Clue
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|---|---|---|
Proposed famous vampire's victim should be incarcerated (9) | NOMINATED | Definition: Proposed
MINA (Mina Harker, character in *Dracula* in NOTED (famous) |
Government minister's ringer? (9) | GOLDSMITH | Definition: Government minister
Zac GOLDSMITH is the minister, and a "ringer" might be someone makes (gold) rings, or a GOLDSMITH |
It's found behind actors — dramatic landscape drawn large for play (7) | SCENERY | Definition: It's found behind actors — dramatic landscape drawn large for play
As with 22a, this seems to be just an extended definition |
Antelope's two little twins pronking (3-3) | DIK-DIK | Definition: Antelope
Reverse of two KIDs – "twins" because the same word is used twice, I assume |
Stay 10 seconds, being uncertain (7) | SUSPEND | Definition: Stay
Anagram of UPEND (answer to 10a) + S S |
Have enough money for female to get in a car (6) | AFFORD | Definition: Have enough money for
F in A FORD |
Mitt's 'good-oh' (5) | GLOVE | Definition: Mitt
G + LOVE (zero in tennis =0=O=Oh) |
Quickly learns about sheep (5) | CRAMS | Definition: Quickly learns
C (circa, about) + RAMS |
Unused neck dressing suitable for some joints (4,5) | MINT SAUCE | Definition: dressing suitable for some joints
MINT (unused) + SAUCE (cheek, neck) |
What tallyman might cut, other than church? (5) | NOTCH | Definition: What tallyman might cut
NOT (other than) CH[urch] – from the practice of keeping a tally by cutting notches in a stick |
Scorer from Harlem briefly in action (5) | LEHAR | Definition: Scorer
Anagram of HARLE[m] – "scorer" meaning a composer |
Shylock in serial increasingly tight (9) | SLENDERER | Definition: increasingly tight
LENDER (as Shylock was) in SER. |
Drain liquid that's rising in spring (3) | SAP | Definition: Drain
Double definition |
GP innovates flying flag (6,5) | PAVING STONE | Definition: flag
(GP INNOVATES) |
Herald left, getting wind up (7) | PORTEND | Definition: Herald
PORT (left) + END (to wind up) |
Small section of plant making publicity material (7) | LEAFLET | Definition: Small section of plant
Double definition |
Is son donning legendary footballer's mantle? (7) | PELISSE | Definition: mantle
IS S in PELE (footballer) |
What's possible after media persevere (5,2) | PRESS ON | Definition: persevere
PRESS (media) + ON (possible) |
Willing worker's average beer supply (5,6) | EAGER BEAVER | Definition: Willing worker
(AVERAGE BEER)* with "supply" meaning "in a supple way" |
Kitty's drug (3) | POT | Definition: Kitty
Double definition |
Decking put Royal Navy crew in a spot (9) | ADORNMENT | Definition: Decking
RN MEN in A DOT |
Grand party where we may well end up? (5) | GRAVE | Definition: where we may well end up
G + RAVE |
Fruit marmalade primarily filling Christmas turnover (5) | LEMON | Definition: Fruit
M[armalade] in reverse of NOEL |
Speeches from Congress (9) | RELATIONS | Definition: Speeches
Double definition – the congress is the sexual kind |
Nancy takes advantage of work (7) | MILKSOP | Definition: Nancy
MILKS (takes advantage of) + OP, nancy and milksop can both mean an effeminate man; both probably regarded as rather offensive these days, especially the former |
Dud mobile phone operator cleared out (2-5) | NO-HOPER | Definition: Dud
Anagram of PHONE + O[perato]R |
Cabaret artist has problem supporting band (11) | STRIPTEASER | Definition: Cabaret artist
STRIP (band) + TEASER (problem) |
Invest in fund, losing capital like many Titanic passengers (7) | UNSAVED | Definition: like many Titanic passengers
SAVE (invest) in FUND less its "capital" or first letter |
Constantly going outside to cast vote (7) | ETERNAL | Definition: Constantly going
EXTERNAL less X (a vote) |
Daughter running up to give assent (3) | NOD | Definition: to give assent
Reverse of D + ON (running, working) |
Rum drunk during work causes uproar (7) | TURMOIL | Definition: uproar
RUM* in TOIL |
Gather in rushes around five tons (7) | HARVEST | Definition: Gather in
V on HARES (rushes) + T |
Arrange contest, admitting Rocky's initial reluctance to go on (5,6) | STAGE FRIGHT | Definition: reluctance to go on
R[ocky] in STAGE FIGHT |
Win through before onset of vocal trouble (7) | PREVAIL | Definition: Win through
PRE (before) + V[ocal] + AIL (trouble) |
Bait listener, raising master argument (7) | LUGWORM | Definition: Bait
LUG (ear, listener) + reverse of M ROW |
It's said I tolerate my contacts, for instance (7) | EYEWEAR | Definition: my contacts, for instance
Homophone of "I" + WEAR (tolerate), with the definition referring to contact lenses |
Critical comrade impounding four books (7) | PIVOTAL | Definition: Critical
IV OT (Old Testament, books) in PAL (friend, comrade) |
Singer in musical production heartlessly cutting second number (7) | SOPRANO | Definition: Singer
OP[E]RA in S NO |
Jack avoids toads and rabbits (7) | NATTERS | Definition: rabbits
NATTERJACKS (toads) less JACK; "natter" and "rabbit" are both slangy words for "talk" |
Stern Unitarian keeping woman in order (3) | NUN | Definition: woman in order
Hidden in sterN UNitarian |
New financial institution losing pounds over a quarter (6) | AUTUMN | Definition: a quarter
Reverse of N MUTUAL less L (pounds) |
Wine sent spilling over cat (8) | SPUMANTE | Definition: Wine
PUMA in SENT |
Case of 'Physician, heal thyself'? That's a bore (5) | DRILL | Definition: bore
If the physician needs to heal himself then the DR is ILL |
Minor crag blasted for stone (9) | CAIRNGORM | Definition: stone
(MINOR CRAG)* – a semi-precious stone found in the mountains of the same name |
Coming to a point, band finally abandoned hire car (9) | CHEVROLET | Definition: car
CHEVRON (a band coming to a point) less its last letter, plus LET (hire) |
Can it have to be proved? (5) | SHOWN | Definition: proved
SH (be quiet, can it) + OWN (have) |
Extravagantly commend a fine story (2,4,3,3) | OF MICE AND MEN | Definition: story
(COMMEND A FINE) |
After some bowling on ground, I'm yet to get some spin: wait before able to perform again (8,4) | RECOVERY TIME | Definition: wait before able to perform again
REC (recreation ground) + OVER (some bowling, in cricket) +(I'M YET) |
Some black cab always around, so taken unexpectedly (5) | ABACK | Definition: so taken unexpectedly
Hidden in reverse of blacK CAB Always |
Irregular school lesson in fine class girl missed (9) | APERIODIC | Definition: Irregular
PERIOD (school lesson) in A1 + CLASS less LASS |
One with a dream lover posed from behind first (9) | FANTASIST | Definition: One with a dream
FAN (lover) + reverse of SAT (posed) + 1ST |
Native American's large basket (5) | CREEL | Definition: basket
CREE + L |
Colonist put on fabric, one with stripes (8) | SERGEANT | Definition: one with stripes
SERGE (fabric) + ANT (a "colonist") |
They are not generally to be heard speaking (6) | ASIDES | Definition: They are not generally to be heard speaking
Cryptic definition, though asides in a play *are* meant to be heard by the audience, just not the other characters |
Kidnapper's muscle (8) | ABDUCTOR | Definition: Kidnapper
Double definition |
Nuisance not having answer: girl in quandary (8) | TRILEMMA | Definition: quandary
TRIAL less A[nswer] + EMMA |
Athlete who looks happy, though not first (5) | MILER | Definition: Athlete
[S]MILER |
In distress, broken by temperature, leave the Badlands (7,6) | PAINTED DESERT | Definition: Badlands
T in PAINED + DESERT (leave) – it's an area in Arizona |
Second royal in unpleasant house, a single-sex one (9) | MONASTERY | Definition: house, a single-sex one
MO (moment, second) + ER (the Queen) in NASTY |
American politician's one foul trick (6) | NEOCON | Definition: American politician
ONE* + CON (trick) |
Predator of rat, say, biting its head off and beginning to eat (6) | ERMINE | Definition: Predator
[v]ERMIN (e.g. a rat) + E[at] – ermine is another word for the carnivorous stoat, especially when its fur turns white in winter |
Not a single job in Scottish island: a premature cancellation all round (13) | COLLABORATION | Definition: Not a single job
COLL (Hebridean island) + A in ABORTION (premature cancellation) |
Final move of lover from Brno announced (9) | CHECKMATE | Definition: Final move
Homophone of "Czech mate" |
Curler, black, certainly fits round front of wig (8) | BINDWEED | Definition: Curler
B[lack] + W[ig] in INDEED |
God! Imogen's work left in the wrong place (8) | HERCULES | Definition: God
HER (Imogen's, though Imogen the setter is male) + CLUES (the setter's work) with the L misplaced. If I remember correctly, Hercules/Heracles became a god after completing his Labours |
Mistakes of bosses seeing no resistance (6) | GAFFES | Definition: Mistakes
GAFFERS less R |
Winner of an inaccurate timepiece? (6) | GAINER | Definition: Winner
Double definition |
One magnet's orientation to hold copper for anvil (5) | INCUS | Definition: anvil
I + CU (copper) in NS (magnets are aligned North to South). The incus/anvil is one of the three small bones of the middle ear |
Means of protecting Romeo during affair (6) | ARMOUR | Definition: Means of protecting
R[omeo] in AMOUR (love affair) |
Customers, returning dessert, chose superior version (6,2) | TRADED UP | Definition: chose superior version
TRADE (customers) + reverse of PUD (pudding, dessert) |
Liberal Spanish gent added to working capital (6) | LONDON | Definition: capital
L[iberal] + ON (working) + DON (Spanish gentleman) |
Industrial waste slick on west-facing borders of France (8) | EFFLUENT | Definition: Industrial waste
Reverse of F[ranc]E + FLUENT (slick) |
Economy measure derived from parking in sports car, initially? (5,3,6) | MILES PER GALLON | Definition: Economy measure
The abbreviation for MILES PER GALLON is MPG, which is P[arking] in MG (sports car) |
Complete review of ancient language, say, after study (10) | CONGENITAL | Definition: Complete
CON (study) + reverse of LATIN E.G. Chambers has "complete or absolute, as if from birth", referring to the expression "congenital idiot" |
Fanatic regularly struck opponent (4) | ANTI | Definition: opponent
Every third letter (starting from the first) "struck from" from fANaTIc |
Call back, demanding sandwiches (4) | NAME | Definition: Call
Hidden in reverse of dEMANding |
Twerp in film, deep in thought (10) | COGITATING | Definition: deep in thought
GIT (twerp) in COATING |
Nth trip en route involved particular motoring skill (5-5,4) | THREE‑POINT TURN | Definition: particular motoring skill
(NTH TRIP EN ROUTE) |
Relative devouring hot comic strip (8) | UNCLOTHE | Definition: strip
HOT* in UNCLE |
Voyage lots of sailors talked of (6) | CRUISE | Definition: Voyage
Homophone of "crews" |
Queen attending summit in States disheartened, they say (8) | SPEAKERS | Definition: they say
PEAK + ER in S[tate]S, with "they say" being the definition instead of a homophone indicator, as we might expect |
More famiiar Conservative defeated opponent (6) | CLOSER | Definition: More famiiar
C + LOSER, with a small typo in "famiiar" |
Muggins heading off to join forces (4) | ALLY | Definition: join forces
I presume the beheaded Muggins here is SALLY, as in Aunt Sally ("a target for abuse, criticism or blame"), but I suppose it also might be WALLY |
Bring up troops to north, crossing island (7) | MENTION | Definition: Bring up
~~Reverse of~~ MEN + I in TO N |
With cap still on, screwing one end up? (8) | UNOPENED | Definition: With cap still on
(ONE END UP) |
Improvement helping to keep class online? (11) | REFORMATION | Definition: Improvement
E-FORM (class, in a school, with the E- prefix for "online") in RATION (helping) |
Buck model artist up (6) | DOLLAR | Definition: Buck
DOLL + reverse of RA (artist) |
Ponder over water source feeding river (5,2) | DWELL ON | Definition: Ponder over
WELL in DON (river) |
Claiming right to shelter amid trouble with government (9) | PATENTING | Definition: Claiming right to
TENT (shelter) in PAIN (trouble) + G[overnment] |
Pressure on Polish hero worried deep thinker (11) | PHILOSOPHER | Definition: deep thinker
P + (POLISH HERO) |
Explains a loss suffered by flighty courtesans (9) | CONSTRUES | Definition: Explains
COURTESANS* less A |
Country hotelier in China (8) | PASTORAL | Definition: Country
ASTOR (the Astor family founded the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, among others) in PAL (rhyming slang: china plate = mate) |
Nutmeg's raised pounds in contest — it's phenomenal (7) | MIRACLE | Definition: it's phenomenal
Reverse of I'M (Nutmeg is) + L (pounds) in RACE |
Pubs screening game Italy wrecked (2,5) | IN RUINS | Definition: wrecked
RU (Rugby Union, game) + I in INNS |
Update devotional book? (6) | REWORK | Definition: Update
The devotional book is an RE (religious education) WORK |
Sound coming from empty stomach (4) | BEAR | Definition: stomach
Homophone of "bare" (empty) |
Warmer vessel spinning on wheel (6) | COGNAC | Definition: Warmer
COG (wheel) + reverse of CAN (vessel) |
Fit in dock for computer (6) | LAPTOP | Definition: computer
APT (appropriate, fit) in LOP (to dock) |
Squeeze gallons into the tin, furiously (7) | TIGHTEN | Definition: Squeeze
G in (THE TIN) |
Stoat out gathering commercial food that's fried (7) | TOSTADA | Definition: food that's fried
AD (commercial) in STOAT |
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