Clue
stringlengths 6
133
| Answer
stringlengths 3
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
888
|
|---|---|---|
A pain that doesn't end in wicked old form of torture (9)
|
BASTINADO
|
A pain that doesn't end in wicked old form of torture (9)
**A STIN**(g) ("a pain" *that doesn't end*) *in* **BAD** ("wicked") + **O**(ld)
|
Flower given to darling creates effect (7)
|
EXECUTE
|
Flower given to darling creates effect (7)
**EXE** (river, so "flower", ie that which flows) + **CUTE** ("darling")
|
Chair for shoppers is broken (13)
|
PROFESSORSHIP
|
Chair for shoppers is broken (13)
*(for shoppers is)
|
Having a problem walking, maybe, being dismissed? Oval is enthralled (3-6)
|
BOW-LEGGED
|
Having a problem walking, maybe, being dismissed? Oval is enthralled (3-6)
**BOWLED** ("dismissed", in cricket) with **EGG** ("oval") *enthralled
|
One neat, newly delivered young infant (7)
|
NEONATE
|
One neat, newly delivered young infant (7)
*(one neat)
|
Main thoroughfare invaded by visitor from space? (7)
|
SALIENT
|
Main thoroughfare invaded by visitor from space? (7)
**St.** (street, so "thoroughfare") *invaded by* **ALIEN** ("visitor from space")
|
Woman is pretty in fancy hat (7)
|
TABITHA
|
Woman is pretty in fancy hat (7)
**A BIT** ("pretty") *in* *(hat)
|
Film director's ’aughtiness (6)
|
AUTEUR
|
Film director's ’aughtiness (6)
(h)**AUTEUR** (haughtiness without the "H")
|
Vitality of revolutionary always having internal resistance (5)
|
VERVE
|
Vitality of revolutionary always having internal resistance (5)
*(ever") with **V** (versus, so "resistance) inside (indicated by *internal*)
|
Too right I hold with Indian cooking! (8)
|
TANDOORI
|
Too right I hold with Indian cooking! (8)
**TOO** + **R**(ight) + **I** *holding* **AND** ("with")
|
Almost everyone's entertained by a little opera (6)
|
SALOME
|
Almost everyone's entertained by a little opera (6)
**AL**(l) (*almost* "everyone") *entertained by* **SOME** ("a little")
Salome* is a one-act Richard Strauss opera.
|
Name wayward son seen making moonshine (8)
|
NONSENSE
|
Name wayward son seen making moonshine (8)
N(ame) + *(son seen)
|
Rubbish heap overshadows centre of Stafford (6)
|
PIFFLE
|
Rubbish heap overshadows centre of Stafford (6)
**PILE** ("heap") *overshadws* (sta)**FF**(ord)
|
Spy English teacher fairly regularly (8)
|
EMISSARY
|
Spy English teacher fairly regularly (8)
**E**(nglish) + **MISS** ("teacher") + (f)**A**(i)**R**(l)**Y
|
Transfer rickety boxes of iron (6)
|
FERRIC
|
Transfer rickety boxes of iron (6)
Hdden in (indicated by *boxes*) "trans**FER RIC**kety"
|
Rakes in close to fortune working with B-lister (10)
|
LIBERTINES
|
Rakes in close to fortune working with B-lister (10)
*(in E b-lister), where the E is (fortun)E (*close to* fortune)
|
Bold American follows officer around these days (10)
|
COURAGEOUS
|
Bold American follows officer around these days (10)
**US** ("american") *follows* **C.O.** (commanding "officer") *around* OUR AGE ("these days"), so **C(OUR AGE)O-US
|
Not the trendy group, for a start (6)
|
OUTSET
|
Not the trendy group, for a start (6)
**OUT** ("not trendy") + **SET** ("group")
|
Close by hotel with no locks? (8)
|
HAIRLESS
|
Close by hotel with no locks? (8)
**AIRLESS** ("close") *by* **H**(otel)
|
New mark in test achieves standard (6)
|
NORMAL
|
New mark in test achieves standard (6)
**N**(ew) + **M**(ark) *in* **ORAL** ("test")
|
A depression grabs the woman's admirer (8)
|
ADHERENT
|
A depression grabs the woman's admirer (8)
**A DENT** ("depression") *grabs* **HER** ("the woman's")
|
After long year missing, journalist is brought home (6)
|
EARNED
|
After long year missing, journalist is brought home (6)
*After* (y)**EARN** ("long" with Y(ear) *missing*), **ED**(itor) ("journalist")
|
A rare dog barking? Could be violence on the way (4,4)
|
ROAD RAGE
|
A rare dog barking? Could be violence on the way (4,4)
*(a rare dog)
|
Decorative stuff can retail with a pound off (6)
|
TINSEL
|
Decorative stuff can retail with a pound off (6)
**TIN** ("can") + **SEL**(l) ("retail" *with a pound* (L) *off*)
|
Sister company welcomes one messenger (6)
|
NUNCIO
|
Sister company welcomes one messenger (6)
**NUN** ("sister") + **CO**(mpany) *welcomes* **I** ("one")
|
Everything bright, presumably, for City (6)
|
ODENSE
|
Everything bright, presumably, for City (6)
If everything is bright, nothing (**O**) will be **DENSE
|
Measured pressure in wind instrument (10)
|
RESTRAINED
|
Measured pressure in wind instrument (10)
**STRAIN** ("pressure") *in* **REED** ("wind instrument")
|
Liqueur drunk neat? I decline to go into that (8)
|
ANISETTE
|
Liqueur drunk neat? I decline to go into that (8)
**I SET** ("decline") in *(neat)
|
Gift from European band (8)
|
OFFERING
|
Gift from European band (8)
**OFF** ("from") + **E**(uropean) + **RING **("band")
|
Stopping duty free endlessly turned to trouble (8)
|
EXERCISE
|
Stopping duty free endlessly turned to trouble (8)
**EXCISE** ("duty") *stopped* by <=(f)**RE**(e) (*endlessly turned*)
|
Leave before breakfast and dash (3-2-3-2)
|
GET-UP-AND-GO
|
Leave before breakfast and dash (3-2-3-2)
If you get up and go, presumably you'd miss breakfast.
|
Charlie's enthralled by surgeon wiggling bum (8)
|
SCROUNGE
|
Charlie's enthralled by surgeon wiggling bum (8)
**C**(harlie) *enthralled by* *(surgeon)
|
Primarily murmuring speaker? (8)
|
MUTTERER
|
Primarily murmuring speaker? (8)
**M**(urmuring) + **UTTERER** ("speaker") and &lit.
|
Cut price of delicate material? (8)
|
LACERATE
|
Cut price of delicate material? (8)
LACE ("delicate material") + RATE ("price")
|
Devotee captures queen, leading to mate (6)
|
FRIEND
|
Devotee captures queen, leading to mate (6)
**FIEND** ("devotee") *captures* **R** ("queen")
|
The man nearly advanced on a woman (6)
|
HELENA
|
The man nearly advanced on a woman (6)
**HE** ("the man") + **LEN**(t) (*nearly* "advanced") *on* **A
|
Fly east from France, returning twice (6)
|
TSETSE
|
Fly east from France, returning twice (6)
<=**EST** + **EST **(French for "east", *returning* *twice*)
|
Ma isn't in Sacramento, but weirdly great-grandma is (8)
|
ANCESTOR
|
Definition: great-grandma
*(sacrento) ("Sacramento" without MA)
|
Sadness as chap brought back tailless bird (6)
|
REGRET
|
Definition: Sadness
**REG** ("chap") + <=**TER**(n) (*tailless* "bird", *brought back*)
|
Official found in Job Centre every day (5)
|
REEVE
|
Definition: Official
Found in "cent**RE** **EVE**ry"
|
No French participant is out of contention (3-6)
|
NON-RUNNER
|
Definition: out of contention
NON ("No" in French) + RUNNER ("participant")
|
Address refurbishment, having no time off (7)
|
ORATION
|
Definition: Address
(rest)ORATION ("refurbishment"). "Having no time off" indicates "no rest"
|
Towards what end does cab driver need such knowledge? (5,2)
|
WHERE TO
|
Definition: Towards what end
(Not terribly) cryptic definition
|
It's about bag of sweets, not that everyone would agree (2,5,3,5)
|
IT TAKES ALL SORTS
|
Definition: not that everyone would agree
Cryptic definition? (Liquorice) ALLSORTS are a bag of sweets.
|
Date with stranger musician (7)
|
DRUMMER
|
Definition: musician
**D**(ate) *with* **RUMMER** ("stranger")
|
Japanese drama works without ending but is a total failure (2-5)
|
NO-HOPER
|
Definition: a total failure
**NOH** ("Japanese drama") + **OPER**(a) ("works" *without ending*)
|
Halfway house is pretty within (2-7)
|
IN-BETWEEN
|
Definition: Halfway
**INN** (public "house") with **BE** ("is"?) +** TWEE** ("pretty") *within
|
Reconcile Roger to having kept back a little souvenir (5)
|
RELIC
|
Definition: souvenir
Hidden backwards in "Recon**CILE R**oger"
|
Judges fruit, so we're told (6)
|
GAUGES
|
Definition: Judges
Homophone of **GAGES** ("fruit")
|
Determine new teatimes (8)
|
ESTIMATE
|
Definition: Determine
*(teatimes)
|
Admit idling for a change; that's pretty average (4,2,8)
|
FAIR TO MIDDLING
|
Definition: pretty average
*(admit idling for)
|
Complaint by phone company, maintaining Czech Republic to a degree (6)
|
ECZEMA
|
Definition: Complaint
**EE** (mobile "phone company), *maintaining* **CZ** ("Czech Republic") *to* **MA** ("a degree"), so **E(CZ)E-MA
|
Star flower is found on end of sidewalk (8)
|
ASTERISK
|
Definition: Star
**ASTER** ("flower") **IS** + (sidewal)**K
|
Get two dinners delivered in London SW1 (7,6)
|
DOWNING STREET
|
Definition: in London SW1
*(get two dinners)
|
Continue with summary (6)
|
RESUME
|
Definition: Continue with
Double definition
|
Glory that would be Greece with no end of cash (8)
|
GRANDEUR
|
Definition: Glory
**GR** ("Greece") + **AND** ("with") + **EUR**(o) ("cash" with *no end*))
|
Fearful blunders deceive a number outside (6-8)
|
TERROR-STRICKEN
|
Definition: Fearful
**ERRORS** ("blunders") **TRICK** ("deceive") with **TEN** ("a number") *outside
|
Swiss blend non-toxic but causes problems with vision (4-9)
|
SNOW-BLINDNESS
|
Definition: problems with vision
*(swiss blend non)
|
Box containing British Standard gets universal sign of approval (6,2)
|
THUMBS-UP
|
Definition: sign of approval
**THUMP** ("box") *containing* **B**(ritish) **S**(tandard) +** U**(niversal)
|
Shifty pros hide ball that's not completely round (8)
|
SPHEROID
|
Definition: ball that's not completely round
*(pros hide)
|
Enid starts to follow, hand in glove (6)
|
MITTEN
|
Definition: glove
**EN**(id) *to follow* **MITT** ("hand")
|
Support community stalwart (6)
|
PILLAR
|
Definition: Support
Double definition
|
Dad's trouble returning, male truly lacking ultimate yen (10)
|
POPODAMVER
|
Dad's trouble returning, male truly lacking ultimate yen (10)
**POP** ("dad") + <=**ADO** ("trouble", *returning*) + **M**(ale) + **VER**(y) ("truly", *lacking ultimate* y(en))
POPOVER – dessert / DAM – coin
|
Oysters copper consumed in Teresa's place (7)
|
AVICULA
|
Oysters copper consumed in Teresa's place (7)
**Cu** ("copper") *in* **AVILA** ("Teresa's place")
|
Bantu language that latterly is observed in London district (5)
|
SOTHO
|
Bantu language that latterly is observed in London district (5)
(tha)**T** *observed in* **SOHO** ("London district")
|
Kiss cheek (4)
|
NECK
|
Kiss cheek (4)
Double definition
|
Colt skirting trees growing wild, jungly (9)
|
FORESTEAL
|
Colt skirting trees growing wild, jungly (9)
**FOAL** ("colt") *skirting* *(trees)
|
Drive work on loosed individual game dogs (8)
|
DROPPERS
|
Drive work on loosed individual game dogs (8)
**Dr**(ive) + **Op.** ("work") + **PERS**(on – "individual with ON loosed")
*Droppers are game dogs who drop to the ground when they spy game.
|
It may be hard to administer when one of pair leaves (5)
|
HAPLY
|
It may be hard to administer when one of pair leaves (5)
**H**(ard) + **AP**(p)**PLY **("administer" *when one of a pair* (of Ps) *leaves*)
|
Article about shortened length of spore-cases (6)
|
THECAL
|
Article about shortened length of spore-cases (6)
**THE** ("article) + **ca**. (circa, so "about") + **E** (length?)
|
Hamper stuff for Jock must include opener for Merlot (5)
|
CRAMP
|
Hamper stuff for Jock must include opener for Merlot (5)
**CRAP** ("stuff" in Scots, ie "for Jock") *must include* **M**(erlot)
|
Trilby maybe seen in town, oddly nondescript thing (7)
|
WHATNOT
|
Trilby maybe seen in town, oddly nondescript thing (7)
**HAT** ("trilby maybe") *seen in* *(town)
|
Buccaneering renegade I spotted in photo (7)
|
PIRATIC
|
Buccaneering renegade I spotted in photo (7)
**RAT** ("renegeade") + **I** *spotted in* **PIC** ("photo")
|
Working in university with Oxford exam coming round (5)
|
MODUS
|
Working in university with Oxford exam coming round (5)
**U**(niversity) *with* **MODS** ("Oxford exams") *coming round
|
A doorman before going off knocked back jar of wine (6)
|
TINAJA
|
A doorman before going off knocked back jar of wine (6)
**A JANIT**(or) ("a doorman", *knocked back, *with OR ("before" *going off*))
|
Independent parliament recalled for confrontational epic (5)
|
ILIAD
|
Independent parliament recalled for confrontational epic (5)
**I**(ndependent) + <=**DAIL** (lower house of the "parliament" of Ireland, *recalled*)
|
Capital alibi contrived to protect prince (8)
|
BRASILIA
|
Capital alibi contrived to protect prince (8)
*(alibi) *to protect* **RAS** ("prince")
|
Posse disturbed about old gun going off (9)
|
SPOSOUNGE
|
Posse disturbed about old gun going off (9)
*(posse) *about* **O** +*(gun)
SPONGE – dessert / SOU – coin
|
Sanction appropriate when imprisoning one (4)
|
FIAT
|
Sanction appropriate when imprisoning one (4)
**FIT** ("appropriate")* imprisoning* **A** ("one")
|
Prevent condition with removal of mine (5)
|
DETER
|
Prevent condition with removal of mine (5)
**DETER**(mine) ("condition")
|
Royal favourite in pursuit of fashion? Old bore (7)
|
TONNELL
|
Royal favourite in pursuit of fashion? Old bore (7)
**NELL** (Gwynn) ("royal favourite") *in pursuit of* **TON** ("fashion")
|
One wandering glens surrounded by Scottish river (10)
|
TAANGELNSY
|
One wandering glens surrounded by Scottish river (10)
**AN** ("one") + *(glens) *surrounded by* **TAY** ("Scottish river")
|
Dish to extinguish – dismay when losing a spread (13)
|
PANDOWSEMISDY
|
Dish to extinguish – dismay when losing a spread (13)
PAN ("dish") + DOWSE ("to extinguish") + *(dismy)
PANDOWDY – dessert / SEMIS – (old Indian) coin
|
Red in the face after spells of bowling? Mark often is (8)
|
OVERSHOT
|
Red in the face after spells of bowling? Mark often is (8)
**HOT** ("red in the face") *after* **OVERS** ("spells of bowling")
|
Ornamental loop, topic for knitting (5)
|
PICOT
|
Ornamental loop, topic for knitting (5)
*(topic)
|
Female involved in excellent dessert coming up (8)
|
DUFPENIF
|
Female involved in excellent dessert coming up (8)
**F**(emale) *involved in* **FINE PUD** ("excellent dessert", *coming up*)
|
Love bottled pub drink – it's bitter (4)
|
ALOE
|
Love bottled pub drink – it's bitter (4)
**O** ("love") *bottled* by **ALE** ("pub drink")
|
Bids at table formerly showing strength East held (4)
|
VIES
|
Bids at table formerly showing strength East held (4)
**VIS** ("strength") with **E**(ast)* held
|
Roundabout in LA or Edinburgh's noisy, including junction? (6)
|
ROTARY
|
Roundabout in LA or Edinburgh's noisy, including junction? (6)
**ROARY** ("noisy" in Scots), *including* **T**(-junction)
|
Rung sweethearts up (4)
|
STEP
|
Rung sweethearts up (4)
<=**PETS** ("sweethearts", *up*)
|
Early instrument producing silence – relief almost (5)
|
SHALM
|
Early instrument producing silence – relief almost (5)
**SH** ("silence") + **ALM**(s) ("relief", *almost*)
*A shalm (or shawm) was an earlier type of oboe.
|
Poorly organized and secretive, clubs dine inside (13)
|
ROLYPOSCEATLY
|
Poorly organized and secretive, clubs dine inside (13)
*(poorly) +** SLY** ("secretive") with **C**(lubs) and **EAT** ("dine")* inside*.
ROLY POLY – dessert / SCEAT – silver coin
|
Conservative in dress, perform together (5)
|
COACT
|
Conservative in dress, perform together (5)
**C**(onservative) *in* **COAT** ("dress")
|
Dig has this to be expanding, volatile? (5)
|
LATIN
|
Dig has this to be expanding, volatile? (5)
(di)**LATIN**(g)?
Please see the first few comments, which explain where I went wrong.
|
Make good Elizabethan houses (4)
|
ABET
|
Make good Elizabethan houses (4)
Hidden in "Eliz**ABET**han"
|
One getting married in a state of reverence (4)
|
AWED
|
One getting married in a state of reverence (4)
**A** ("one") *getting* **WED** ("married")
|
Lupin maybe artist's shown in embroidery fabric (8)
|
ARRASENE
|
Lupin maybe artist's shown in embroidery fabric (8)
**ARSENE** ("Lupin maybe") with **RA** ("artist") *shown in. Arsene Lupin is a gentleman thief created by author Maurice Leblanc.
|
Monogram possibly I found in Latin is requiring translation (8)
|
INITIALS
|
Monogram possibly I found in Latin is requiring translation (8)
**I** *found in* *(latin is)
|
A selection of exquisite sausage rolls (6)
|
SUASET
|
A selection of exquisite sausage rolls (6)
Hidden backwards in "exquisi**TE SAUS**age"
SUET – dessert / AS – coin
|
Crumpled peplos page scrubbed in Greek vessels (5)
|
OLPES
|
Crumpled peplos page scrubbed in Greek vessels (5)
*(pelos) ("peplos" wih P(age) scrubbed)
An olpe was a a Greek urn.
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.