Clue
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| Explanation
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|---|---|---|
US writer ruins platonic arrangement (5,8) | UPTON SINCLAIR | Definition: US writer
(RUINS PLATONIC) |
Jointly capitulated (8,5) | KNUCKLED UNDER | Definition: capitulated
Just a rather vague cryptic definition |
Rat in castle biting servant (9) | INFORMANT | Definition: Rat
IN + MAN (servant) in FORT |
Offset due — fill in form (9) | NULLIFIED | Definition: Offset
(DUE FILL IN)* – offset = nullified seems a bit tenuous |
Current head of government turning into wino — that's awkward! (7) | LUMPISH | Definition: awkward
Reverse of I (electric current) + PM in LUSH |
Report to me in Barking North (7) | MENTION | Definition: Report
(TO ME IN)* + N |
Largely failing to save edition of holy books (5) | VEDIC | Definition: of holy books
ED (edition) in VIC[e] (a failing) |
Pulls grass up (5) | DRAWS | Definition: Pulls
Reverse of SWARD |
Jam? In tagliatelle? (8) | TAILBACK | Definition: Jam
TAIL is hidden BACKwards in tagLIATelle |
Old citizen is a hard worker (6) | TROJAN | Definition: Old citizen
Double definition |
Paint nudism au naturel, finally implicated in recurrent commotion (8) | EMULSION | Definition: Paint
Last letters of nudisM aU natureL in reverse of NOISE |
Refuse to acknowledge one's outwardly depressed (6) | DISOWN | Definition: Refuse to acknowledge
I'S (one's) in DOWN (depressed) |
Street's not a place for events and functions (5) | VENUE | Definition: place for events and functions
AVENUE less A |
Old motorbikes feature thrills with skill rounding junction (9) | KICKSTART | Definition: Old motorbikes feature
T in KICKS (thrills) + ART |
Very well and appropriate baffle, as if playing inside (3,2,1,6) | FIT AS A FIDDLE | Definition: Very well
FIT (appropriate) + (AS IF)* in ADDLE (to confuse, baffle) |
You'll find that to the west of Mexico father cooks first, provided with tiny capacity oven (7,5) | PACIFIC COAST | Definition: You'll find that to the west of Mexico
A charade of many parts: PA (father) + C[ooks] + IF (provided) + 1 CC (small volume, tiny capacity) + OAST (oven) |
Piddling half-pint? (5,4) | SMALL BEER | Definition: Piddling
Double definition |
Primarily austere, mostly illiberal, quiet sect (5) | AMISH | Definition: sect
First letters of Austere, Mostly Illiberal + SH, with an extended definition |
Liable to change (6) | LABILE | Definition: Liable to change
A very economical &lit (aka "clue as definition") – anagram of LIABLE, and the whole clue also defines LABILE |
Driver for pointless proportionate representation (8) | OPERATOR | Definition: Driver
Anagram of PROPORTIONATE less POINT |
Hokusai's fifth boat illustration (6) | SKETCH | Definition: illustration
Fifth letter of hokuSai + KETCH |
Yet my Mrs may be fearful of Tyger's appearance (8) | SYMMETRY | Definition: Tyger's appearance
(YET MY MRS)* – a reference to Blake's "The Tyger": "What immortal hand or eye,/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?" |
Where you can find venue with beers to store letters of faithful followers (6,8) | TWELVE APOSTLES | Definition: faithful followers
"Venue" is to be found at TWELVE across, + POST in ALES |
They say you again got entangled with an American native (6) | IGUANA | Definition: an American native
Anagram of U + AGAIN |
Doctrine about Caesar, oddly not shown in sculptor's work (3,6) | BAS RELIEF | Definition: sculptor's work
cAeSaR less its odd letters in BELIEF |
Timekeepers extremely eager, but not this one (12) | CLOCKWATCHER | Definition: this one
CLOCK + WATCH (two "timekeepers") + E[age]R – typically a clockwatcher is not an eager worker |
In Singapore, I'm searching for a source of fizz (5) | REIMS | Definition: a source of fizz
Hidden in singapoRE I'M Searching. Reims "lies on the northern edge of the Champagne wine region and is linked to its production and export." |
Risk of standard diet originally eaten by kangaroo, after a change of heart (8) | JEOPARDY | Definition: Risk
PAR (standard) D[iet] in JOEY with its inner letters swapped |
Half past seven in the evening is a time of depression (8-6) | NINETEEN-THIRTY | Definition: Half past seven in the evening
Double definition; 1930 was during the Great Depression of the 1930s, generally taken to start in 1929 |
Coy orphan, age uncertain, a subject for deep study (12) | OCEANOGRAPHY | Definition: a subject for deep study
(COY ORPHAN AGE) |
Where to share pictures of fashionable males (9) | INSTAGRAM | Definition: Where to share pictures
IN (fashionable) + STAG + RAM (two males) |
Bravo for Mike in rush for game (8) | SCRABBLE | Definition: game
SCRAMBLE with M changed to B |
Order giving rise to rubbish joke (6) | DIKTAT | Definition: Order
Reverse of TAT (rubbish) + KID (to joke) |
Return visit to wrap one's flower (5) | LILAC | Definition: flower
I in reverse of CALL |
Tomb's terrible curse: help! (9) | SEPULCHRE | Definition: Tomb
(CURSE HELP) |
Drop small piece of sugar (5) | SLUMP | Definition: Drop
S[mall] + LUMP |
Have breakfast, as all the king's horses and men did (2,2,4,2,2,3) | GO TO WORK ON AN EGG | Definition: Have breakfast
Double definition – the phrase was an advertising slogan for eggs in the 1950s and 1960s, supposedly invented by the novelist Fay Weldon; also a reference to the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty: "All the king's horses and all the king's men/Couldn't put Humpty together again" |
One day, start to eat and fill up (4) | SATE | Definition: fill up
SAT[urday] + E[at] |
Jargon in capital university describing, say, beer (8) | LEGALESE | Definition: Jargon
EG (say) + ALE in LSE (university in London) |
Marvellous month ending with a starry event (9) | SUPERNOVA | Definition: starry event
SUPER (marvellous) + NOV + A |
Prophet almost died, drenched in water (5) | HOSED | Definition: drenched in water
HOSE[a] (prophet, after whom one of the books of the Old Testament is named) + D[ied] |
Dismissing one set of Nazis, control group of law enforcers (5) | POSSE | Definition: group of law enforcers
POSSESS (control) less the second instance (hence "one set") of SS |
Badly alarmed by North Dakota, an unreal place (9) | DREAMLAND | Definition: an unreal place
ALARMED* + ND |
Exhaust me, returning to America retired (8) | EMERITUS | Definition: retired
Reverse of TIRE ME + US |
Spades sever rabbit's tail (4) | SCUT | Definition: rabbit's tail
S + CUT |
One's mad to have these protected creatures in church (4,2,3,6) | BATS IN THE BELFRY | Definition: One's mad to have these
Double definition |
Discharge ambassador, who's in drink (5) | RHEUM | Definition: Discharge
HE (His Excellency] in RUM |
Lose voter? Terrible for president (9) | ROOSEVELT | Definition: president
(LOSE VOTES)* – talking of US presidents, there was a bizarre misspelling in yesterday's Speedy from the Observer |
Sounds exasperated by announced dimensions (5) | SIGHS | Definition: Sounds exasperated
Homophone of "size" |
Worst and best refuelling place (3,4) | PIT STOP | Definition: refuelling place
PITS (worst) + TOP (best) |
In the light, wife is off colour (4) | LEWD | Definition: off colour
W in LED |
Arthur tries to conceal injury (4) | HURT | Definition: injury
Hidden in artHUR Tries |
Old partner one scolded is free of blame (10) | EXONERATED | Definition: free of blame
EX (former partner) + ONE + RATED (scolded) |
Hot seat may shatter the unadventurous (4-2-4) | STAY-AT-HOME | Definition: unadventurous
(HOT SEAT MAY) |
Waste of time, what you may do to protect the environment? (7) | USELESS | Definition: Waste of time
To protect the environment, USE LESS |
Wilful greedy guts was in charge (9) | PIGHEADED | Definition: Wilful
PIG (greedy person) + HEADED |
Committee said umpire is wrong (10) | PRAESIDIUM | Definition: Committee
(SAID UMPIRE) |
Would, say, ship provide a job for Ali Baba? (10) | WOODCUTTER | Definition: a job for Ali Baba
WOOD ("would") + CUTTER (ship) – in the story from the "Arabian Nights", Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter |
Peter's excited to receive an honour at start of school year (9) | SEPTEMBER | Definition: start of school year
MBE (honour) in PETERS |
Ghost is a little suspect, really (7) | SPECTRE | Definition: Ghost
Hidden in suSPECT REally |
Trouble for each major enemy (7) | ARCHFOE | Definition: major enemy
(FOR EACH) |
Go to join street meeting (5) | TRYST | Definition: meeting
TRY (go) + ST |
Looking embarrassed by love? Have another go (4) | REDO | Definition: Have another go
RED + O |
Hours before present (4) | HERE | Definition: present
H + ERE (before) |
Jump across, initially moving right to left, to arrive at different levels (6) | STRATA | Definition: levels
START (jump) + A[cross], with the R moved one place to the left |
Finishing touches for scripts by Dan Levy, showing correct use of language (6) | SYNTAX | Definition: correct use of language
Last letters of scriptS bY daN + TAX (levy) |
TV show judge's entertaining pooch? (7) | TERRIER | Definition: pooch
ER (TV show based around a Chicago Emergency Room) in TRIER (judge) |
Can I spoil first drink (7) | MARTINI | Definition: drink
MAR (spoil) + TIN (can) + I |
Clue to make WAG punish cleaner (7-2,6) | WASHING-UP LIQUID | Definition: cleaner
WASHING-UP is an anagram of WAG PUNISH, which could be indicated in a clue by the indicator LIQUID |
See Mark's predicament (4) | SPOT | Definition: See
Triple definition |
Stable's opening tack room — it's slow (6,4) | SNAIL’S PACE | Definition: it's slow
S[table] + NAIL (tack) + SPACE (room) |
After five Americans leave bar area ready, ale's drunk — and some kind of wine? (10) | ELDERBERRY | Definition: some kind of wine
Anagram of BAR AREA READY ALE less the five instances of A |
Note start of month has new moon, occasionally (4) | MEMO | Definition: Note
M[onth] + alternate letters of nEw MoOn |
Broadcast porn deal matters for pair that grind (6,3,6) | PESTLE AND MORTAR | Definition: pair that grind
(PORN DEAL MATTERS)* – I think "mortar and pestle" is more usual, and of course the clue could give either version |
Discovered this book with way-out jacket for present (7) | EXHIBIT | Definition: present
HI (THIS "dis-covered") + B[ook] in EXIT |
Small bottle found in a drug smuggler containing cannabis, mostly (7) | AMPOULE | Definition: Small bottle
PO[t] in A MULE |
Books Lineker, say, without support (6) | GANTRY | Definition: support
NT (New Testament, books) in GARY (Gary Lineker, ex-footballer and commentator) |
Article on excited UK Green insiders' legendary response to rising water level (6) | EUREKA | Definition: legendary response to rising water level
Anagram of UK [g]REE[n] + A (indefinite article) – Archimedes' legendary response to realising that the displacement of water could be used to determine the purity of a gold crown |
Beginning to beat out precious metal, striking head (9) | THRESHOLD | Definition: Beginning
THRESH (beat out) + [g]OLD |
Sharp police unit infiltrating revolutionary spies (6) | ACIDIC | Definition: Sharp
CID in reverse of CIA |
A rector overseeing organ recital, originally raised church's sense of superiority (9) | ARROGANCE | Definition: sense of superiority
A R + ORGAN with R[ecital] (recital, originally), moved up, + CE |
Rearing mountain lions making a university review … (3,2) | SUM UP | Definition: review
Reverse of PUMAS with A changed to U[niversity] |
… new animal sanctuary — first to accept incarceration, essentially will make most irritable (8) | NARKIEST | Definition: most irritable
N + ARK (animal sanctuary) + middle letter of incarcEration in 1ST |
Brussels supports aid arrangement for so long (5) | ADIEU | Definition: so long
AID* + EU (Brussels, by synecdoche) |
Perhaps Harrovians and partners, entering drag race (11) | TOWNSPEOPLE | Definition: Perhaps Harrovians
N S (partners in Bridge) in TOW (drag) PEOPLE (race) |
Most of river reaches English channel eventually (2,3,6) | IN DUE COURSE | Definition: eventually
INDU[s] +E + COURSE (channel) |
After baffling air raid film, turned shed light on (9) | IRRADIATE | Definition: shed light on
(AIR RAID)* + reverse of ET (film) |
Stunned banks withdraw from Mae West fight (3-6) | AWE-STRUCK | Definition: Stunned
MAE with the outer letter or "banks" removed, + WEST + RUCK (fight) |
Sick have small portion under doctor — it might well be boring (5,3) | DRILL BIT | Definition: it might well be boring
DR + ILL + BIT |
Small change for policeman (6) | COPPER | Definition: Small change
Double definition |
Kitsch outfit dismissed with a sound (5) | SCHWA | Definition: sound
KITSCH less KIT (outfit) + W[ith] A; scwha is a neutral vowel sound, as in the second syllable of "neutral", for example, indicated in phonetics by the symbol ə |
Nervous, puzzling 5 across, 10 down (5) | ANTSY | Definition: Nervous
Anagram of SYNTAX (5a) less ("down") X (Roman numeral 10) – a great one to finish |
Initially retired, Michael Caine's having to work: one goes over lines (9,5) | VANISHING CREAM | Definition: one goes over lines
Anagram of R[etired] M[ichael] CAINE'S HAVING |
Took horse round in this? (5) | RODEO | Definition: Took horse round in this
RODE (took a horse) + O (round) &lit |
Pair of seals when swimming? Group not round seal at sea (8) | EARPLUGS | Definition: Pair of seals when swimming
Anagram of GROUP less O (another "round"!) + SEAL |
Team golfer wearing short fleece (7) | CHELSEA | Definition: Team
[Ernie] ELS in CHEA[t] (to fleece) |
Charm school finally ran the training (7) | ENTHRAL | Definition: Charm
Anagram of [schoo]L RAN THE |
Starting a relationship primarily around sex: strings attached to this? (5) | SITAR | Definition: strings attached to this
IT (sex) in first letters of Starting A Relationship |
Real gold in that case twinkling endlessly (9) | AUTHENTIC | Definition: Real
AU (gold) + THEN (in that case) + TIC[k] (in a tick = in a twinkling; very soon) |
Confirms boxer goes out after victory (9) | VALIDATES | Definition: Confirms
V[ictory] + ALI (boxer) + DATES (goes out [with]) |
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