Clue
stringlengths 7
155
| Answer
stringlengths 0
46
| Explanation
stringlengths 5
990
|
|---|---|---|
Number fed on bananas, very many (2,3,2) | NO END OF | Definition: very many
NO (number) + (FED ON) |
Old soldier, a camp entertainer (7) | REDCOAT | Definition: Old soldier
Double definition – British soldier, and entertainer in Butlin's holiday camps |
Perhaps seen from Torquay hotel window, ie waves crashing (3,4) | SEA VIEW | Definition: Perhaps seen from Torquay hotel window
(IE WAVES) |
Needed as substitutes? Come off it! (5) | BENCH | Definition: Needed as substitutes? Come off it
An extended cryptic definition – footballers etc called on as substitutes are said to come off the bench |
Pretty fine appearance (4) | FAIR | Definition: Pretty
F + AIR |
Some potato? A lot ordered with a snack in the tube (9) | CHIPOLATA | Definition: snack in the tube
CHIP (some potato) + (A LOT)* + A |
Theatre is nothing to heartless devil (5) | ODEON | Definition: Theatre
O + DE[m]ON |
International computer system's not hard, in my opinion (5) | TENET | Definition: opinion
THE NET less H |
Spooner and Imogen agree where Doll Tearsheet worked (5,4) | BOAR’S HEAD | Definition: where Doll Tearsheet worked
Doll Tearsheet is a character in the second part of *Henry IV*. She works at the BOAR'S HEAD inn, and is a prostitute, so also works in the spoonerised "whore's bed" |
Mac to use moisturiser (7) | OILSKIN | Definition: Mac
Double definition |
All our letters after B: A goes, for a start (7) | POSTBAG | Definition: All our letters
POST (after) + B + A + G[oes] |
Female, inwardly modest, showing a bit of leg (5) | FEMUR | Definition: a bit of leg
F + [d]EMUR[e] |
Go just over five days? (3) | WEE | Definition: Go
WEE is 75% of a WEEK, and five days is slightly less, at about 71.4% |
Whiskey wanted back that is in inaccessible place (5) | EYRIE | Definition: inaccessible place
Reverse of RYE + I.E. (that is) |
It was used for building the holy city? Wrong (7) | MECCANO | Definition: It was used for building
MECCA (holy city) + NO. Rather to my surprise I see that Meccano is still manufactured in the US and Canada, so it still *is* used for building |
Writing on page about excuse (7) | PRETEXT | Definition: excuse
P[age] + RE (about) + TEXT (writing) |
I rouse fools with cunning, no joking (9) | SERIOUSLY | Definition: no joking
(I ROUSE)* + SLY |
All the Spanish make commotions (2-3) | TODOS | Definition: commotions
TODOS is Spanish for "all" |
Miss a film that wins Oscar (5) | AVOID | Definition: Miss
A + O in VID (video, film) |
People carrier's small opening to reverse in a narrow street (9) | AEROPLANE | Definition: People carrier
Reverse of PORE (small opening) in A LANE |
National leader veers off racecourse (4) | SCOT | Definition: National
ASCOT with its "leader" removed |
Remarkable Belgians performing, not live (6) | SIGNAL | Definition: Remarkable
Anagram of BELGIANS less BE (to live) |
Abroad, a thousand separately enter coast, a part of peninsula (5,5) | SOUTH KOREA | Definition: part of peninsula
OUT and K in SHORE + A |
Vehicle engine cover half made of such steel? (6) | CARBON | Definition: steel
CAR + BON[net] |
Gall as old Greek character almost drowned in beer (3,5) | OAK APPLE | Definition: Gall
O + KAPP[a] in ALE |
Green shade clothing brothers (4) | MOSS | Definition: Green shade
Double definition, referring to the tailoring business Moss Bros |
Period of which the present day is near the end (8) | DECEMBER | Definition: Period of which the present day is near the end
Cryptic definition, the "present day" being the 25th |
Woman's rotten idea scaled down (4) | ENID | Definition: Woman
Hidden in rottEN IDea |
Cunning creature tucks head down a minute: it brings relief (5) | OXFAM | Definition: it brings relief
FOX with its head moved down + A M |
Interrupting wind energy for resident temporarily (5) | GUEST | Definition: resident temporarily
E[nergy] in GUST |
About to tuck into brownish-red biscuit (8) | MACAROON | Definition: biscuit
CA (circa, about) in MAROON |
New moon was spotted eventually by outdoor worker (8) | WOODSMAN | Definition: outdoor worker
Anagram of MOON WAS [spotte]D |
They may subsidise part of service, but only with one rupee (6) | PAYERS | Definition: They may subsidise
PRAYERS (part of a church service) less its first R |
In affection, bind daughter in embrace, finally close (6) | ENDEAR | Definition: In affection, bind
D in [embrac]E + NEAR (close) |
Swimmer to show off briefly (4) | SWAN | Definition: Swimmer
SWAN[k] |
Miscellaneous stuff ends with these (4) | ODDS | Definition: Miscellaneous stuff ends with these
Miscellaneous stuff is "ODDS and ends" |
Origin of privileged performer (4) | SEED | Definition: Origin
Double definition |
Kasbah TV air waves demonstrating vocalic development (11) | SVARABHAKTI | Definition: vocalic development
(KASBAH TV AIR)* – a word derived from Sanskrit, meaning the addition of (e.g.) a vowel between two consonants to make a word easier to pronounce. Another name for it is epenthesis, and it is also found in some Celtic languages such as Irish and Scottish Gaelic, possibly leading to some epenthesis in English words such as "fillum" for "film". |
Coccid's secretion left inside vegetable (4) | PELA | Definition: Coccid's secretion
L in PEA |
Pasta recipe, one followed by one on the fiddle mostly? (7) | RAVIOLI | Definition: Pasta
R[ecipe] + A + VIOLI[n] |
Alloy of metals mined in coal (6) | ALNICO | Definition: Alloy of metals
(IN COAL)* – an alloy whose name comes from its component metals ALuminiun, NIckel and CObalt (it also contains iron and copper) |
Let loose in field maybe writer goes after one (5) | UNPEN | Definition: Let loose
UN (one) + PEN |
Crystalline rock: record it in supplement (8) | EKLOGITE | Definition: Crystalline rock
LOG IT in EKE |
Meshed tissues one placed in the box (5) | TELAE | Definition: Meshed tissues
A in TELE[vision] ("the box") |
Dirty farm vehicle loaded with half a ton? (5) | CLART | Definition: Dirty
L (50 = half of 100, or a ton) in CART |
Bit of foreign cash making metallic sound where Athenians once gathered (8) | STOTINKA | Definition: Bit of foreign cash
TINK in STOA (Athenian meeting place) |
Love rolling over in ooze? It's supposed to encourage weight loss (8) | SLIMLINE | Definition: It's supposed to encourage weight loss
Reverse of NIL in SLIME |
Like a good soufflé, right, middle for monsieur cooked (5) | RISEN | Definition: Like a good soufflé
R + anagram of [mo]NSIE[ur] |
Where to find dinghies at? It's this lough I'd plied (5) | NEAGH | Definition: this lough
(DINGHIES AT)* = IT'S NEAGH I'D – Lough Neagh is a large lake near Belfast |
Collection for the vicar? Mostly change, with a tatty bit of material thrown in (8) | ALTARAGE | Definition: Collection for the vicar
A RAG in ALTE[r] |
Fellows always captivated by extremes of prettiness (5) | PEERS | Definition: Fellows
E'ER in P[rettines]S |
Performance in Shakespeare curate played (6) | ACTURE | Definition: Performance in Shakespeare
CURATE |
Land of some 30? You'll find them including a lord possibly (7) | EARLDOM | Definition: Land of some 30
A LORD* in 'EM – a rare example of Azed referring to the answer to another clue |
Took a gander at something fishy by the sound of it (4) | EYED | Definition: Took a gander at
Homophone of "ide" (fish) |
Judge accepts what could be misrepresented under 'confidence' (11) | ASSUREDNESS | Definition: confidence
UNDER* in ASSESS |
Partner captured in stone, brittle (5) | SPALT | Definition: brittle
PAL in ST |
Let Viv peel off soft nappy material (10) | VELVET-PILE | Definition: soft nappy material
(LET VIV PEEL) |
Tenant farmer always upset in deluge (6) | RAIYAT | Definition: Tenant farmer
Reverse of AY in RAIT (variant of the more familiar "ret", meaning to soak) |
Forbear going stress-free as soon as old (4) | ANCE | Definition: as soon as old
ANCE[stress] – old form of "once" = "as soon as" |
As mangled verbiage comes out, garbled by LNER, OK? (8) | BROKENLY | Definition: As mangled verbiage comes out
(BY LNER OK) |
Tug, one in port offloading line (4) | HAUL | Definition: Tug
A in HUL[L] |
Smoking less, not completely – it's very hard in Scotland (6) | KINGLE | Definition: it's very hard in Scotland
Hidden in smoKING LEss |
To fix hedging, melodious piece of horticultural decoration (9) | TOPIARIAN | Definition: of horticultural decoration
ARIA in ("hedged by") TO PIN |
Intrusive rock: catch fish hiding in a little bit (7) | MINETTE | Definition: Intrusive rock
NET (to catch fish) in MITE |
Pen pals for Jeanne, maybe, senior Guide filling her summers (10) | ÉTRANGÈRES | Definition: Pen pals for Jeanne
RANGER in ÉTÉS (French for summers) – literally (feminine) "strangers", but Chambers only gives the meaning "foreigner", as penpals often are (do they still exist?) |
Drunken sot with relics in places of refuge? (9) | CLOISTERS | Definition: places of refuge
(SOT RELICS) |
Series getting cut by rubbish hairdresser (7) | SCRAPER | Definition: hairdresser
CRAP in SER |
Granules left in fruit (6) | PEARLS | Definition: Granules
L in PEARS |
Meagre portion of succulent entrecote (6) | LENTEN | Definition: Meagre
Hidden in succuLENT ENtrecote |
Notes from editor she roughly takes in (5) | HEEDS | Definition: takes in
ED in SHE |
All-conquering emotion uplifted travellers (4) | AMOR | Definition: All-conquering emotion
Reverse of ROMA. Latin for "love", as in "amor vincit omnia" or "love conquers all" |
Curse, equivalent of 'damn' to start with (minced) (4) | ECOD | Definition: Curse, equivalent of 'damn' to start with (minced)
Anagram of first letters of Curse Equivalent Of Damn, &lit |
Wireless picks up origins of alien transmission — reading it could heat things up (8) | RADIATOR | Definition: it could heat things up
A[lien] T[ransmission] in RADIO + R (reading, as in the Three Rs) |
Breaking bail — one's excuse? (5) | ALIBI | Definition: excuse
BAIL* + I |
Recall 20% off cream hat (4) | TILE | Definition: hat
Reverse of ELIT[e] – tile is slang for a hat, as in the music hall song: "Where did you get that hat?/Where did you get that tile?" |
Overly tense and risky to catch female mythical figure (5,5) | TOOTH FAIRY | Definition: mythical figure
TOO (overly) + T (tense) + F[emale] in HAIRY (risky) |
Series of notes in small capitals on drinks (6) | SCALES | Definition: Series of notes
SC + ALES |
European royal family has swamped Britain with revolting food (8) | HABSBURG | Definition: European royal family
B in (swamped by) HAS + reverse of GRUB |
Address thus includes mountain time (5,2) | SPEAK TO | Definition: Address
PEAK T in SO (thus) |
Hurry to climb into bed that's cleaned (7) | BRUSHED | Definition: cleaned
RUSH in BED |
Graduate stands outside canteen over by the French group (8) | ASSEMBLE | Definition: group
Reverse of (MESS in BA) + LE |
Ape eats second and third banana on top of the forest (6) | CANOPY | Definition: top of the forest
Second and third letters of bANana in COPY (to ape) |
Work by English rector in charge of sheets? (6,4) | TOILET ROLL | Definition: sheets
TOIL + E + R[ector] in TOLL (charge) |
Evil king to fall (4) | SINK | Definition: to fall
SIN + K |
Wise Sanders has blown his top (5) | ERNIE | Definition: Wise
[B]ERNIE [Sanders] (US politician), giving British entertainer Ernie WISE |
The end of acts in play touring old city (8) | CURTAINS | Definition: The end
UR (old city) in (ACTS IN)* – "the end" as in "it's curtains for you" |
Snooker player shortens his equipment to gain power in competition (5,3) | DAVIS CUP | Definition: competition
DAVIS (snooker player – take your pick Steve or Joe, and no doubt others) + CU[e]+ P[ower] |
One wearing protective gear in conduit (4) | PIPE | Definition: conduit
I in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment – an abbreviation that has become much more familiar since the pandemic) |
40% of numerical facts, 50% lies in America? (6) | STATES | Definition: America
40% of STAT[istics] + 50% of [li]ES |
At Wimbledon bagel order covered by cheese roll (7) | BRIOCHE | Definition: roll
Not sure about this: in tennis (I learn), a bagel is a set with a score of 6-0, can bagel also mean just the zero, so O (which is shaped like a bagel)? Then we have CH (Companion of Honour), which is an order, and it's all in BRIE |
City hit hard (4) | BATH | Definition: City
BAT + H |
'I'd stab criminal', admits gangster in dock (5,5) | TIDAL BASIN | Definition: dock
AL (Capone, gangster) in (I'D STAB)* + IN |
Note expensive car with gold and red top (6) | MIRROR | Definition: red top
MI (note, as in do-re-mi) + R[olls] R[oyce] + OR (gold); the Daily MIRROR is a British tabloid newspaper or "red top" |
Refrain from taking holiday without other people? (5,5) | LEAVE ALONE | Definition: Refrain from taking
A holiday without other people is LEAVE, ALONE |
Sailor upset royal court … (3) | BAR | Definition: court
Reverse of AB + R[oyal] |
… boat's just capsized! (3) | TUB | Definition: boat
Reverse of BUT (just, as in " I have but one life to lose for my country") |
Finally, the Times replaces work from rival advocate (8) | EXPONENT | Definition: advocate
OPPONENT with OP (work) replaced by the final letter of thE + X (multiplication sign, times) |
On Irish author said to be merry (7) | REJOICE | Definition: to be merry
RE + homophone of (James) JOYCE |
Rabble who are rioting, not acting to support society (6) | SHOWER | Definition: Rabble
S[ociety] "supported by" (WHO ARE)* less A[cting] |
Star bit off vegetable (6) | CELERY | Definition: vegetable
CELEBRITY minus the letters B I T |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.