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|---|---|---|
Wag is huge, not small (5) | COMIC | Definition: Wag
COSMIC less S |
Taxes one with millions and more than one job (7) | IMPOSTS | Definition: Taxes
I + M + POSTS (jobs) |
Weak person bleeds before surgery (7) | MILKSOP | Definition: Weak person
MILKS (bleeds) + OP[eration] |
Worker describing pit bully (8) | DOMINEER | Definition: bully
MINE (pit) in DOER |
Idea, given time, works (5) | PLANT | Definition: works
PLAN + T |
Modern train at London: second from King's Cross (14) | NONTRADITIONAL | Definition: Modern
Anagram TRAIN AT LONDON + second letter of kIng. I think I would hyphenate this word, if only to prevent it looking like nontra-ditional, but the unhyphenated version seems to be standard |
Revive casino that's in trouble; it could cause a problem for one member (8,4) | VARICOSE VEIN | Definition: it could cause a problem for one member
(REVIVE CASINO) |
Wearing nothing to protect onset of golfer's elbow (5) | NUDGE | Definition: elbow
G[olfer] in NUDE (wearing nothing) |
Did back hurt, day after boy carries piano? (9) | SPONSORED | Definition: Did back
P in SON + SORE (hurt) + D[ay] |
Flower arrangement in furniture shop to cover most of store (7) | IKEBANA | Definition: Flower arrangement
BAN[k] (store) in IKEA |
Perhaps coat of fellow concealing weapon (7) | GARMENT | Definition: Perhaps coat
ARM in GENT |
Upset worker in bathroom? Fired again (5) | RELIT | Definition: Fired again
Reverse of TILER (not the roofing sort: one who might work in a bathroom) |
Steps goal hit, travelling miles over run (9) | ALGORITHM | Definition: Steps
R in (GOAL HIT)* + R[un] + M[iles] |
Hunk with money is a big character (5,7) | BLOCK CAPITAL | Definition: a big character
BLOCK (hunk) + CAPITAL (money) |
Long shot from footballer going over close to netting (9) | TELEPHOTO | Definition: Long shot
Reverse of PELE (footballer) + HOT (close) in (netted by) TO |
Gums cut? I pay dental practice, ultimately for treatment (9) | EUCALYPTI | Definition: Gums
Anagram of CUT I PAY [denta]L [practic]E |
Climbing on top of sink, laid a tile (7) | TESSERA | Definition: tile
Reverse of RE (on) S[ink] SET (laid), + A |
Arm with US bombs and first-class fighters (7) | SAMURAI | Definition: fighters
(ARM US)* + A1 |
Fast broadband connection mostly in street (5) | SWIFT | Definition: Fast
WIF[i] in ST[reet] |
Hand opening tin for produce (5) | SPAWN | Definition: produce
PAW (hand) in SN (tin) |
Oh dear, less effective tool than a pitchfork, by the sound of it? (5-2) | HEIGH-HO | Definition: Oh dear
Homophone of "hay hoe", which might be less effective than a pitchfork |
Malaise rare in report (7) | BOREDOM | Definition: Malaise
RED (rare) in BOOM (report, as from an explosion) |
Unintentionally funny man taking bow in illusionist (5,6) | SPOON BENDER | Definition: illusionist
BEND (bow) in SPOONER (whose verbal slips were unintentionally funny) |
Clumsy butchering of the samurai (10) | AMATEURISH | Definition: Clumsy
(THE SAMURAI) |
Passage from one end of Salonica to the other? (4) | STOA | Definition: Passage
S TO A, using the outer letters of SalonicA |
Fellow accommodating illicit tavern is party guy? (12) | CONSERVATIVE | Definition: party guy
(TAVERN IS)* in COVE (fellow) – given the Partygate shenanigans, the definition can perhaps be taken in two ways |
I've no idea if hatmaker's one for tailoring? (3,2,7) | ASK ME ANOTHER | Definition: I've no idea
(HATMAKER'S ONE) |
Idiot's point inspiring intellectual, finally (4) | DOLT | Definition: Idiot
[intellectua]L in DOT |
Goddess, essentially mobile? (10) | PERSEPHONE | Definition: Goddess
PER SE (essentially) + MOBILE (phone) |
Maestro elected to double back on opera (9) | TOSCANINI | Definition: Maestro
TOSCA (opera) + IN (elected) reversed, twice |
Did content of bidet career from behind? (5) | ACTED | Definition: Did
Hidden in reverse of biDET Career |
Meddle, as some Canadian leader? (7) | INTRUDE | Definition: Meddle
Hidden in justIN TRUDEau – it's unusual to have a hidden clue where the "fodder" is not given, but Trudeau (Pierre or Justin) is perhaps the only Canadian leader most of us could name |
Shave round blonde fringe, this female's hairy (3-4) | SHE-BEAR | Definition: this female's hairy
B[lond]E in SHEAR |
Soldier with swimmer and aviator on the periphery (6) | HUSSAR | Definition: Soldier
HUSS (fish, swimmer) + A[viato]R |
I do well to conceal black line on map (6) | ISOBAR | Definition: line on map
B in I SOAR |
Article removed from deceased in house, surrendered (6,4) | HANDED OVER | Definition: surrendered
DEAD less A (article) in HANOVER (royal house) |
Wit in funny replies penned by discontented Bennett (3,6) | BEL ESPRIT | Definition: Wit
REPLIES* in B[ennet]T |
Nettle rash itchy, less excruciating first of all (4) | RILE | Definition: Nettle
First letters of Rash Itchy Less Excruciating |
Carry out check on trouble in joint (8) | DOVETAIL | Definition: joint
DO VET + AIL |
Large amount on a pension, perhaps, worked hard (8) | MASSAGED | Definition: worked hard
MASS (large amount) AGED (as one on a pension might be) |
Groundwork backfiring in appetite for party piece? (5,5) | PAPER PLATE | Definition: party piece
Reverse of PREP (groundwork) in PALATE (appetite) |
Write poetry, very intense rubbish (9) | SONNETISE | Definition: Write poetry
SO + INTENSE |
Criminals in party, it needing reflection? (8) | BANDITTI | Definition: Criminals
BAND (party) + IT + its reverse |
Working range, where pan's filled with stew, originally (5,3) | SKILL SET | Definition: Working range
S[tew] in SKILLET (pan) |
Spouse's situation on easy street, comparatively? (3,3,5,4,5) | HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES | Definition: on easy street, comparatively
Double definition |
Notices Christmas fare if served with mint, did you say? (5) | SPIES | Definition: Notices
MINT SPIES = "mince pies", Christmas fare |
Tropical island I see in middle of Slough (4) | OAHU | Definition: Tropical island
AH (I see!) in [sl]OU[gh] – Oahu is one of the islands of Hawaii |
About to be absorbed into the crowd, as they say (5) | THREE | Definition: crowd, as they say
**RE** (with reference to; about) **contained in** (absorbed into) **THE**
**TH** (**RE**) **E |
Don't allow ghostly coverings, say, with no time for wailing spirits (8) | BANSHEES | Definition: wailing spirits
**BAN** (don't allow) **+ SHEETS** (ghosts are often portrayed as covered in a **SHEET**; ghostly coverings) **excluding** (with no) **T**
**BAN** **SHEES |
City, European, swathed in black carpets (6) | BRUGES | Definition: City
**E** (European) **contained in** (swathed in) (**B** [black, when describing pencil lead] **+ RUGS** [carpets])
**B** **RUG** (**E**) **S |
Caught dancing around, around large witch's accessory? (8) | CAULDRON | Definition: witch's accessory
**C** (caught) **+** (**an anagram of** [dancing] **AROUND** **containing** [around] **L** [large])
**C** **AU** (**L**) **DRON |
Real German playwright, German, not British (4) | ECHT | Definition: Real
**BRECHT** (reference Bertolt **BRECHT** [1898 – 1956], German playwright) **excluding** (not) **BR** (British)
**ECHT |
Charge lots of directors for advertising material (10) | BILLBOARDS | Definition: advertising material
**BILL** (raise an invoice; charge) **+ BOARDS** (groups of [lots of] company directors)
**BILL BOARDS |
Look at new type of cinema, returning in middle of week (7) | EXAMINE | Definition: Look at
(**N** [new] **+ IMAX** [system of widescreen cinema presentation]) **reversed** (returning) and **contained in** (in) **EE** (**central letters of** [middle of] **WEEK**)
**E** (**XAMI N**)< **E |
Awkward customer to toss back endless throws (7) | BOLSHIE | Definition: Awkward customer
**LOB** (toss) **reversed** (back) **+ SHIES** (throws) **excluding the final letter** (endless) **S**
**BOL**< **SHIE |
Afropop in bar, endlessly (3) | RAI | Definition: Afropop
**RAIL** (bar) **excluding the final letter** (endlessly) **L**
**RAI |
Not a member of group possibly facing follow-on? (7) | OUTSIDE | Definition: Not a member of group
**OUT SIDE** (a **SIDE** in cricket that is all **OUT** after its first innings, for a score that is substantially less than their opponents who batted first, may be asked to bat again [follow-on] before their opponents)
**OUT SIDE |
Meadow hired out after fine bit of advertising (7) | LEAFLET | Definition: bit of advertising
**LEA** (meadow) **+** **F** (fine) **+ LET** (hired out)
**LEA F LET |
Discriminatory treatment, not primarily excellent standard (10) | INEQUALITY | Definition: Discriminatory treatment
**FINE** (excellent) **excluding the first letter** (not primarily) **F** **+ QUALITY** (standard)
**INE QUALITY |
Happen to get cheers for version under test (4) | BETA | Definition: version under test
**BE** (happen) **+ TA** (thank you; cheers)
**BE TA |
One special lunar vehicle? Man provides home for one (8) | ISLANDER | Definition: Man provides home for one
**I** (Roman numeral for one) **+ S** (special) **+ LANDER** (reference a lunar **LANDER,** a vehicle used by astronauts to **LAND** on the moon)
**I S LANDER |
Declining upholstery material if front's absent (6) | EBBING | Definition: Declining
**WEBBING** (woven strip of hemp, used for belts, etc, for various purposes in upholstery) **excluding the first letter** (front's absent) **W**
**EBBING |
Malta is getting peevish with independent state (8) | MISSOURI | Definition: state
**M** (International Vehicle Registration for Malta) **+ IS + SOUR** (irritable; peevish) **+ I** (independent)
**M IS SOUR I |
Dude showing extremes of duplicity (5) | DANDY | Definition: Dude
**D AND Y** (**D** and **Y** are t**he outer letters** **of** [extremes of] **DUPLICITY**)
**D AND Y |
Put down a quantity of food (5) | TABLE | Definition: Put down
**TABLE** (a supply or quantity of food) **double definition**
**TABLE |
Rowdy company, somewhat plastered? (9) | ROUGHCAST | Definition: somewhat plastered
**ROUGH** (turbulent; rowdy) **+ CAST** (a company of actors)
**ROUGH CAST |
Cumbrian river: pike's last refuge (4) | EDEN | Definition: Cumbrian river
**E** (**final letter of** [last] **PIKE**) **+ DEN** (hideaway; refuge)
**E DEN |
I should be promoted in duty following a very advanced state of readiness (12) | AVAILABILITY | Definition: state of readiness
**A + V** (very) **+ A** (advanced) **+ LIABILITY** (duty) **with the first I raised up this down entry** [promoted] **to form** **ILABILITY**
**A V A ILABILITY |
A line in some plan revised feature of dam? (6,4) | SALMON LEAP | Definition: feature of dam
(**A** **+ L** [line])** contained in an anagram of** (revised) **SOME PLAN **
**S **(**A L**)** MON LEAP |
Annoying child denied first wrong act (5) | ERROR | Definition: wrong act
**TERROR** (annoying child) **excluding the first letter** (denied first) **T**
**ERROR |
Getting old, observes small amount of money, having claimed pension at last (9) | SENESCENT | Definition: Getting old
(**SEES** [observes] **+ CENT** [small amount of money]) **containing** (having claimed) **N** (f**inal letter of** [at last] **PENSION**)
**SE** (**N**) **ES CENT |
Possibly release diary – it covers 365 days or so (8,4) | SIDEREAL YEAR | Definition: it covers 365 days or so
**Anagram of** (possibly) **RELEASE DIARY**
**SIDEREAL YEAR |
Foolish insinuation, overlooking a new decline? (10) | DIMINUENDO | Definition: decline
**DIM** (foolish) **+ INNUENDO** (insinuation) **excluding** (overlooking) **one of the ** (a) **N**s
**DIM INUENDO |
Isometric exercises? Sexy stuff (9) | EROTICISM | Definition: Sexy stuff
**Anagram of** (exercises) **ISOMETRIC**
**EROTICISM |
Associated with detective, hansom lies mostly free (9) | HOLMESIAN | Definition: Associated with detective
**Anagram of** (free) **HANSOM** and **LIES** **excluding the final letter** (mostly) **S**
**HOLMESIAN |
Novel listing includes literary pseudonym (5) | ELLIS | Definition: literary pseudonym
**ELLIS** (**hidden word** [includes] **in** **NOVEL LISTING**)
**ELLIS |
Old King, trapped in a US city, in a rage (5) | ANGRY | Definition: in a rage
**GR** (George Rex, one of many old British Kings) **contained in** (trapped in) (**A + NY** [New York, US city])
**A** **N** (**GR**) **Y |
A necklace item one lost among the sheets? (4) | ABED | Definition: among the sheets
**A + BEAD** (necklace item) **excluding** (lost) **A** (one)
**A + BED |
Fancy hot bedrooms are not groovy (6-5) | SMOOTH-BORED | Definition: not groovy
**Anagram of** (fancy) **HOT BEDROOMS**
**SMOOTH BORED |
Flower sends submariner into an ecstasy (7) | ANEMONE | Definition: Flower
**NEMO** (reference Captain **NEMO**, fictional submariner created by the novelist Jules Verne [1828 – 1905] and featured in 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas' and 'The Mysterious Island') **contained in** (sends … into) (**AN + E** [ecstasy tablet])
**A** (**NEMO**) **N** **E |
One shied, caught out concealing scam (7) | COCONUT | Definition: One shied
(**C** [caught] **+ OUT**) **containing** (concealing) **CON** (**CON**fidence trick or scam)
**C** **O** (**CON**) **UT |
Cosmetics salesperson from America comes back to make a big bang (9) | SUPERNOVA | Definition: big bang
(**AVON REP** [**AVON** is a long established cosmetic company whose **REP**resentatives [sales people] are apparently still encouraged to knock on doors to sell their products] **+ US** [United States; America]) **all reversed** (comes back)
(**SU PER NOVA**)< |
Tree's total area collecting carbon (5) | SUMAC | Definition: Tree
**SUM** (total) **+ A** (area) **+ C** (carbon)
**SUM A C |
Accent presumably from the south-west (4) | TONE | Definition: Accent
**TO NE** (to the North East, therefore presumably from the South West)
**TONE |
Armada, circling a minute lifeboat, stalls (4,6) | FLEA MARKET | Definition: stalls
**FLEET** (armada) **containing** (circling) (**A + M** [minute] **+ ARK** (Noah's lifeboat for himself, his wife and the animals that went in two-by-two)
**FLE** (**A M ARK**) **ET |
One takes people through specialist trial (10) | EXPERIMENT | Definition: trial
(**I** [Roman numeral for one] **+ MEN** [people]) **contained in** (through) **EXPERT** (specialist)
**EXPER** (**I MEN**) **T |
Writing about sporting blunder in bad visibility (4) | SMOG | Definition: bad visibility
**MS** (manuscript; writing) **reversed** (about) **+ OG** (own goal; sporting blunder)
**SM**< **OG |
Fat boy meets another finally across river (5) | LARDY | Definition: Fat
(**LAD** [boy] **+ Y** [**last letter of** [finally] **BOY** [another lad])** containing** (across) **R** (river)
**LA** (**R**) **D** **Y |
Pole is three times wounded — he takes high risks (4,5) | TEST PILOT | Definition: he takes high risks
**Anagram of** (wounded) **POLE IS** and **TTT** [three occurrences of **T** [time]; three times)
**TEST PILOT |
We hear Oscar's agent did lose all control (3,4) | RUN WILD | Definition: lose all control
**RUN** (manage, as an agent would do) **+ WILD** (**sounds like** [we hear] **WILDE** [reference **OSCAR WILDE** [1854-1900], Irish poet and playwright)
**RUN WILD |
One who's withdrawn from class in recycling (7) | RECLUSE | Definition: One who's withdrawn
**CL** (class) **contained in** (in) **REUSE** (recycling)
**RE** (**CL**) **USE |
End striker's loan period for second leg (6,5) | RETURN MATCH | Definition: second leg
**RETURN MATCH** (cryptic reference to ending the loan period of [**RETURN**ing] a striker [a **MATCH**]) **cryptic definition**
**RETURN MATCH |
Wife not interested tonight? I can't manage (8,7) | SLEEPING PARTNER | Definition: I can't manage
**SLEEPING PARTNER** (a wife [or husband?], **PARTNER**, who chooses to **SLEEP** rather than indulge in other activities in bed) **cryptic definition**
**SLEEPING PARTNER |
Stench of Iberian river, bubble rising to the surface (5) | ODOUR | Definition: Stench
**DOURO** (river in Portugal, part of the Iberian peninsula) with the final **O** (bubble shaped character) **rising to the top** [surface] [down entry] **to form ODOUR**
**ODOUR |
Ornamental tracery work probed by judge (7) | TREFOIL | Definition: Ornamental tracery
**TOIL** (work) **containing** (probed by) **REF** (**REF**eree; judge)
**T** (**REF**) **OIL |
Out of helmet take a large pastry (7) | BACLAVA | Definition: pastry
**BALACLAVA** (knitted hat covering the head and neck, with an opening for the face, also known as a **BALACLAVA** helmet) **excluding** (out of) (**A** **+ L** [large])
**BACLAVA |
A man draws this stack of hay and wood (8) | RICKSHAW | Definition: A man draws this
**RICK** (stack of hay) **+ SHAW** (a small wood)
**RICK SHAW |
Teacher preparing me a talk — me! Yuk, it's unbelievable (4,4,2,5) | DON | Definition: it's unbelievable
**DON** (university teacher) **+ an anagram of** (preparing) **ME A TALK ME** **+ UGH**! (expression of repugnance similar to **YUK**!)
**DON** ('**T MAKE ME LA***) **UGH |
There's malaria spreading: call for help (5,3,5) | RAISE THE ALARM | Definition: call for help
**Anagram of** (spreading) **THERE'S MALARIA**
**RAISE THE ALARM |
Support each other to win hearts, blocking pig killer (5,8) | STICK TOGETHER | Definition: Support each other
(**TO + GET** [win] **+ H** [hearts]) **contained in** (blocking) **STICKER** (person who kills pigs)
**STICK** (**TO** **GET H**) **ER |
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