Clue
stringlengths
7
155
Answer
stringlengths
0
46
Explanation
stringlengths
5
990
Column moulding including dark ornament (on top often) (7)
TORSADE
Definition: ornament (on top often) **TORE** (large moulding, semicircular or nearly so in section, common at the base of a column) **containing** (including) **SAD** (depressed; dark) **TOR** (**SAD**) **E
Transcend cooking pot with suet (7)
OUTSTEP
Definition: Transcend **Anagram of** (cooking) **POT** and[with] **SUET** **OUTSTEP
Palace officers placing jug in steamer (6)
SEWERS
Definition: Palace officers **EWER** (jug) **contained in** (in) **SS** (steamship; steamer) **S** (**EWER**) **S
House with filthy hovel, about right as lodging for poet (6)
HOSTRY
Definition: lodging for poet **HO** (house) **+** (**STY** [filthy hovel] **containing** [about] **R** [right]) **HO** **ST** (**R**) **Y
Scotsman's coarse around ears being regularly blocked (5)
RUDAS
Definition: Scotsman's coarse **RUDAS** (**letters remaining when characters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 are blocked out from** [regularly blocked] **AROUND EARS**) **RUDAS
Record I have found at rear of vault (7)
ARCHIVE
Definition: Record **ARCH** (vault) **+ I'VE** (I have) **ARCH IVE
Police dog maybe whistle-blower hands back (7)
SNIFFER
Definition: Police dog maybe (**REF** [**REF**eree; whistleblower]) **+ FINS** [hands]) **all reversed** (back) (**SNIF** **FER**)<
Indian tree, one put with a different genus from the east (5)
ARECA
Definition: Indian tree **A + ACER** (a different genus of tree) **reversed** (from the east) **A RECA**<
Early forerunner of napalm, if mixed with petrol mostly? (7)
FIREPOT
Definition: Early forerunner of napalm **Anagram of** (x mixed with y) **IF** mixed with **PETROL** **excluding the final letter** (mostly) **L** **FIREPOT
One cultivating sapling (6)
TILLER
Definition: One cultivating **TILLER** (a sapling) **double definition** **TILLER
M for mooch (4)
MIKE
Definition: M **MIKE** (loiter idly; mooch) **double definition** **MIKE
Senior Methodists grade articles (12)
CLASSLEADERS
Definition: Senior Methodists **CLASS** (grade) **+ LEADERS** (editorial articles in a newspaper) **CLASS LEADERS
Enlargement boosted tavern, humble inside (6)
BLOW-UP
Definition: Enlargement **LOW** (humble) **contained in** (inside) **PUB** (tavern) **reversed** (boosted; down entry) **B** (**LOW**) **UP**<
Unfriendly Scots needing to relax after fine (6)
FREMIT
Definition: Unfriendly Scots **F** (fine) **+ REMIT** (relax) **F REMIT
One travels frequently taking in measure of land (5)
FARER
Definition: One travels **FR** (frequently) **containing** (take in) **ARE** (metric measure of land area) **F** (**ARE**) **R
What may indicate a leak is found in odd bits of hose? (4)
HISS
Definition: What may indicate a leak **IS** **contained in** (found in) **HS** (**letters 1 and 3** [odd bits] of **HOSE**) **H** (**IS**) **S
It'll give access to northern crowd watching a test (some, anyway) (6)
INGATE
Definition: It'll give access to northern crowd **INGATE** (**hidden word in** [some, anyway] **WATCHING A TEST**) **INGATE
Moving panel rod that'll indicate weight (8)
PONDERAL
Definition: that'll indicate weight **Anagram of** (moving) **PANEL ROD** **PONDERAL
Boy certainly hugs flirt jiggling her knick-knacks once (11)
LADYTRIFLES
Definition: her knick-knacks once **LAD** (boy) **+** (**YES** [certainly] **containing** [hugs] **an anagram of** [jingling] **FLIRT**) **LAD** **Y** (**TRIFL***) **ES
Member of extended family not on flight (5)
STEPS
Definition: flight **STEPSON** (member of extended family) **excluding** (not) **ON** **STEPS
Loo drain needs fixing: it's said to be bung as before in Perth (8)
DOORNAIL
Definition: bung as before in Perth **Anagram of** (needs fixing) **LOO DRAIN** **DOORNAIL
Riddle about soak coming up – devoid of ideas? (7)
STERILE
Definition: devoid of ideas **SILE** (sieve; riddle) **containing** (about) **RET** (soak) **reversed** (coming up) **S** (**TER**<) **ILE
Is without possession of ruined shanty less yard (5)
HASN
Definition: Is without possession of **Anagram of** (ruined) **SHANTY** **excluding** (less) **Y** (yard) **HASN'T
Singular variety of lilac – its flowers are bright blue (6)
SCILLA
Definition: its flowers are bright blue **S** (singular) **+ an anagram of** (variety of) **LILAC** **S CILLA
Old 3-D film, damn mixed type (6)
DEEPIE
Definition: Old 3-D film **DEE** (D; damn) **+ PIE** (printing term for type confusedly mixed) **DEE PIE
Rushes suddenly appearing in group coming up after spring (6)
SPATES
Definition: Rushes suddenly **SPA** (spring) **+ SET** (group) **reversed** (coming up; down entry) **SPA TES**<
Stranger in Edinburgh given meal regularly with room (5)
FREMD
Definition: Stranger in Edinburgh **FED** (given meal) **with the letters of RM** (room) **entered separately between letters 1/2 and 2/3 [given regularly] of FED to form FREMD** **FREMD
Nice boy perhaps requiring money in ME (4)
FILS
Definition: Nice boy **FILS** (monetary unit in several Middle Eastern [ME] countries, with varying values) **double definition** **FILS
Wave hit shore, we fancy (5,5)
WHITE HORSE
Definition: Wave **Anagram of** (fancy) **HIT SHORE WE** **WHITE HORSE
Bring back bags of money in end (4)
STOP
Definition: end **POTS** (large sums of [bags of] money) **POTS**<
Rule safeguarding sci-fi film award perhaps (9)
STATUETTE
Definition: film award perhaps **STATUTE** (permanent law or rule) **containing** (safeguarding) **ET** (science fiction film) **STATU** (**ET**) **TE
Ruling out further discussion, finances cut by 50%, ultimately cruel (5)
FINAL
Definition: Ruling out further discussion **FINA** (**first 4 of 8 letters remaining in FINANCES when the final 4 letters** (50%) **are excluded** [cut]) **+ L** (**last letter of** [ultimately] **CRUEL**) **FINA L
Hint about Brussels business connection (3-2)
TIE-UP
Definition: business connection **TIP** (hint) **containing** (about) **EU** [European Union which is often referred to as 'Brussels' where its headquarters are located) **TI** (**E U**) **P
Chatroom guy maybe not fully up-to-date with schedule on return (9)
MODERATOR
Definition: Chatroom guy maybe **MODERN** (up-to-date) **excluding the final letter** (not fully) **N** **+ ROTA** (schedule) **reversed** (on return) **MODER** **ATOR**<
Wanderers home blessing to have military person involved (6)
BOLTON
Definition: Wanderers home **BOON** (blessing) **containing** (to have … involved) **LT** (Lieutenant; military rank) **BO** (**LT**) **ON
Elm, yew, initially both unfamiliar in playing area (7)
WEMBLEY
Definition: playing area **Anagram of** (unfamiliar) **ELM**, **YEW** and **B** (**first letter of** [initially] **BOTH**) **WEMBLEY
Players bearing with poor performer (4,3)
WEST HAM
Definition: Players **WEST** (compass bearing) **+ HAM** (poor actor or performer) **WEST HAM
To begin with, that was one night in London for 16 with this result (3-3)
TWO-NIL
Definition: result **TWO-NIL** (**initial letters of** [to begin with] **each of THAT**,** WAS**,** ONE**,** NIGHT**,** IN** and **LONDON**) **T W O–N I L
Public dispute about hotel's downfall (9)
OVERTHROW
Definition: downfal (**OVERT** [public] **+ ROW** [dispute]) **containing** (about) **H** (hotel) **OVERT** (**H**) **ROW
Provide better weapons for military at back, munitions at the outset (5)
REARM
REAR** (back) **+ M** (**first letter of** [at the outset] **MUNITIONS**) **REAR M
Feature of 1A 11A boast by Duke (5)
CROWD
Definition: Feature of 1A 11A **CROW** (boast) **+ D** (duke) **CROW D
Something at 18 goes with hat (9)
TURNSTILE
Definition: Something at 18 **TURNS** (operates; goes) **+ TILE** (slang for a hat) **TURNS TILE
Set about crossing European river (4)
TEES
Definition: river **SET reversed** [about] **containing** (crossing) **E** (European) **TE** (**E**) **S**< – either **E** could be the one contained
Earliest source of flame? 1A 11A was this at 18 (5,5)
FIRST MATCH
Definition: 1A 11A was this at 18 **FIRST MATCH** (The **WHITE HORSE** [1 across] **FINAL** [11 across] was the **FIRST MATCH** played at **WEMBLEY** [18 across]) **FIRST MATCH
Container with dust objection raised (7)
WASHTUB
Definition: Container **W** (with) **+ ASH** (dust) **+ BUT** (objection) **reversed** (raised; down entry) **W ASH TUB**<
Public perception of glossy publication? That is about it! (5)
IMAGE
Definition: Public perception **IE** (id est; that is) **containing** (about) **MAG** (MAGazine; glossy publication) **I** (**MAG**) **E
Bird's unusual motion, edging at first upwards (3)
EMU
Definition: Bird **UME** (**initial letters of each of** **UNUSUAL**, **MOTION** and **EDGING**) reversed (upwards; down entry) (**E M U**)<
Somewhat upfront, I'm exclaiming Start at 1A 11A not like this (2,4)
ON TIME
Definition: Start at 1A 11A not like this **ON TIME** (**hidden phrase in** [somewhat] **UPFRONT I'M EXCLAIMING**) **ON TIME
Society favourite upset, far from happy, quit (4,4)
STEP DOWN
Definition: quit **S** (society) **+ PET** (favourite) **reversed** (upset) **+ DOWN** (sad; far from happy) **S TEP**< **DOWN
Effect of sun seen oddly in train (3)
TAN
Definition: Effect of sun **TAN** (**letters 1, 3 and 5** [odd letters; oddly] of **TRAIN**) **TAN
Frenzy after friend ignores New Zealand horse (7)
PALFREY
Definition: horse **PAL** (friend) **+ FRENZY** **excluding** (ignores) **NZ** (New Zealand) **PAL FREY
A service going up at distance (4)
AFAR
Definition: at distance **A + RAF** (Royal Air Force; armed service **A FAR**<
Dog and what it might do, check! (5)
POOCH
Definition: Dog **POO** (defecate; what a dog might do) **+ CH** (check) **POO CH
Thanks teacher leaving capital getting pile of cards (5)
TALON
Definition: pile of cards **TA** (thanks) **+ LONDON** (capital [city]) **excluding** (leaving) **DON** (university teacher) **TA LON
Story about extremely sartorial fabric (5)
LISLE
Definition: fabric **LIE** (story) **containing** (about) **SL** (**outer letters of** [extremely] **SARTORIAL**) **LI** (**SL**) **E
Pained expression in sea off Nice that may be cutting (5)
MOWER
Definition: that may be cutting **OW** (expression of pain) **contained in** (in) **MER** (French [Nice, city in France] for 'sea') **M** (**OW**) **ER
Boys painted Medical Officer in strange attire (8)
AMORETTI
Definition: Boys painted **MO** (Medical Officer) **contained in** (in) **an anagram of** (strange) **ATTIRE** **A** (**MO**) **RETTI
Seek to impress daughter censored in print (7)
WOODCUT
Definition: print **WOO** (seek to impress) **+ D** (daughter) **+ CUT** (censored) **WOO D CUT
Person easily deceived by recycled article in Palace location (7)
LAMBETH
Definition: Palace location **LAMB** (someone simple, innocent, sweet or gentle and easily deceived) **+** **an anagram of** (recycled) **THE** (definitive article) **LAMB** **ETH
Is much bigger than FDR was – bizarre! (6)
DWARFS
Definition: Is much bigger than **Anagram of** (bizarre) **WAS FDR** **DWARFS
Fuss excessively about dinner's starter (2-2)
TO-DO
Definition: Fuss **TOO** (excessively) **containing** (about) **D** (**first letter of** [starter] **DINNER**) **TO** (**D**) **O
Article used in Milan a non-drinker holds in inclined position (5)
ATILT
Definition: inclined position **IL** (Italian masculine form of the definitive article) **contained in** (used in) (**A + TT** [teetotal; non-drinker) **A** **T** (**IL**) **T
Day featured in Old English poem (3)
ODE
Definition: poem **D** (day) **contained in** (featured in) **OE** (Old English) **O** (**D**) **E
Reportedly a remarkable amount of money (3)
SUM
Definition: amount of money **SUM** (sounds like [reportedly] **SOME** [remarkable]) **SUM
How military make advance and ruin church (5)
MARCH
Definition: How military make advance **MAR** (ruin) **+ CH** (church) **MAR CH
Uses cosmetic oil gauges showing litres instead of depth (9)
LIPSTICKS
Definition: Uses cosmetic oil **DIPSTICKS** (rods or gauges for measuring depth of liquid in a sump) with **L **(litres) **replacing** (for) **D** (depth) **LIPSTICKS
Man with a posh car, a learner driver in dense thicket (9)
CHAPARRAL
Definition: dense thicket **CHAP** (man) **+ A + RR** (Rolls Royce, posh car) **+ A + L** (learner driver) **CHAP A RR A L
Suffering from this, listen listlessly to unending night of Paris? (5)
ENNUI
Definition: this **LISTEN** **excluding** ('lessly') **LIST** **+ NUIT** (French [Paris for night]) **excluding the final letter** [unending] **T** **EN NUI
Inception actor's position when filming (5)
ONSET
Definition: Inception **ON SET** (an actor with a part in the current scene will be **ON SET** during filming) **ON SET
Embracing humbly when edging away, foolish things leaving hotel staggering (9)
STUMBLING
Definition: staggering **Anagram of** (foolish) **THINGS** **excluding** (leaving) **H** (hotel) **containing** (embracing) **HUMBLY** **excluding** **the outer letters** (when edging away) **H** and **Y** **ST** (**UMBL**) **ING
A title of respect for leaders of Finland, Norway and Denmark, say? (7)
EFFENDI
Definition: A title of respect **EFFENDI** (sounds like **F** (**EFF**), **N** (**EN**) **D** (**DI**), **first letters of** [leaders of] **each** **of** **F**inland, **N**orway and **D**enmark) **EFF EN DI
Maybe that vixen has its youngster around, a sweet little un (6)
CHERUB
Definition: sweet little un **HER** (descriptive of that female fox [vixen]) **contained in** (has its … around) **CUB** (young fox) **C** (**HER**) **UB
A letter and its addendum I added (3)
PSI
Definition: A letter **PS** (postscript; addendum to a letter) **+** (added) **I** **PS I
What's left of IOM biking event banning one ton? (6)
TRACES
Definition: What's left **TT RACES** (**T**ourist **T**rophy motor cycle **RACES** held every year on the Isle of Man [IOM])** excluding** (banning) **one of the** **Ts** [ton]) **T RACES
Country lass with uniform gets measure of speed to lollop along (7)
GALUMPH
Definition: lollop along **GAL** (dialect [rural; country] **word for a girl** [lass]) **+ U** (uniform is the International Radio Communication code word for the letter **U**) **+ MPH** (miles per hour [measure of speed]) **GAL U MPH
I examine bug with gold round tip of proboscis (9)
INSPECTOR
Definition: I examine (**INSECT** [bug] **+ OR** [gold tincture in heraldry]) **containing** (round) **P** (first letter of [tip of] **PROBOSCIS**) **INS** (**P**) **ECT OR
They veer and back victories that restrict democrat (5)
WINDS
Definition: They veer and back **WINS** (victories) **containing** (restrict) **D** (Democrat) **WIN** (**D**) **S
Hang two kings holding the throne after revolution (5)
KNACK
Definition: Hang (**K** [king] **+ K** [king] – two kings) **containing** (holding) **CAN** (slang for toilet, as is **THRONE**) **reversed** (after revolution) **K** (**NAC**<) **K
Mother with poor stature becomes fully developed (9)
MATURATES
Definition: becomes fully developed **MA** (mothers) **+ an anagram of** (poor) **STATURE** **MA TURATES
This might be tinkling piano kept in the box file (9)
TELEPHONE
Definition: This might be tinkling (**TELE** [television; box] **+ HONE** [sharpen]) **containing** (kept) **P** (piano) **TELE** (**P**) **HONE
If epées have tip removed these may be more powerful (5)
WORD
Definition: these may be more powerful **SWORD** (e.g. an **EPÉE**) **excluding the first letter** (have tip removed) **S** **WORD
On clothing there's million and one cold germs (8)
MICROBES
Definition: germs **M** (million) **+ I** (Roman numeral for one) **+ C** (cold) **+ ROBES** (clothing) **M I C ROBES
Collects spare change? (5)
REAPS
Definition: Collects **Anagram of** (change) **SPARE** **REAPS
Mark's 10 to give encouragement (7)
HEARTEN
Definition: give encouragement **HEAR** (heed; mark) **+ TEN** (10) **HEAR TEN
Cricket ground's beginning to cheer society toffs (9)
LORDSHIPS
Definition: toffs **LORDS** (London cricket ground) **+ HIP** (first part of '**HIP HIP HOORAY**' [cheer]) **+ S** (society) **LORDS HIP S
A dish that's gold with upturned rim as cover (5)
PILAU
Definition: A dish **LIP** (rim)** reversed** (upturned; down entry) **+ AU** (chemical symbol for gold) **PIL**< **AU
If both sides bet with me in flutter we'll have flutter (7)
TREMBLE
Definition: flutter **Anagram of** **L** (left), **R** (right), i,e, both sides and **BET** and **ME** **TREMBLE
In miners union one up against company in never-ending situation (9)
CONTINUUM
Definition: never-ending situation **CO** (company) **+** (**UNIT** [one] **reversed** [up; down entry] **contained in** [in] **NUM** [National Union of Mineworkers – still an active Union]) **CO N** (**TINU**<) **UM
Sways and drinks deeply around noon (6)
SWINGS
Definition: Sways **SWIGS** (drinks deeply) **containing** (around) **N** (noon) **SWI** (**N**) **GS
Bar is made of wood completely (9)
FORESTALL
Definition: Bar **FOREST** (large group of trees; wood) **+ ALL** (comprising every single one; completely) **FOREST ALL
Smoke in French city including its station and middle of metro (9)
CIGARETTE
Definition: Smoke (**GARE** [French for 'station'] **+ T** [**central letter of** {middle of} **METRO**]) **contained in** (in) **CITÉ** (French for town or city]) **CI** (**GARE** **T**) **TE
These Foolish Things finally played in devices for monkeys (8)
RHESUSES
Definition: monkeys **Anagram of** (played) **EHS** (**last letters of** [finally] **each of THESE**, **FOOLISH** and **THINGS**) **contained in** (in) **RUSES** (devices) **R** (**HES***) **USES
Medical hell (to put it mildly) stuck in a metal casing (7)
CHECK-UP
Definition: Medical **HECK** (a mild form the oath or expression of displeasure 'hell') **contained in** (in) **CUP** (metal casing that lines the hole in golf) **C** (**HECK**) **UP
Non-intellectual's punch and argument after book is put down (7)
LOWBROW
Definition: Non-intellectual **BLOW** (punch) **with B** (book) moved to the end in the first part of this down entry [put down] to form **LOWB** **+ ROW** (argument) **LOWB** **ROW
A requirement to watch Bloodsucker Alien? (6)
TICKET
Definition: A requirement to watch **TICK** (bloodsucking insect) **+ ET** (name of a science fiction film) **TICK ET
Item posted conceals speed (5)
TEMPO
Definition: speed **TEMPO** (**hidden word in** [conceals] **ITEM POSTED** **TEMPO
American form of saltpetre could be inert (5)
NITER
Definition: American form of saltpetre **Anagram of** (could be) **INERT** **NITER
Restless, little devil – one that is into explosive chemical (9)
IMPATIENT
Definition: Restless **IMP** (little devil) **+ A** (one) **+** (**IE** [id est; that is] **contained in** [into] **TNT** [trinitrotoluene; explosive]) **IMP** **A T** (**IE**) **NT
Dark web ultimately involved in transaction (5)
SABLE
Definition: Dark **B** (**last letter of** [ultimately] **WEB** **contained in** (involved in) **SALE** (a transaction) **SA** (**B**) **LE
It looks like a giant h-held beer in? (7)
HELIPAD
Definition: It looks like a giant h **IPA** (India Pale Ale; beer) **contained in** (in) **HELD** **HEL** (**IPA**) **D