Clue
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|---|---|---|
I won't ever remove lid from inverted can! (2,3) | NO SIR | Definition: I won't ever
Reverse of [P]RISON (can) |
Putting on this jumper, male player might relax here (5,4) | GREEN ROOM | Definition: player might relax here
GREEN (there's "putting on this" on a golf course) + ROO (jumper) + M[ale]; the "player" is an actor |
Mark part of bible to introduce round church (5) | NOTCH | Definition: Mark
O (round) in NT (part of bible) + CH |
Boozer to call jerk this? (7) | BARBELL | Definition: jerk this
BAR (pub, boozer) + BELL (call, as in "give me a bell") – barbells might be jerked by a training weighlifter |
Respecting wedding party (7) | REUNION | Definition: party
RE (regarding, respecting) + UNION (wedding) |
On the house that's detached (4) | FREE | Definition: On the house
Double definition |
Detailed notice beside posters and flyers (10) | SPOONBILLS | Definition: flyers
SPO[t] (to notice) + ON (beside) + BILLS (posters) |
Book store (7) | RESERVE | Definition: Book
Double definition |
Shepherd and sheep going over sedimentary rock, mostly (7) | MARSHAL | Definition: Shepherd
Reverse of RAM + SHAL[e] |
Everyday performer, having a lot of fresh sprouts (sign of Christmas)? (5,5) | BUDDY HOLLY | Definition: Everyday performer
BUDDY (having lots of buds or sprouts) + HOLLY (sign of Christmas). Buddy Holly recorded the song "Everyday" |
Tip off a Romeo to get into woman's skirt (4) | WARN | Definition: Tip off
A R in the outer letters or "skirt" of W[oma]N |
Muscle work out is clear (7) | ABSOLVE | Definition: clear
AB (abdominal muscle) + SOLVE (work out) |
Break up gang fight behind clubs (7) | CRUMBLE | Definition: Break up
C[lubs] + RUMBLE (a gang fight) |
Supporters gathering around the last for Tiger Woods (5) | TREES | Definition: Woods
[Tige]R in TEES (supporters, golf, approriately). The timing of this could have been unfortunate in view of Woods's recent car crash |
Instruct nurses to cover daytime (9) | ENLIGHTEN | Definition: Instruct
LIGHT (daytime) in EN (enrolled nurse) twice |
After you season in preparation for dish (3,6,6) | AGE BEFORE BEAUTY | Definition: After you
AGE (season) + BEFORE (in preparation for) + DISH (a beauty) |
Start of lesson, they bring in students (8) | LEARNERS | Definition: students
L[esson] + EARNERS (they bring in [the money]) |
After playing both sides of cassette (4) | ONCE | Definition: After
ON (playing) + C[assett]E – as in "once/after I've finished this, I'll go out" |
Cave in woody area: everyone enters the wrong way (8) | COLLAPSE | Definition: Cave in
Reverse of ALL in COPSE |
All clothing for baby one mother prepared for unborn child (6) | EMBRYO | Definition: unborn child
Anagram of the outer letters of BabY OnE MotheR |
Hamper with food additive to eat cold (8) | ENCUMBER | Definition: Hamper
C[old] in E NUMBER |
As one chooses a checkout with divides (2,4) | AT WILL | Definition: As one chooses
A TILL "divided by" W (with) |
Set off in clearness, then they go up in flames (7,8) | CHINESE LANTERNS | Definition: they go up in flames
(IN CLEARNESS THEN) |
Do solitary? Her Majesty's pleasure for this one? (8) | ROYALIST | Definition: Her Majesty's pleasure for this one
SOLITARY |
Mark cryptic clue for tiny thing (8) | MOLECULE | Definition: tiny thing
MOLE (a mark) + CLUE |
Nut loaf remnant (8) | HEADBUTT | Definition: Nut
HEAD (loaf) + BUTT (a remnant) |
Shared out presents he helps to deliver? (6) | DASHER | Definition: presents he helps to deliver
SHARED* – Dasher is one of Santa's reindeer |
Plants kiss on middle of cheek: love comes first, absolutely (2-4) | OX-EYES | Definition: Plants
O (love) + X (kiss) + [ch]E[ek] + YES (absolutely!) |
Press to take one game for review (4) | URGE | Definition: Press
Reverse of EG ("to take one") + RU (Rubgy Union – game) |
Bishop scanned string in food queue (9) | BREADLINE | Definition: food queue
B READ LINE |
Cheap online mag maybe keeps running (8) | ECONOMIC | Definition: Cheap
ON in E-COMIC |
Row originally upriver levering a flat implement (7) | SPATULA | Row originally upriver levering a flat implement (7)
SPAT + first letters of Upriver Levering + A |
Caught Le Skunk rolling joints (8) | KNUCKLES | Definition: joints
(C LE SKUNK) |
Husband sinking gins, then parties (3,6) | HEN NIGHTS | Definition: parties
H + (GINS THEN) |
Attention! Drill rig goes regularly by new church (9) | DILIGENCE | Definition: Attention
Alternate letters of DrIlL rIg GoEs + N + CE |
Troubled by rough cords, Arab dons tights (6) | HOARSE | Definition: Troubled by rough cords
AR[ab] in HOSE (tights) – the "cords" being the vocal variety |
Diver having a question on a rare tuna (8) | AQUANAUT | Definition: Diver
A QU A TUNA |
Delivered last of produce over land (6) | BORNEO | Definition: land
BORN + [produc]E + O[ver] |
Find pear badly cooked like this (3-5) | PAN-FRIED | Definition: like this
(FIND PEAR)*, with a sort of &lit definition: I suppose a pear *could* be pan-fried successfully |
Part of body butcher can spare (8) | PANCREAS | Definition: Part of body
(CAN SPARE) |
Figures revised fee is bearing fruit (8) | EFFIGIES | Definition: Figures
FIG in (FEE IS) |
Weird drug enforcer served up a jelly (6) | CRANKY | Definition: Weird
Reverse of NARC (narcotics officer) + KY (brand of surgical jelly) |
Some brought catnip back undamaged (6) | INTACT | Definition: undamaged
Hidden rev broughT CATNIp |
Deeply thoughtful, keen to raise issue (6) | BROODY | Definition: Deeply thoughtful
Double definition |
Perennial reptilian superpower (6) | CROCUS | Definition: Perennial
CROC[odile] + US (superpower) |
Seen in mirror, something black on bed, mister, a silk stocking (10) | ARISTOCRAT | Definition: silk stocking
Reverse of TAR (something black) + COT (bed) + SIR (Mr) + A – a silk stocking is a name for an aristocrat, from their luxurious dress |
Hot wire warmer (6) | HEARTH | Definition: warmer
H + EARTH (wire) |
Cry of frustration opening drink in European city (8) | ALICANTE | Definition: European city
I CAN'T (cry of frustration) in ALE |
Liquid may start to curdle after utensil used to mix cocktail (6,3) | WHISKY MAC | Definition: cocktail
WHISK (utensil used to mix) + MAY* + C[urdle] |
Evidence of slur after organisation dropping regulation for food, supposedly? (4-6,4) | FIVE‑SECOND RULE | Definition: dropping regulation for food, supposedly
(EVIDENCE OF SLUR)* – the supposed rule for how long dropped food can safely be left on the floor; sometimes other numbers are used. Paul's email advertising his Zoom session tonight says "Join me on my latest Zoom with John Halpern call to find out why the 15 27 25 is so important to me." |
River sport (4) | WEAR | Definition: River
Double definition |
Prod by female failed to deliver clear message (8) | MISSPOKE | Definition: failed to deliver clear message
MISS + POKE |
Clear horror breaking cover (6) | LIMPID | Definition: Clear
IMP (horror, as in a troublesome child) in LID (cover) |
Dash to see groom boarding launch (10) | SPRINKLING | Definition: Dash
PRINK (to preen, groom) in SLING |
Attractive, I appreciate that man (6) | TAKING | Definition: Attractive
TA (thanks, I appreciate that) + KING (chessman) |
Love admitted by champ and companion for genetic engineering, say? (7) | BIOTECH | Definition: genetic engineering, say
O (love) in BITE + CH (Companion of Honour) |
Fragrance preceding 18, by the sound of it? (5) | ODOUR | Definition: Fragrance
Homophone of "eau de", which can precede COLOGNE |
Might it be one's ultimate dessert? (5,2,9) | DEATH BY CHOCOLATE | Definition: Might it be one's ultimate dessert
Cryptic definition |
Trading in Australia terrible, as viewed from down under? (6) | RETAIL | Definition: Trading
Hidden in reverse of austraLIA TERrible |
Game OK, Celtic having brought in a winger (9) | COCKATIEL | Definition: winger
A in (OK CELTIC) |
Clever clogs strikes up relationship (7) | SMARTIE | Definition: Clever clogs
Reverse of RAMS (strike) + TIE |
Club awaiting the law courts, initially wound up (5,8) | WIGAN ATHLETIC | Definition: Club
Anagram of AWAITING THE L[aw] C[ourts} |
Comical putting make-up on bear (9) | SLAPSTICK | Definition: Comical
SLAP (make-up) + STICK (to stand, bear); "putting" seems redundant here, for both the cryptic reading and the surface |
Dog, cat and hamster, for example? (7) | WHIPPET | Definition: Dog
WHIP (cat [o' nine tails]) + PET (e.g. a hamster) |
Marker pens record European city (7) | COLOGNE | Definition: European city
LOG (record) in (penned by) CONE (marker for roadworks etc) |
Wasted time as elfin smut served up? (7) | TRIFLED | Definition: Wasted time
Lift and separate to get ELF in DIRT, all reversed |
Make a short visit with John and relations (4,2) | LOOK IN | Definition: Make a short visit
LOO (toilet, John) + KIN |
Old traveller in company car with damage in front (5,4) | MARCO POLO | Definition: Old traveller
MAR (damage) + CO + POLO |
Time off is sacred — I had a break (7) | HOLIDAY | Definition: Time off
I'D A "breaking in" to HOLY |
One beats by a very short distance (7) | WHISKER | Definition: One beats
Double definition – a whisk-er could be one who beats [cream, eggs etc] |
Perhaps hawk's attempt to catch rook (4) | BIRD | Definition: Perhaps hawk
R in BID |
Gamely implying lawn is inferior? (4,6) | REAL TENNIS | Definition: Gamely implying lawn is inferior
Cryptic-ish definition. The "real" in the name of this game is sometimes assumed to mean "royal", but in fact it means "genuine", to distinguish it from the newer Lawn Tennis |
Site around area in Kensington, for one (6) | PALACE | Definition: Kensington, for one
A in PLACE |
Do only mediocre cricketers have these? (8) | AVERAGES | Definition: Do only mediocre cricketers have these
Cryptic definition – cricketers have batting and bowling averages, and "average" can also mean "mediocre" |
Odd cardinal has funny ideas for a game (4-1-4) | FIVE-A-SIDE | Definition: game
FIVE (an odd cardinal number) + IDEAS |
Stupid to put toddlers on this? (5) | POTTY | Definition: Stupid
Double definition |
Fairies showing personalities? Not at first (5) | ELVES | Definition: Fairies
[S]ELVES |
Character that directs one elsewhere (9) | REFERENCE | Definition: Character
Double definition – "character" as in a reference given for a job etc |
Most worrying tooth decay, in a way (8) | SCARIEST | Definition: Most worrying
CARIES (tooth decay) in ST (street, way) |
One should not eat more quickly (6) | FASTER | Definition: One should not eat
Double definition |
He sells at a knock-down price (10) | AUCTIONEER | Definition: He sells at a knock-down price
Cryptic definition |
A throw of the dice rejected in centre of revolution (4) | AXIS | Definition: centre of revolution
A + reverse of SIX (possible throw of dice) |
Vegan at first madly ardent to be green (7) | VERDANT | Definition: green
V[egan] + ARDENT |
Trifling sum for strip (7) | PEANUTS | Definition: Trifling sum
Double definition |
Paperwork finished without tears (7) | ORIGAMI | Definition: Paperwork finished without tears
Cryptic definition – origami involves folding paper, but tearing is frowned upon |
Help province up country (5) | INDIA | Definition: country
Reverse of AID + NI (Northern Ireland) |
Stuffy serials need rewriting (7) | AIRLESS | Definition: Stuffy
SERIALS |
Assassins who spare women? (3,3) | HIT MEN | Definition: Assassins
Double/cryptic definition |
Give voice with opera cast in Asian city (9) | SINGAPORE | Definition: Asian city
SING + OPERA |
Demanding to take dope during leave (7) | EXIGENT | Definition: Demanding
GEN (information, dope) in EXIT |
After rant, head arranged to punish humiliatingly (3,3,7) | TAR AND FEATHER | Definition: to punish humiliatingly
(AFTER RANT HEAD) |
Hated former editor keeping old car (9) | EXECRATED | Definition: Hated
CRATE (old car) in EX ED |
In talk, entice to accept shocking treatment (7) | LECTURE | Definition: talk
ECT (electro-convulsive therapy) in LURE (entice) |
Compel men to go through broken fence (7) | ENFORCE | Definition: Compel
OR (Other Ranks, men) in FENCE |
Revolutionary spray dispenser (7) | CHEMIST | Definition: dispenser
CHE [Guevara] + MIST |
Lament hit on head, calling in doctor (6) | BEMOAN | Definition: Lament
MO (Medical Officer) in BEAN (to hit on the head) |
Take a turn round a kingdom (5) | SPAIN | Definition: kingdom
A in SPIN |
Prom one's included in elapsed riotously (9) | ESPLANADE | Definition: Prom
AN in ELAPSED |
Stream swollen with a violent snowstorm (5) | BURAN | Definition: violent snowstorm
A in BURN (stream) |
Crone's miscast as protector of public morals (6) | CENSOR | Definition: protector of public morals
CRONES |
Subsets and Splits