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Substance affected Michael Caine's head (8) | CHEMICAL | Definition: Substance
Anagram of MICHAEL + C[aine] |
Starts to 'accentuate the affirmative' gripping this poet (5) | YEATS | Definition: poet
First letters of Accentuate The in (gripped by) YES (affirmative) |
Type of school for angling round at home (9) | FINISHING | Definition: Type of school
IN (at home) in FISHING |
Organising a relay run takes a bit over 50 weeks (5,4) | LUNAR YEAR | Definition: a bit over 50 weeks
(A RELAY RUN)*. A lunar year is about 354 days, or 12 lunar months of about 29.5 days |
Not reactive or interactive (5) | INERT | Definition: Not reactive
A trademark Philistine clue: we have to split INTER/active to see that it's an anagram (only just!) of INTER |
Forking out to cover outrageous bill is charming (12) | SPELLBINDING | Definition: charming
BILL* in SPENDING |
Redundancy offensive involves only Conservative leader separately (12) | OBSOLESCENCE | Definition: Redundancy
SOLE (only) and C[onservative] in (but not adjacently) OBSCENE (offensive) |
The 8 are about to change in Camberwell (5) | AMBER | Definition: The 8 are about to change
Hidden in cAMBERwell. The colour of traffic lights between green and red. Many drivers need to be reminded that amber means stop, not "put your foot down to try to get through before it goes red" |
Right lane to turn one of us to strangers (9) | EARTHLING | Definition: one of us to strangers
(RIGHT LANE)*, with the "strangers" being extraterrestrials |
Digs up 12 butchered in Norfolk town (9) | DISINTERS | Definition: Digs up
INERT* in DISS – in fact the anagram returns us to how we got the answer to 12 in the first place |
Cutter's back at last with nickel and iron (5) | KNIFE | Definition: Cutter
[bac]K + NI + FE (chemical symbols) |
Boreal throne toppled by sailors (8) | NORTHERN | Definition: Boreal
THRONE* + RN (Royal Navy), boreal for northern comes from Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind; also seen in the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights |
In China, 2000 and 2012 are tedious (6) | DRAGON | Definition: In China, 2000 and 2012
DRAG ON (are tedious); 2000 and 2012 are both the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. In fact the years run from the Chinese New Year in late Jan/early Feb, but close enough |
Telescope upset mostly Bohemian young woman (8) | SPYGLASS | Definition: Telescope
Reverse of GYPS[Y] (Bohemian) + LASS |
British prince getting smarter (8) | BRAINIER | Definition: smarter
B + RAINIER (any of three Princes of Monaco, the third being the one that married Grace Kelly) |
Girl captivating girl with the dancing beams (5,6) | LASER LIGHTS | Definition: dancing beams
(GIRL THE)* in LASS (another one!) |
Event in which the murders end badly (7,6) | HUNDRED METRES | Definition: Event
(THE MURDERS END) |
Fervent and overexcited about the central part of confessional (9) | MESSIANIC | Definition: Fervent
[conf]ESSI[onal] in MANIC (overexcited) |
My regularly acerbic major (6) | CRIKEY | Definition: My
Alternate letters of aCeRbIC + key (important, major), with "My!" as an exclamation |
Summarily dismissed with this noise, lean out in panic (4,2,4,3) | FLEA IN ONE’S EAR | Definition: Summarily dismissed with this
(NOISE LEAN)* in FEAR (panic) |
Los Angeles Times editor's final hint about intricate passages (9) | LABYRINTH | Definition: intricate passages
LA + BY (times, as in multiplication) + [edito]R + HINT |
Authentic ingénue's attractive (8) | ENTICING | Definition: attractive
Hidden in authENTIC INGénue |
Groom welcomes New Age colour (3,5) | PEA GREEN | Definition: colour
AGE* in PREEN |
Hideaway by river in London (6) | CAMDEN | Definition: in London
CAM (river) + DEN (retreat, hideaway); I have to tut slightly at "in London" as the definition |
Does one leave a terrible bruise? (6) | ABUSER | Definition: Does one leave a terrible bruise
A + BRUISE* less I, &lit – clever construction but a rather tasteless clue, I thought |
Somebody who rambles for an hour about US president (5) | HIKER | Definition: Somebody who rambles
IKE (nickname of Dwight Eisenhower) in HR |
Following report of communist, letters must show these (9) | POSTMARKS | Definition: letters must show these
POST (following) + homophone of "Marx" |
Suffer no fool: Canute misquoted about heresy, initially (4) | ACHE | Definition: Suffer
H[eresy] in anagram of CANUTE less NUT (fool) |
Decreed: set gold before man of the North, reported journalist (8) | ORDAINED | Definition: Decreed
OR (gold) + DAIN (homophone of "Dane", a northern European) + ED (journalist) |
Old heartless Richard III in feud about filth (6) | ORDURE | Definition: filth
O + R[ichar]D + third (III) letter of feUd + RE (about) |
Stand for leadership of the youth party in free Yugoslavia (6) | TYPIFY | Definition: Stand for
First letters of The Youth Party In Free Yugoslavia |
Gave out (caught), left in, left out (8) | EXCLUDED | Definition: left out
C[aught] L[eft] in EXUDED (gave out) |
Way a man embraces a queen (6) | MANNER | Definition: Way
ANNE in MR – the ER at the end is a (deliberate?) red herring |
Renovated seediest part of the North (8) | TEESSIDE | Definition: part of the North
SEEDIEST* – Teesside is usually spelt thus, without a hyphen, despite the rather confusing double S |
As at first, Henry VIII was intellectual (8) | THINKING | Definition: intellectual
Henry VIII was famously fat in later life, but he started out as a THIN KING |
In Scotland's valleys, Elizabeth's heart picks up (6) | GLEANS | Definition: picks up
Middle letter of elizAbeth in GLENS |
Plot to murder princes about nothing (8) | CONSPIRE | Definition: Plot
O in PRINCES |
Terrible danger, with political activists at Buckingham House event (6,5) | GARDEN PARTY | Definition: Buckingham House event
DANGER* + PARTY (political activists). I'm not sure why Boatman has used Buckingham *House* (the former name of the Palace) here – because of the capital H it can't mislead us into thinking it's a just house in Buckingham |
Man of the North, as James I was in Scotland! (6) | VIKING | Definition: Man of the North
James I of England was the sixth king of that name in Scotland, so he was a VI KING |
Boatman, at heart European, in first part of Tory attack (4,4) | TEAR INTO | Definition: attack
E[uropean] in TAR (sailor, boatman) + IN + TO[ry] |
Charles broadcast to listeners? (4) | HEIR | Definition: Charles
Homophone of "air" (to broadcast) – Prince Charles is the Heir Apparent |
Lorry then diverted in the direction of Scotland? (9) | NORTHERLY | Definition: in the direction of Scotland
(LORRY THEN) |
Perhaps Victoria is not at fault (7) | STATION | Definition: Perhaps Victoria
(IS NOT AT) |
Unwashed masses taking king's head (5) | MANKY | Definition: Unwashed
K[ing] in MANY (masses) |
Alfred: he atoned partly for the result of a fire (3,4) | RED HEAT | Definition: the result of a fire
Hidden in alfRED HE AToned, with the surface perhaps alluding to the story of his burning of the cakes |
Snack in foil, say pig's foot (6,3) | SCOTCH EGG | Definition: Snack
SCOTCH (to foil) + E.G. (say) +[pi]G. A snack, or a substantial meal according to our Environment Secretary |
Edward, our sovereign, showed passions (7) | ARDOURS | Definition: passions
Hidden in edwARD OUR Sovereign |
King, to be beheaded, takes sanctuary somewhere near Wembley (9) | HARLESDEN | Definition: somewhere near Wembley
[C]HARLES + DEN (sanctuary) |
Oh, I parted sadly from love's image (9) | APHRODITE | Definition: love's image
(OH I PARTED) |
Exercising restraint, as the Queen is said to do in spirit (7,2) | REINING IN | Definition: Exercising restraint
REIN (homophone of "reign", as the Queen does) + IN GIN |
More unpleasant than retsina? Unlikely! (7) | NASTIER | Definition: More unpleasant
RETSINA |
Getting bigger, King George: one defined by his appetite? (7) | GREATER | Definition: bigger
GR (King George) + EATER |
Boatman placed between noble and royal persons previously (7) | EARLIER | Definition: previously
I (Boatman as the setter this time) in EARL (noble) + ER (plural "persons" because it could refer to either Queen Elizabeth) |
Harold at first confessed rising up to snap in anger (5) | GNASH | Definition: snap in anger
Reverse of H[arold] + SANG (confessed) – I've always thought gnashing your teeth means grinding them, as in the biblical "weeping and gnashing of teeth", but according to Chambers to gnash is "to strike (the teeth) together in rage or pain" or "to bite with a snap or clash of the teeth" |
Good to leave the upper class no way out (5) | ENTRY | Definition: no way out
GENTRY less G. An entry is a way in, so "no way out" |
Fine under hat, one invisible (6) | SUBTLE | Definition: Fine
SUB (under) TILE (hat) less I (one) – fine as in "a fine distinction" |
Brand magistrate crooked after waiving of charge (6) | STIGMA | Definition: Brand
Anagram of MAGISTRATE less RATE (charge) |
Birdsong, perhaps, in worst dungeon, by the sound of it? (4,6) | BEST SELLER | Definition: Birdsong, perhaps
BEST (synonym of "worst" in the sense of to beat) + homophone of "cellar". *Birdsong* is a best-selling novel by Sebastian Faulks (who I was at college with, though I don't remember him at all) |
German slimmer (6) | DIETER | Definition: German
Double definition, Dieter being a German name, short for Dietrich |
US politician in priest turned rotten (8) | INEDIBLE | Definition: rotten
BIDEN in ELI (biblical priest), all reversed |
Champ leaves hirsute character (9) | CHEWBACCA | Definition: hirsute character
CHEW (to champ) + BACCA (tobacco, leaves: this form is not in Chambers, though it's attested online) – Chewbacca is a hair-covered character in the Star Wars films |
Those contraptions would judder as he worked aboard loco (11) | BONESHAKERS | Definition: Those contraptions would judder
(AS HE)* in BONKERS (mad, loco) |
One enjoying a drink eats nuts in season (10) | WINETASTER | Definition: One enjoying a drink
EATS* in WINTER – listed as two words in Chambers |
Dimmer student finally admitted to county town after pretty low grade (3,6) | DIP SWITCH | Definition: Dimmer
D (low grade in an exam) + last letter of studenT in IPSWICH (county town of Suffolk). Today I learned that the DIP here is an acronym for Dual Inline Package: I think the definition is not accurate |
Numbers coming up, split spoils including deposit (8) | PLAYLIST | Definition: Numbers coming up
LAY (to deposit) in SPLIT* – "numbers coming up" as records on a radio programme, say |
Foreign helper in middle of room, might you say? (2,4) | AU PAIR | Definition: Foreign helper
Homophone of "O pair", or a pair of Os, as in the middle of rOOm (shades of the Four Candles sketch) |
Measure girl, OK after reviewing contrary novel (10) | KILOGRAMME | Definition: Measure
(GIRL OK)* + reverse of EMMA |
Book search in Birmingham? (4) | LUKE | Definition: Book
"Look", as said in a Birmingham accent |
Work out the other royal title (6) | SUSSEX | Definition: royal title
SUS (variant of SUSS, to work out) + SEX ("the other"). Prince Harry is Duke of Sussex |
Behind schoolmaster, necking drinks (6) | ASTERN | Definition: Behind
Hidden in ("drunk by") schoolmASTER Necking |
European vegetable's ending in Cornish pasty, possibly? (7) | SWEDISH | Definition: European
[vegetabl]E in SW DISH (as a Cornish pasty might be described) |
Tool securing unloaded device behind washer (5) | BIDET | Definition: behind washer
D[evic]E in BIT (drill bit – tool), with a Paulian definition |
Country in deceit more fuelled by alcohol, reportedly? (7) | LIBERIA | Definition: Country
Homophone of "lie beerier" |
Medicine served up in prison, one in disastrous campaign (9) | GALLIPOLI | Definition: disastrous campaign
Reverse of PILL in GAOL + I (one), giving the failed campaign of WW1 |
Round rings, circle left in region on base of nipple (7) | AREOLAE | Definition: Round rings
O (circle) L[eft] in AREA (region) + [nippl]E, with "Round rings" as the definition. I originally thought "region on base of nipple" must be the definition, and was going to complain that it didn't indicate the plural |
What man in essence and woman in effect both have proverbially to solve the problem immediately? (1,6,2,4) | A STITCH IN TIME | Definition: What man in essence and woman in effect both have proverbially to solve the problem immediately
Not sure how to describe this, but "a stitch in time saves nine", and NINE is hidden in both "maN IN Essence" and "womaN IN Effect" |
Result of pat on baby's back, turn remarkably soppy (9) | WINDYPOPS | Definition: Result of pat on baby's back
WIND (to turn) + SOPPY – baby-talk for burps |
Cryptic was like exercise for setter, say? (7) | WALKIES | Definition: exercise for setter, say
(WAS LIKE)* – the setter is a dog, and the word recalls the late Barbara Woodhouse |
Small potatoes or peanuts, nibbles for hen party? (11) | CHICKEN FEED | Definition: Small potatoes
Double (or triple) definition: Small potatoes and peanuts are both slang for something trivial, or a small amount of money, and a party of actual hens could nibble chicken feed |
Enter king, say, carrying head of Republican (6) | PIERCE | Definition: Enter
R[epublican] in PIECE (the king is a chess piece) |
Seed perhaps mine, though not a tree, ultimately (5) | PULSE | Definition: Seed perhaps
PAUL'S (mine!) less A + [tre]E |
Ransack channel for handy menial in sea-food joint? (10) | FISH-GUTTER | Definition: handy menial in sea-food joint
FISH (to ransack) + GUTTER (channel) |
Deity viewable by anyone immersed in shimmering rays (5) | SURYA | Definition: Deity
U ("viewable by anyone" as a film certificate) in RAYS |
Scrambling up tree, fourth of date palms (7) | EUTERPE | Definition: palms
(UP TREE)* + fourth letter of datE. Euterpe is perhaps best known as one of the Muses, but is also a genus of palm trees (named after the Muse) |
Glass decorations giving one kicks round edge of tumbler (6) | PRUNTS | Definition: Glass decorations
[tumble]R in PUNTS (kicks) |
Decline a small drink, imbibing nothing (5) | DROOP | Definition: Decline
O in DROP |
Poorly, in grip of scare, a disorderly mob? Och aye (9) | RASCAILLE | Definition: disorderly mob? Och aye
ILL in (SCARE A) |
Players booed endlessly (and drunkenly) by character at front of stalls (5) | OBOES | Definition: Players
Anagram of BOODE[d] + S[talls] |
Items of oriental hosiery, a bit the worse for wear (4) | TABI | Definition: Items of oriental hosiery
(A BIT) |
Curtain material? Sounds like something cat's caught in (8) | TABBINET | Definition: Curtain material
Homophone of "tabby net", which a cat might be caught in |
Favouring home that's about new? Jock's bang opposite (8) | FORNENST | Definition: Jock's bang opposite
FOR + N in NEST (home) |
Book 4 summarily includes English group of notes sung on same note (4) | NEUM | Definition: group of notes sung on same note
E in NUM (abbreviation of Numbers, the fourth book of the bible) |
Needing to diet? Number going outside to be seen (5) | OBESE | Definition: Needing to diet
tO BE SEen less the surrounding TEN |
Boards required for those digging protective ditches (9) | TRENCHERS | Definition: Boards
Double definition |
Rope from rear decapitated SA carnivore (5) | TAIRA | Definition: SA carnivore
Reverse of [L]ARIAT |
Ultimate for artist having to share garret (6) | TALLOT | Definition: garret
[artis]T + ALLOT |
One bolting sword round sheath? No p-poet (7) | ESCAPEE | Definition: One bolting
SCABBARD less B-BARD in EPEE |
I'll be involved in long run – langlaufers follow it (5) | LOIPE | Definition: langlaufers follow it
I in LOPE |
Cent losing out to major currency, third going in fall, sad (10) | DESPONDENT | Definition: sad
DESCENT (fall) with C (cent) replaced by POuND less its third letter# |
Liqueur, almost the last of it, worthless, imbibed in company (7) | CURAÇAO | Definition: Liqueur
I thought I'd have to admit defeat on this, but it's U (the second last letter of liqueur, so "almost the last of it") + RACA, a word that appears just once in the bible, in Matthew 5:22, apparently meaning "worthless". On searching the archives I see that it's not entirely new to me. Of course RACA doesn't have the cedilla needed for the answer, but such subtleties are usually ignored even by Azed |
Subsets and Splits