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Dish dirt conclusively on teacher providing religious education for a bishop (7) | RAREBIT | Definition: Dish
(**RABBI** [teacher] **with RE** [religious education] **replacing** [for] the first [one of] the **B**s [bishop]) **+ T** (**last letter of** [conclusively] **DIRT**)
**RA** **RE** **BI** **T |
Force field analysis research starts, having been put back (1,1,1) | RAF | Definition: Force
**FAR** (**first letters** [starts] **of each of FIELD**, **ANALYSIS** and **RESEARCH**) **reversed** (having been put back)
**RAF**< |
A brief dirge composed for Trumpton's brass band (4,7) | FIRE BRIGADE | Definition: Trumpton's brass band
**Anagram of** (composed) **A BRIEF DIRGE**
**FIRE BRIGADE |
Shock horror – Kent is extremely happy county (5,9) | NORTH YORKSHIRE | Definition: county
**Anagram of** (shock) **HORROR KENT IS** and **HY** (outer letters of [extremely] **HAPPY**)
**NORTH YORKSHIRE |
Occupation on list unions organised here? (8,6) | REGISTRY OFFICE | Definition: unions organised here
**REGISTRY** [register; list] **+ OFFICE** [occupation]
**REGISTRY OFFICE |
According to vacuous prince, heartless informer is the one who did wrong (11) | PERPETRATOR | Definition: the one who did wrong
**PER** (according to) **+ PE** (**letters remaining in PRINCE when the central letters RINC are removed** [vacuous]) **+ TRAITOR** (informer) **excluding the central letter** (heartless) **I**
**PER PE TRATOR |
Appreciation of sea air, occasionally (3) | EAR | Definition: Appreciation of
**EAR** (**letters 2, 4 and 6** [occasionally] of **SEA AIR**)
**EAR |
Study Pakistan's opener during cricket for example (7) | INSPECT | Definition: Study
**P** (**first letter of** [opener] **PAKISTAN**) **contained in** (during) **INSECT** (a cricket is an example of an **INSECT**)
**INS** (**P**) **ECT |
Trump's slogan inspiring Liberal graduate to join revolutionary Union (7) | AMALGAM | Definition: Union
(**MAGA** [Make America Great Again – slogan popularised by Donald Trump during his 2016 election campaign] **containing** [inspiring] **L** [Liberal] **+ MA** [Master of Arts; graduate]) **all reversed** (revolutionary)
(**AM** **A** (**L**) **GAM**)< |
Stop striking to tackle branch (5) | SPRIG | Definition: branch
**STOP** **excluding** (striking) **TO** **+ RIG** (sails and tackle)
**SP RIG |
Laurel & Hardy's fourth feature put on to entertain wife – relax (5,4) | STAND DOWN | Definition: relax
**STAN** (reference **STAN** Laurel [1890 – 1965], comedy actor, born in Ulverston in the Lake District. He was one half of Laurel and Hardy) **+ D** (**fourth letter of** [fourth feature] **HARDY**) **+** (**DON** [wear; put on] **containing** [to entertain] **W** [wife])
**STAN** **D DO** (**W**) **N |
Rambling, wanting company – that's natural (8) | INHERENT | Definition: natural
**INCOHERENT** (rambling) **excluding** (wanting) **CO** (company)
**INHERENT |
Old man left China (3) | PAL | Definition: China
**PA** (father; old man) **+ L** (left)
**PA** **L |
Harry – been to fight with prince – news ignored sign of a much bigger problem (3,2,3,7) | TIP OF THE ICEBERG | Definition: sign of a much bigger problem
**Anagram of** (harry) **BEEN TO FIGHT** and **PRINCE** **excluding both the N**s (new twice – news)
**TIP OF THE ICEBERG |
Get down on this festival dance floor at last (5) | EIDER | Definition: Get down on this
**EID** (Muslim feast or festival) **+ ER** (**final letters of** [at last] **each of DANCE **and** FLOOR**)
**EID** **ER |
Hammer thrower dropping round with book for pound (5) | THROB | Definition: pound
**THOR** (Scandinavian God who used a hammer as a weapon) with the** O** (round character) **dropping** down the entry to form **THRO** **+ B** (book)
**THRO** **B |
Direct familiar child's play (15) | STRAIGHTFORWARD | Definition: child's play
**STRAIGHT** (direct) **+ FORWARD** (cocky; cheeky; familiar)
**STRAIGHT FORWARD |
Reversible vest (3) | BIB | Definition: Reversible vest
**BIB** is a **palindrome** so it is **reversible** and still a vest
**BIB |
Judge in Provence is to atone for missing wine (6) | ESTEEM | Definition: Judge
**EST** (French [Provence] for 'is') **+ REDEEM** (atone for) **excluding** (missing) **RED** (wine)
**EST EEM |
Buffoon Farage not mature about Brussels' rules primarily (7) | FARCEUR | Definition: Buffoon
**FARAGE** **excluding** (not) **AGE** (mature) **+ C** (circa; about) + **EU** (Brussels is shorthand for the European Union as the headquarters are located there) **+ R** (**first letter of** [primarily] **RULES**)
**FAR C EU R |
Virgin, say, feeling on edge (7) | AIRLINE | Definition: Virgin, say
**AIR** (aura; feeling) **+ LINE** (limit; edge)
**AIR LINE |
Published books about United (3) | OUT | Definition: Published
**OT** (Old Testament [books]) **containing** (about) **U** (United)
**O** (**U**) **T |
Legend in dock according to hearsay (3) | KEY | Definition: Legend
**KEY** (**sounds like** [hearsay] **QUAY** [dock])
**KEY |
Iron Maiden covering right tracks – band provides content for channel – one might work there? (8) | FERRYMAN | Definition: channel – one might work there
([**FE** {chemical symbol for iron} **+ M** {maiden}] **containing** [covering] [**R** {right} **+ RY** {railway tracks}]) **+ AN** (**central letters** **of** [content for] **BAND**)
**FE** (**R RY**) **M AN |
Fielders upset over splitting prize money? (6) | SPOILS | Definition: prize money
**O** (over) **contained in** (splitting) **SLIPS** (cricket fielders) **reversed** (upset)
**SP** (**O**) **ILS**< |
Schedules hill climbing on a sierra (5) | ROTAS | Definition: Schedules
**TOR** (hill) **reversed** (climbing; down entry) **+ A + S** (Sierra is the international radio communication codeword for the letter **S**)
**ROT**< **A S |
Some militia ransacks jewellery (5) | TIARA | Definition: tia ra
**TIARA** (**hidden word in** [some] **MILITIA RANSACKS**)
**TIARA |
Knight finally takes one rook (3) | SIR | Definition: Knight
**S** (**last letter of** [finally]) **+ I** (Roman numeral for one) **+ R** (rook)
**S I R |
Maybe grease two zips (3) | GOO | Definition: Maybe grease
**GO** (move fast [zip] **+ O** [character representing nothing or zip [slang for nothing]) giving two zips
**GO O |
Sanctioned wretch provided with makeshift bomb (8) | RATIFIED | Definition: Sanctioned
**RAT** (wretch) **+ IF** (provided) **+ IED** (improvised explosive device; makeshift bomb)
**RAT IF IED |
Briefly coming back to tour a state (6) | NEVADA | Definition: state
**ADVENT** (coming) **excluding the final letter** (briefly) **T**, **reversed** (back) **containing** (to tour) **A**
**NEV** (**A**) **DA**< |
Chinese order of cooked fish, e.g. skinned tuna (4,4) | FENG SHUI | Definition: Chinese order
**Anagram of** (cooked) **FISH EG** and** UN** (**letters remaining in** **TUNA** **when the outer letters T and A are removed** [skinned])
**FENG SHUI |
Inside of gulag has tourists stunned (6) | AGHAST | Definition: stunned
**AGHAST** (**hidden word in** [inside of] **GULAG HAS TOURISTS**)
**AGHAST |
Ladies perhaps hide, forgoing second chance (4-2) | LOOK-IN | Definition: chance
**LOO** (Ladies toilet for instance) **+ SKIN** (hide) **excluding** (forgoing) **S** (second)
**LOO** **K**–**IN |
Occasionally fond of an oddball (2,3,3) | ON AND OFF | Definition: Occasionally
**Anagram of** (oddball) **FOND OF AN**
**ON AND OFF |
Tube fare – you've got nothing without it! (7) | SAUSAGE | Definition: Tube fare
**SAUSAGE** (reference the phrase 'not a [without] **SAUSAGE** meaning 'nothing at all')
**SAUSAGE |
Regret turning over continental bread (4) | EURO | Definition: continental bread
**RUE** (regret) **reversed** (turning) **+ O** (over)
**EUR**< **O |
Look after river sport (4) | POLO | Definition: Look after river sport (4)
**PO** ([Italian] river]) **+ LO** (look)
**PO LO |
British fruit and nuts (7) | BANANAS | Definition: nuts
**B** (British) **+ ANANAS** (pineapple; fruit)
**B ANANAS |
Was waiter's duck covered in low calorie wine? (8) | LOITERED | O** (character representing zero; duck score in cricket) **contained in** (in) **LITE** (low calorie) **+ RED** (a wine)
**L** (**O**) **ITE** **RED |
Dickie Bird initially backed English one and two (3,3) | BOW TIE | Definition: Dickie
**B** (**first letter of** [initially] **BIRD**) **+** (**E** [English] **+ I** [Roman numeral for one] + **TWO**) **all reversed** (backed)
**B** (**OW T** **I** **E**)< |
Course covering constant alongside unknown variable (6) | PATCHY | Definition: variable
**PATH** (way) **containing** (covering) **C** (constant) **+ Y** (letter frequently used to identify an unknown value in an equation)
**PAT** (**C**) **H Y |
Light brown mist swirling until one's lost (8) | HAZELNUT | Definition: Light brown
**HAZE** (mist) **+ an anagram of** (swirling) **UNTIL** **excluding** (lost) **I** (Roman numeral for one)
**HAZE** **LNUT |
Lake taken in by extremely eager stranger (6) | EERIER | Definition: stranger
**ERIE** (reference lake **ERIE**, one of the Great Lakes) **contained in** (taken in by) **ER** (**outer letters** [extremely] of **EAGER**)
**E** (**ERIE**) **R |
Keep quiet about aid (8) | PRESERVE | Definition: Keep
**P** (piano; quiet) **+ RE** (with reference to; about) **+ SERVE** (help; aid)
**P RE SERVE |
Rapidly turn firearm, increasing core volume? (6) | RIFFLE | Definition: Rapidly turn
**RIFLE** (firearm) with **an additional central letter** (core) **raising the volume F** (forte; loud) **to FF** (fortissimo; louder)
**RI FF LE |
Tory's beginning to irritate Speaker (6) | TANNOY | Definition: Speaker
**T** (**first letter of** [beginning to] **TORY**) **+ ANNOY** (irritate)
**T ANNOY |
Last five crackers for Christmas, perhaps (8) | FESTIVAL | Definition: Christmas, perhaps
**Anagram of** (crackers) **LAST FIVE**
**FESTIVAL |
Regularly test music case (4) | ETUI | Definition: case
**ETUI** (**letters 2, 4, 6 and 8** [regularly] of **TEST MUSIC**)
**ETUI |
Motor missing centre, needing to be replaced (6) | ENGINE | Definition: Motor
**Anagram of** (to be replaced) **NEEDING excluding** (missing) **the middle letter** (centre) **D**
**ENGINE |
Counterpart with hands? (8) | ANALOGUE | Definition: Counterpart
**ANALOGUE** (a clock with hands is an **ANALOGUE** for a digital representation of the time of day) This clue could be an &Lit where the whole clue defines an **ANALOGUE** clock |
Almighty deed, changing cats for dogs – all tailless (3,2,3) | ACT OF GOD | Definition: Almighty deed
**Anagram of** (changing) **CAT FO** and **DOG** being **CATS FOR DOGS** **excluding the final letter** (tailless) **of each**
**ACT OF GOD*** – it may be a coincidence that each word of the entry is an anagram of each of **CAT**, **FO** and **DOG |
A horse/sheep mixup (7) | ANAGRAM | Definition: mixup
**A** **+ NAG** (horse) **+ RAM** (sheep)
**A NAG RAM |
Sorry criminal has identified missing head (7) | ASHAMED | Definition: Sorry
**Anagram of** (criminal) **HAS** **+ NAMED** (identified) **excluding the first letter** (missing head) **N**
**ASH*** **AMED |
Endless petitions about record that's typically American (5,3) | APPLE PIE | Definition: typically American
**APPLIES** (petitions) **excluding the final letter** (endless) **S containing** (about) **EP** (Extended Play record)
**APPL** (**E P**) **IE |
Scattered rice lost in part of cathedral (8) | CLOISTER | Anagram of** (scattered) **RICE LOST**
**CLOISTER |
Ordnance Survey spread out in Barnes & Noble (8) | BARONESS | Definition: Noble
**OS** (Ordnance Survey) **with each letter contained separately in** (spread out in) **BARNES**
**BAR** (**O**) **NE** (**S**) **S |
Support for driver with trimmed wheel that's funny (3-3) | TEE-HEE | Definition: that's funny
**TEE** (support for a golf ball to be hit by a driver) **+ HEE** (letters **remaining in WHEEL when the outer letters W and L are removed** [trimmed])
**TEE–HEE |
I enjoy drugs and rock and roll, primarily (6) | STONER | Definition: I enjoy drugs
**STONE** (rock) **+ R** (**first letter of** [primarily] **ROLL**)
**STONE** **R |
Article in French newspaper that is socialist (6) | LEFTIE | Definition: socialist
**LE** (French form of 'the' [definite article]) **+ FT** (Financial Times; newspaper) **+ IE** (id est; that is)
**LE FT IE |
Retreat from short Scottish landowner (4) | LAIR | Definition: Retreat
**LAIRD** (Scottish term for an estate landowner) **excluding the final letter** (short) **D**
**LAIR |
Surprise to get uncapped wine (4) | HOCK | Definition: wine
**SHOCK** (surprise) **excluding the first letter** (to get uncapped) **S**
**HOCK |
Theatre-worker's hour after time moving into position (5,4) | STAGE HAND | Definition: Theatre-worker
(**AGE** [time {period}] **+ H** [hour]) **contained in** (moving into) **STAND** (position)
**ST** (**AGE H**) **AND |
In favour of turning in coalmine dividend (6) | PRO | Definition: dividend
**FOR** (in favour of) **reversed** (turning) **contained in** (in) **PIT** (coalmine)
**P** (**ROF**<) **IT |
Devours tuna melts, keen to try something unusual? (11) | ADVENTUROUS | Definition: keen to try something unusual
**Anagram of** (melts) **DEVOURS TUNA**
**ADVENTUROUS |
Crudely insolent about article regarding stress (9) | TENSIONAL | Definition: regarding stress
**Anagram of** (crudely) **INSOLENT** **containing** (about) **A** (indefinite article)
**TENSION** (**A**) **L |
Excessive documentation returned, leading to more of the same (5) | DITTO | Definition: more of the same
(**OTT** [over the top; excessive] **+ ID** [identity papers; documentation]) **all reversed** (returned)
(**DI** **TTO**)< |
Bread from birdhouse Mark's brought into lounge (7,4) | COTTAGE LOAF | Definition: Bread
(**TAG** [mark] **contained in** [brought into] **COTE** [place of shelter for birds, particularly doves; birdhouse]) **+ LOAF** (stand idly; lounge)
**COT** (**TAG**) **E** **LOAF |
Develop move in cinematography (3,3) | PAN | Definition: Develop
**PAN OUT** (expand on; develop) **double definition**
**PAN OUT |
Unveils most of model after recasting statue (5,2,4) | VENUS DE MILO | Definition: statue
**Anagram of** (after recasting) **UNVEILS** and **MODEL** **excluding the last letter** (most of)** L**
**VENUS DE MILO |
German holding on? He's not holding on (5) | GONER | Definition: He's not holding on
**GER** (German) **containing** (holding) **ON**
**G** (**ON**) **ER |
The official or executive finally delivering in that case (9) | THEREFORE | Definition: in that case
**THE + REF** (**REF**eree [official]) **+ OR + E** (executive, as in C**E**O [Chief Executive Officer])
**THE REF OR E |
Leaders of troops filling suitable job (11) | APPOINTMENT | Definition: job
**POINT MEN** (soldiers at the head of a body of troops or patrol; leaders of troops) **contained in** (filling) **APT** (suitable)
**AP** (**POINT MEN**) **T |
Fabulous support given to finish a railway (9) | LEGENDARY | Definition: Fabulous
**LEG** (a support) **+ END** (finish) **+ A + RY** (railway)
**LEG END A RY |
Source of fibres, fine and loose (4) | FLAX | Definition: Source of fibres
**F** (fine) **+ LAX** (loose)
**F LAX |
That guy's hopeless, ignoring article about the liver (7) | HEPATIC | Definition: about the liver
**HE** (that guy) **+ PATHETIC** (hopeless) **excluding** (ignoring) **THE** (definite article)
**HE PATIC |
Be jubilant over new expensive headgear (5) | CROWN | Definition: expensive headgear
**CROW** (be jubilant) **+ N** (new) – this being a down entry the letters in **CROW** **are placed over** the **N** (new)
**CROW N |
It's no great age: still time to get noticed externally (9) | SEVENTEEN | Definition: It's no great age
(**EVEN** [ calm; still] **+ T** [time]) **contained in** (to get … externally) **SEEN** (noticed)
**S** (**EVEN T**) **EEN |
Cancel regular publication, missing one source of argument (5) | ANNUL | Definition: Cancel
**ANNUAL** (publication issued regularly [once a year]) **excluding** (missing) **A** (**first letter of** [source of] **A**RGUMENT) – there are two **A**s in ANNU**A**L, so the clue asks us to exclude the relevant one
**ANNUL |
English pound provided that, free to vary, not vacantly showing identical variability (13) | EQUIDIFFERENT | Definition: showing identical variability
**E** (English) **+ QUID** (slang for a pound sterling) **+ IF** (provided that) **+ an anagram of** (to vary) **+ NT** (**letters remaining in NOT when the middle letter O is removed** [vacantly])
**E** **QUID** **IF** **FERE*** **NT |
Air of trio playing – more sound? (1,8) | A FORTIORI | Definition: more sound
**Anagram of** (playing) **AIR OF TRIO**
**A FORTIORI |
Misrepresent a lot of party upset over legal wrong (7) | DISTORT | Definition: Misrepresent
**DIS** (**three of the five letters of** [a lot of] **DISCO** [party]) **+ TORT** (legal term for a wrong) – another use of 'over' in a down entry
**DIS TORT |
Start to develop interpretation after a lot of brute criticism (13) | ANIMADVERSION | Definition: criticism
**ANIMAL** (brute) **excluding the final letter** (a lot of) **L** **+ D** (**first letter of** [start to] **DEVELOP**) **+ VERSION** (an interpretation)
**ANIMA** **D VERSION |
Quantity of beer popular with doctor, say? It sets the tone (6,3) | TUNING PEG | Definition: It sets the tone
**TUN** (obsolete liquid measure equivalent to 216 gallons of ale) **+ IN** (popular) **+ GP** (general practitioner; doctor) **+ E.G.** (for example, say)
**TUN IN G P EG |
Commotion, with lecturer interrupting worried boy rudely (9) | OBSCENELY | Definition: rudely
(**SCENE** [commotion] **+ L** [lecturer]) **contained in** (interrupting) **an anagram of** (worried) **BOY**
**OB** (**SCENE** **L**) Y |
Style of hair that's something difficult to achieve with dog (7) | PIGTAIL | Definition: Style of hair
**PIG** (something very difficult to achieve) **+ TAIL** (follow; dog)
**PIG TAIL |
Ask too much of public – a sign of error (7) | OVERTAX | Definition: Ask too much of
**OVERT** (public) **+ A + X** (a symbol indicating a mistake)
**OVERT A X |
Fish – trawler disposing of contents into the drink (5) | TETRA | Definition: Fish
**TR** (**letters remaining in** **TRAWLER** **when the central letters are removed** [disposing of contents]) **contained in** (into) **TEA** (drink)
**TE** (**TR**) **A |
Not wanting to eat anything? Not quite – tripe etc will suffice (5) | OFFAL | Definition: tripe etc
**OFF ALL** (not wanting to eat anything) **excluding the final letter** (not quite) **L**
**OFF AL |
Chaps troubled about pieces returned by editor, being hard up (12) | CASH-STRAPPED | Definition: being hard up
(**Anagram of** [troubled] **CHAPS** **containing** [about] **PARTS** [piece]) **reversed** [returned]) **+ ED** (editor)
**CASH** (**STRAP**<) **P*** **ED |
Armenian clothed in Thai khaki (5) | HAIKH | Definition: Armenian
**HAIKH** (**hidden word** [clothed in] **THAI KHAKI**)
**HAIKH |
What Indian women may wear about festival in spring (5) | CHOLI | Definition: What Indian women may wear
**C** (circa; about) **+ HOLI** (Hindu spring festival)
**C HOLI |
Unit of money, 'penny' in Arabia (5) | DINAR | Definition: Unit of money
**D** (symbol for a penny in Britain before decimalisation) **+ IN + AR** (Arabia)
**D IN AR |
Unlocked the lost desk drawer (7) | SHOTTLE | Definition: desk drawer
**Anagram of** (unlocked) **THE LOST**
**SHOTTLE |
Throw with the intention of wounding, showing vigour? Not on once (6) | ELANCE | Definition: Throw with the intention of wounding
**ELAN** (dash; vigour) **+ ONCE** **excluding** (not) **ON**
**ELAN CE |
Like many in the senate house, before not being allowed out (7) | TOGATED | Definition: Like many in the senate house
**TO** (before) **+ GATED** (not allowed out)
**TO GATED |
Gossip, as female getting round lows (7) | SHMOOSE | Definition: Gossip
**SHE** (descriptive of a lady) **containing** (getting round) **MOOS** (reference the sounds made by lowing cows)
**SH** (**MOOS**) **E |
Hooligan giving the old man back pain (6) | APACHE | Definition: Hooligan
**PA** (father; old man) **reversed** (back) **+ ACHE** (pain)
**AP**< **ACHE |
Caught immediately before tea? Take that! (6) | GOTCHA | Definition: Take that
**GOT** (caught) **+ CHA** (tea)
**GOT CHA |
Company's base, not heat-resistant – well, only partly (7) | THEATRE | Definition: Company's base
**THEATRE** (hidden word in [only partly] **NOT HEAT RESISTANT**)
**THEATRE |
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