golf course. |
Heed secretary initially desiring thing for scribbling (7) | NOTEPAD | Definition: thing for scribbling
NOTE(to heed/to pay attention to) + PA(abbrev. for "personal assistant", aka "secretary") + **1st letter of**
(initially) "desiring". |
Cop, say, getting agitated about last part of controversial Caribbean song (7) | CALYPSO | Definition: Caribbean song
**Anagram of**(…, getting) COP, SAY **containing**(about) **last letter of**(last part of) "controversial". |
Chapter by English poet is easy to understand (5) | CLEAR | Definition: easy to understand
C(abbrev. for "chapter") **plus**(by) LEAR(Edward, English poet known for his literary nonsense). |
Leaden cop messed up a means of controlling crime (5,4) | PENAL CODE | Definition: a means of controlling crime
**Anagram of**(… messed up) LEADEN COP. |
Retired group touring Paris, perhaps as a climax (2,3,2,3) | TO CAP IT ALL | Definition: as a climax
**Reversal of**(Retired) LOT(a group of similar items) **containing**(touring) CAPITAL(the city that is the seat of government of a nation, such as/perhaps Paris is). |
Part of formal inspectorate in here in Africa (4) | MALI | Definition: here in Africa
**Hidden in**(Part of) "formal inspectorate".
Defn: …, ie. an African country. |
Artist much appreciated struggle by the French to defend refined dish of theirs (11) | RATATOUILLE | Definition: dish of theirs
RA(abbrev. for for an artist who is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts) + TA!(short for "Thank you!"/"Much appreciated!") + TOIL(a struggle/a hardship) **plus**(by) LE(French for the article "the") **containing**(to defend) U(letter denoting things refined/upper class).
Defn: …/of the French, perhaps prepared by a rodent chef of the same name: |
Go with person, say, after work to find cheap cafe (6,5) | GREASY SPOON | Definition: cheap cafe
**Anagram of**(…, after work) [GO **plus**(with) PERSON, SAY]. |
Right-winger in Barking breaking valuable material is monstrous type (4) | OGRE | Definition: monstrous type
**Last letter of**(Right-winger in, in an across clue) "Barking" **contained in**(breaking) ORE(valuable material from which even more valuable substances are extracted).
An atypical monstrous type: |
Foot expert is pictured at work (10) | PEDICURIST | Definition: Foot expert
**Anagram of**(… at work) IS PICTURED. |
Description of second person's past military command? (2,3,4) | AS YOU WERE | Definition: Description of second person's past,military command
Double defn: 1st: Describing the state of you(the second person pronoun) in the past; and 2nd: … to soldiers to return to their previous position. |
Subsets and Splits