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Is no longer a swinger? That's pungent (6) | WASABI | Definition: That's pungent
WAS A BI[-sexual], though I don't think that's what's usually meant by a swinger (though a bisexual is one who "swings both ways"). I initially tried to make sense of SALAMI here |
About to rest, change striker for amateur game (7,5) | VARSITY MATCH | Definition: amateur game
SIT (rest) in VARY + MATCH (a "striker") – Varsity Match refers to a fixture between Cambridge and Oxford university teams, particularly rugby and cricket |
All you need to know about love: it's devastating and is huge (6,4) | ENOUGH SAID | Definition: All you need to know
O (love) in (AND IS HUGE) |
Fool that a pedant picks (3) | NIT | Definition: Fool
Double definition – a pedant may be a nit-picker |
Back page of The Dandy (3) | FOP | Definition: The Dandy
Reverse of P OF |
Cutting some potatoes set out in cold winds (10) | EASTERLIES | Definition: cold winds
SET* in EARLIES |
Endless capital employed by minister a bonus as betting is over (4,2,2,4) | RIEN NE VA PLUS | Definition: betting is over
[v]IENN[a] in REV ("minister") + A PLUS – this is said by the croupier in roulette to mean no more bets can be placed |
Architect's trade vehicle, brown and horrible (8) | VANBRUGH | Definition: Architect
VAN (trade vehicle) + BR[own] + UGH ("horrible!"). John Vanbrugh was a playwright as well as an architect |
Comedian takes extremely large piece of cake (6) | DODDLE | Definition: piece of cake
[Ken] DODD + L[arg]E |
Cut layer, about a yard — how much do you want? (3,4) | SAY WHEN | Definition: how much do you want?
Y in SAW (cut) + HEN (a "layer") |
Display anti-aircraft gun, ignoring one order (4) | POMP | Definition: Display
POM-POM less the second OM (Order of Merit) |
Tongue bends double, finding way in (4) | URDU | Definition: Tongue
RD (road, way) in two Us (bends) |
Controlling what one arrested may be given (2,6) | IN CHARGE | Definition: Controlling
Double definition – a person who's arrested is "~~taken~~ given in charge" |
Dodgy Russian showing a bit of brain (5) | GYRUS | Definition: a bit of brain
Hidden in dodGY RUSsian – a kind clue for an unfamiliar meaning |
Metal prostheses set these off? (6) | ALARMS | Definition: Metal prostheses set these off
AL (aluminium, metal) + ARMS (which may be prostheses); I would classify this as a genuine &lit |
In which one can winningly play to the gallery (4,6) | REAL TENNIS | Definition: In which one can winningly play to the gallery
Cryptic definition – in the game of Real tennis the Galleries are openings above the court, and there's a way to win a point by playing the ball into them. I live half a mile from The Cambridge University Real Tennis courts, but have never been inside |
Left tights off for check-up (6,4) | FLIGHT TEST | Definition: check-up
(LEFT TIGHTS) |
Hard villains finally cheated in hearing (6) | STRICT | Definition: Hard
[villain]S + homophone of "tricked" |
Bored, virtually carry out an unruly youth (10) | PERFORATED | Definition: Bored
PERFOR[m] A TED (Teddy boy) |
Get school to raise girl's death (10) | COMPREHEND | Definition: Get
COMP (comprehensive school) + reverse of HER + END (death) |
Look meaningfully round very fast (6) | STARVE | Definition: fast
V in STARE |
Perhaps good in a sport, showing skill (8) | ARGUABLY | Definition: Perhaps
G in A RU (Rugby Union) + ABLY |
Expecting data, not quite everything (2,4) | IN FOAL | Definition: Expecting
INFO (data) + AL[L] |
Mountains of nettles picked up (5) | PEAKS | Definition: Mountains
Homophone of "piques" (irritates, nettles) |
Pity it only has 4 chapters (4) | RUTH | Definition: Pity
Double definition – the Old Testament book of Ruth has 4 chapters |
Flimsy item falling short (4) | THIN | Definition: Flimsy
THIN[g] |
They roared with wind by two but were swinging by three! (8) | TWENTIES | Definition: They roared
Reference to the "Roaring Twenties". You can multiply them by two to get the Roaring Forties (winds), or or by three to get the Swinging Sixties |
Bathroom fitting is more splashy when I get in (6) | SHOWER | Definition: Bathroom fitting
Putting an I in SHOWER gives SHOWIER – more splashy |
Apprentice never tried out leads for setter (4) | ANTO | Definition: setter
First letters (leads) of Apprentice Never Tried Out |
Obey Lorna, perhaps, by revising study … (2,4,4) | DO ONE’S DUTY | Definition: Obey
[Lorna] DOONE + STUDY |
… recently put back in metal folder (2,4) | OF LATE | Definition: recently
Hidden in reverse of mETAL FOlder |
Philosopher abandoning case makes a cry for help (8) | SOCRATES | Definition: Philosopher
If you remove CRATE (case) you're left with SOS – a cry for help |
Foremost Irish girl gets discharge, when rejected (7) | SUPREME | Definition: Foremost
Reverse of EMER (character in Irish mythology, also a girl's name, albeit a rare one in this form) + PUS (discharge) |
Impractical for campuses to become temporary shelters? (7) | USELESS | Definition: Impractical
Removing USE from CAMPUSES leaves CAMPS: temporary shelters |
A Swedish group has poetic scheme for this Lear favourite (8) | LIMERICK | Definition: Lear favourite
The rhyme scheme for a limerick is AABBA, i.e. A + ABBA |
Aristocrat without a scrap found outside city (6) | BERLIN | Definition: city
EARL less A in BIN (to scrap) |
Masons may roll it up to reveal support (7,3) | TROUSER LEG | Definition: Masons may roll it up to reveal support
Not-very-cryptic definition, referring to a ritual in Freemasonry that sounds like a myth but is apparently genuine |
It comes early for one being sent off (4) | BATH | Definition: It comes early for one being sent off
Another NVCD – a player who is sent off in football etc is said to be going for an early bath |
Standard element of animation plot (6) | PARCEL | Definition: plot
PAR (standard) + CEL (element of an animated film); "plot" as in a parcel of land |
After signal, shout 'open' (8) | FLAGRANT | Definition: open
FLAG + RANT |
Disease picked up when the impossible happened (5,3) | SWINE FLU | Definition: Disease
Homophone of "swine flew", as in "pigs might fly" |
Found out concealing key to correcting erroneous input (4) | UNDO | Definition: key to correcting erroneous input
Hidden in foUND Out |
Core position of hospital in NHS (6) | MIDDLE | Definition: Core
H (hospital) is the MIDDLE letter of NHS |
Champion finds partner online? (7) | ESPOUSE | Definition: Champion
An online partner could be an E-SPOUSE |
US stock market regulator head promoted under European principles (8) | ESSENCES | Definition: principles
The US stock market regulator is the Securities and Exchange Commission, so this is E[uropean] + reverse of SEC + NESS (geographical head) |
Unexpected visitor in winter trying to sell you something? (4,6) | COLD CALLER | Definition: Unexpected visitor in winter trying to sell you something
Cryptic definition, I suppose |
Resolution satisfied ownership of property after it is abandoned (6) | METTLE | Definition: Resolution
MET (satisfied) + TITLE (ownership of property) less IT |
Unreal chef cooked something that's supposedly never available (1,4,5) | A FREE LUNCH | Definition: something that's supposedly never available
(UNREAL CHEF) |
Modest men daily get abused (8) | MAIDENLY | Definition: Modest
(MEN DAILY) |
Broke unit revealing shade on the outside (4,4) | SKIN TONE | Definition: shade on the outside
SKINT (broke) + ONE (unit) |
Almost miss promotion that could help ascending the slippery slope (3,4) | SKI LIFT | Definition: that could help ascending the slippery slope
SKI[P] (to miss) + LIFT (promotion) |
Cast-iron commercial progress (6) | INROAD | Definition: progress
IRON* + AD (advert, promotion) |
He holds the money when company meets in bar (6) | BAGMAN | Definition: He holds the money
AGM (Annual General Meeting – "when company meets") in BAN (bar) |
Time attempt to capture rook (4) | BIRD | Definition: Time
R[ook] in BID – bird and time are slang for a prison sentence |
Clue 1: house staff refurbished toilet facilities (3,5,7) | THE USUAL OFFICES | Definition: toilet facilities
(CLUE I HOUSE STAFF)* – anyone who solved last Friday's Puck puzzle might remember "office" for toilet from that, also at 1 across |
Bit strange having soldiers on square (7) | ODDMENT | Definition: Bit
ODD (strange) + MEN (soldiers) + T (square) |
Furiously rejected female killer? Not half! (4,3) | LIKE MAD | Definition: Furiously
Reverse of DAME+ KIL[ler] |
Did escort give name away? (3) | LED | Definition: Did escort
LEND (to give, albeit temporarily) less N |
Foolish! The names Don gets a lot more than this (3,4,4) | AND THEN SOME | Definition: a lot more than this
(THE NAMES DONE) |
Incredibly ripped? Same fantasies (4,6) | PIPE DREAMS | Definition: fantasies
(RIPPED SAME) |
Picked up dark vehicle, briefly (4) | MERC | Definition: vehicle, briefly
Homophone of "murk" |
Walk back from the Capitol (4) | PACE | Definition: Walk
Hidden in reverse of thE CAPitol |
Look at naughty ladies, getting shock (10) | SCANDALISE | Definition: shock
SCAN (look at) + LADIES |
Film came out badly? Correct! (5,2,4) | COMME IL FAUT | Definition: Correct
(FILM CAME OUT)* – this phrase is in Chambers, but perhaps Vlad should have hinted at its being French |
Writer Oscar stops exercises (3) | POE | Definition: Writer
O (Oscar in the phonetic alphabet) in PE (exercises) |
Anger that king has broken a bone (7) | STIRRUP | Definition: a bone
R (king) in STIR UP (to anger). The stirrup is one of the small bones in the inner ear |
Old man with sweetheart in spot — reportedly a very low point (4,3) | DEAD SEA | Definition: a very low point
The "heart" of swEet in DAD (old man) + homophone of "see" (spot) |
Can scoff but it saves time in the kitchen (11,4) | CONVENIENCE FOOD | Definition: Can scoff but it saves time in the kitchen
I think this is just an extended cryptic definition, with "can scoff" meaning "scoff (i.e. food) in cans", though not all (or even most?) convenience food is canned *As suggested by Mark in comment 1, this should probably be can=toilet=CONVENIENCE + scoff=FOOD |
Lackey's hint for Spooner: 'I'm going' (6-3) | TOODLE-PIP | Definition: I'm going
Spoonerism of POODLE TIP |
Need change, party finished (5,2) | ENDED UP | Definition: finished
NEED* + DUP (Democratic Unionist Party – political party in Northern Ireland) |
'We worked with Sid originally' (darts officials) (8) | STEWARDS | Definition: officials
Anagram of WE + S[id] + DARTS |
Master taking time over degree was 6 (5) | ACTED | Definition: was 6
T in ACE (master) + D[egree] |
Statesman's right — prince upset country (9) | OKLAHOMAN | Definition: Statesman
OK (right) + reverse of HAL (Prince Hal, who became Henry V) + OMAN, with the familiar trick of "statesman" = "person from a particular US state" |
Cooking is chore, family admitted (6) | FAKING | Definition: Cooking
KIN (family) in FAG (a chore) – faking/cooking as in "cooking the books" or "cooking up a story". BAKING might be a tempting red herring here |
Pot hidden in this way after short search (7) | COMMODE | Definition: Pot hidden in this
COM[b] (search) + MODE (way), with a nicely deceptive definition, the "pot" being a chamber-pot, rather than cannabis as the surface suggests |
School head's vain — creep! (5) | SIDLE | Definition: creep
S[chool] + IDLE (vain) |
Australian natives and another wasting money — flaming typical (9) | EUCALYPTI | Definition: Australian natives
EMU less M + TYPICAL |
Jail director with flat in US city (9) | CLEVELAND | Definition: US city
LEVEL (flat) in CAN (jail) + D |
Cut actors' pay grade (8) | CASTRATE | Definition: Cut
The actors' pay grade is the CAST RATE |
Plant back without Henry (7) | CAMPION | Definition: Plant
CHAMPION (to back) less H |
One's beginning to paint, respecting such a technique (7) | IMPASTO | Definition: such a technique
I'M (one is) + P[aint] + AS TO (respecting) |
Ducks are in deserted lake (6) | DEARIE | Definition: Ducks
A (abbreviation of are – unit of area, more usually seen in ha=hectare) in D (deserted – listed in Chambers: I'm not sure how it would be used with this meaning) + [Lake] ERIE. Ducks and Dearie are both (rather old-fashioned) terms of affection |
Function (police social) raised slightly less than half (5) | COSEC | Definition: Function
"Slightly less than half" of poliCE SOCial, reversed. COSEC (cosecant) is perhaps one of the more obscure trigonometric functions, but Vlad has kindly provided an easy clue for it |
Forest burning? That's baseless (5) | ARDEN | Definition: Forest
ARDENT (burning) less its last letter, or "base" when it's written downwards. The (fictional) Forest of Arden is the setting of *As You Like It |
In law, handrails to be fitted for protection across the country (8,4) | HADRIAN’S WALL | Definition: protection across the country
Anagram of LAW HANDRAILS |
Miserable? I'm about to become a king (5) | MIDAS | Definition: king
Reverse of SAD I'M, giving the mythical king whose touch turned everything to gold |
Diarist's manner not extremely honest (4,5) | ANNE FRANK | Definition: Diarist
mANNEr less its "extremes" + FRANK (honest) |
Leisure finds French composer in empty library (7) | LIBERTY | Definition: Leisure
(Jacques) IBERT in L[ibrar]Y |
Bishop leaves church worker in suspense (7) | ABEYANT | Definition: in suspense
ABBEY less one B + ANT (worker) |
One puts the squeeze on Tom's team (10) | THUMBSCREW | Definition: One puts the squeeze on
THUMB'S CREW |
These spots not considered (4) | RASH | Definition: spots
Double definition |
Make significant changes out of boredom (4) | REDO | Definition: Make significant changes
Hidden in boREDOm |
Food additive spoiling muesli that is eaten by Father (10) | EMULSIFIER | Definition: Food additive
MUESLI* + I.E. in FR |
Abrasive republican slogan? (7) | SCRAPER | Definition: Abrasive
A republic, i.e. an anti-monarchist, would want to SCRAP E.R. |
A little bit of male offensiveness gets Charlie arrested (7) | MODICUM | Definition: A little bit
M + C in ODIUM |
A new gender identity in this part of the country? (9) | MIDDLESEX | Definition: this part of the country
The new identity is a MIDDLE SEX |
Crop sounds novel, some say (5) | EMMER | Definition: Crop
Homophone ("some say" – possibly not all) of *Emma* (novel by Jane Austen). Emmer is a type of wheat (new to me) |
Scruffy nest situated in the country (6,6) | UNITED STATES | Definition: country
(NEST SITUATED) |
In disguise, spy entertaining unionist Conservative (9) | HIDEBOUND | Definition: Conservative
HIDE (disguise) + U in [James] BOND |
Define and date key part of vault (English) (8) | DESCRIBE | Definition: Define
D[ate] + ESC (key) + RIB (part of an architectural vault) + E |
Subsets and Splits