Clue
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Do without tea as a temporary expedient (6) | CUTCHA | Definition: a temporary expedient
CUT (do without) + CHA (tea) |
Is Holding about the ultimate in fast bowlers maybe? (4) | HATS | Definition: bowlers maybe
[fas]T in HAS ("is holding"), with a misleading (but permitted) capital to suggest the cricketer Michael Holding. Sadly it seems that Brian Johnston's remark "the batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey" is apocryphal, or was made up by Johnners after the event |
Tiny thing clutching old covering – for which cot is doubly suitable? (7) | DOVELET | Definition: for which cot is doubly suitable
VELE (Spenserian version of "veil", covering) in DOT (a tiny thing). "Cot" is a variant spelling of "cote", but also a baby's bed, so suitable for a baby dove in two ways |
Shrine: sanctified one erected by academy (5) | STUPA | Definition: Shrine
ST (saint, sanctified one) + UP (erected) + A[cademy] |
Group of NA dialects, 51 in belt (6) | SALISH | Definition: Group of NA dialects
LI in SASH |
Melon when stuffed into shopping bag (6) | CASABA | Definition: Melon
AS in CABA |
Extract from writer's eulogy, anything but wordy (5) | TERSE | Definition: anything but wordy
Hidden in wriTERS Eulogy |
Ristorante? You may get pickled roes in this one (4) | TRAT | Definition: Ristorante
Composite anagram – RISTORANTE* less (ROES IN) |
Azzurri's forward one's opposing twice? (6) | AVANTI | Definition: Azzurri's forward
A (one) + V[ersus] ANTI (two ways to say "against"); avanti is Italian for "forward", so as might be said by "the Blues", the Italian national football side (and some other teams) |
Like well-drilled pack, promptly (as before) getting name sewn into strip (9) | TIGHT-KNIT | Definition: Like well-drilled pack
TIGHT (old word for "promptly") + N in KIT (sports gear, strip) |
Liquid from chemical process? Cheer when it includes uranium (6) | ELUATE | Definition: Liquid from chemical process
U in ELATE |
Get rid of last of glühwein in bar (5) | SHUNT | Definition: Get rid of
[glühwei]N in SHUT (to bar, e.g. a door) |
Left outside, primate entered, with defensive protection of a kind (9) | PARAPETED | Definition: with defensive protection of a kind
APE in PARTED (left) |
Savings scheme that's contributed to as usual (4) | SUSU | Definition: Savings scheme
Hidden in aS USUal |
Cave dweller in ooze enveloping sea's roar (7) | PROTEUS | Definition: Cave dweller
ROTE (the roar of surf) in PUS. The cave-dweller is an aquatic salamander, also called the Olm, not the shape-shifting Greek god |
Dart of old making you go pale, head disappearing (5) | LANCH | Definition: Dart of old
[B]LANCH – it's an old form of "launch", with "dart" as a verb for the definition |
Rover Matt's turned up in (5) | NOMAD | Definition: Rover
Reverse of DAMON (Matt D, actor) |
Sour, one drunk up with a dash of Evian (7) | ACETOSE | Definition: Sour
ACE + reverse of SOT + E[vian] |
Word formed from another, i.e. crafted with advert (8) | DERIVATE | Definition: Word formed from another
(IE ADVERT) |
Deviously Ursula's refused what's central for Boris – typical (5) | USUAL | Definition: typical
Anagram of URSULA less [bo]R[is], with the surface referring to Ursula von der Leyen, president of European Commission since December 2019 |
She memorably lacked footwear – scan toes wriggling (8) | CONTESSA | Definition: She memorably lacked footwear
(SCAN TOES)* The definition is a reference to the Barefoot Contessa |
Racing star embracing nymph – one providing aid to the legless? (11) | PROSTHETIST | Definition: one providing aid to the legless
THETIS in [Alain] PROST |
Supporter accepts tax as before for deflection of radiation (11) | BACKSCATTER | Definition: deflection of radiation
SCAT (tax – apparently unrelated to the similarly-named tax "scot", as in "scot-free") in BACKER |
Fab performer in short song one released in twinkly style (8) | STARRILY | Definition: in twinkly style
STARR (Ringo, one of the "Fab Four") + I (in) + LAY less A |
A soft leather (8) | CABRETTA | Definition: A soft leather
The competition word |
Ruckle tipsily swallowing a wee Scotch? (7) | CAULKER | Definition: a wee Scotch
A in RUCKLE* – it means "a dram", so a small whisky, or "wee Scotch" |
Follow American river (5) | TAGUS | Definition: river
TAG + US |
Reservoir, answer for boat-dwellers (5) | TANKA | Definition: boat-dwellers
TANK + A[nswer] |
Heart throbs, quick no longer (5) | RATHE | Definition: quick no longer
HEART* – an old word that survives only in its comparative form "rather" |
Weight nag shed creating bodily firmness (4) | TONE | Definition: bodily firmness
TON[nag]E |
Part — with ease, if broken? (8) | SEPARATE | Definition: Part — with ease, if broken?
(PART EASE)* &lit |
Part of greater honesty that's starting to be seen between Swiss banks (5) | RHONE | Definition: that's starting to be seen between Swiss banks
Hidden in greateR HONEsty – the source of the Rhone is in Switzerland, so it starts between (river-)banks there |
Idiot getting role after change of heart (4) | PRAT | Definition: Idiot
PART (role) with its middle letters ("heart") reversed |
Part of pageant I'm at — terrific ephemeral stuff (10) | ANTIMATTER | Definition: ephemeral stuff
pageANT I'M AT TERrific – as I understand it, antimatter isn't necessarily "ephemeral", unless it comes into contact with ordinary matter |
Small part of statistical report for firm (6) | STABLE | Definition: firm
S + TABLE |
Part of big issue to be raised in old court — increased rent (8) | OCTUPLET | Definition: Part of big issue to be raised
O[ld] + C[our]T + UP (increased) + LET (rent) – if you're an octuplet you're definitely part of a "big issue" |
Formalities progressively reduced, with two parts switched (3,4) | RED TAPE | Definition: Formalities
TAPERED with the TAPE and RED parts switched |
Quarter thus includes area for grass (7) | ESPARTO | Definition: grass
PART (area) in E (quarter of the compass) + SO (thus) |
Starters for our first part of meal, naturally (2,6) | OF COURSE | Definition: naturally
First letters of Our First, + COURSE (part of a meal) |
Engine parts — throttles (6) | CHOKES | Definition: Engine parts
Double definition |
Bunch elected in cunning way to expedite part of bill (10) | GUILLOTINE | Definition: way to expedite part of bill
LOT IN (bunch elected) in GUILE (cunning). A guillotine is a parliamentary procedure to curtail debate on a bill, and thus expedite its progress |
Final parts in cast recast for theatrical hit (4) | CATS | Definition: theatrical hit
CAST with its last two letters switched |
Part for Maria Callas to study endlessly (5) | TOSCA | Definition: Part for Maria Callas
TO SCA[n] – Tosca was Callas's first leading role, and also her last |
Nothing remaining from fire around very cold part of year (8) | NOVEMBER | Definition: cold part of year
V[ery] in NO EMBER (nothing remaining from fire) |
Leading man that has two parts on stage (5,3,6) | HENRY THE FOURTH | Definition: Leading man that has two parts on stage
Cryptic/double definition – Henry IV was a "leading man" in the sense of being king, and also as the title character of the two Shakespeare plays |
Bewitched, in part, using new spell (4) | RAPT | Definition: Bewitched
Anagram (i.e. with new spell[ing]) of PART |
Brutal, apart from having silver lining (6) | SAVAGE | Definition: Brutal
AG (silver) in SAVE (apart from) |
Almost back, holding it up as part of the Guardian, say (7) | SECTION | Definition: part of the Guardian, say
Reverse of IT in SECON[d] (to back) |
List of parts a repairman tossed out (8,8) | DRAMATIS PERSONAE | Definition: List of parts
(A REPAIRMAN TOSSED) |
Direction to players to reduce noise — part of one I composed (5,5) | FORTE PIANO | Definition: Direction to players to reduce noise
(PART OF ONE I)* – forte piano (usually written ***fp***) is an instruction to a musician to play loudly then immediately quietly (Chambers gives it as a single word) |
Partly withdraw, making borders of state change and decrease (6) | SECEDE | Definition: Partly withdraw
The outer letters or "borders" of StatE ChangE DecreasE, with an extended definition, "Partly" seems redundant, except to fit in with the theme |
Unfathomable part in Shakespearean comedy? Not so (10) | BOTTOMLESS | Definition: Unfathomable
BOTTOM (character in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* + LESS (not so, as in "not so big") |
Hear test broadcast in places where many a player takes part (8) | THEATRES | Definition: places where many a player takes part
(HEAR TEST) |
Bit by bit, go inside controlling mechanism in parts of country (7) | REGIONS | Definition: parts of country
The two letters of GO separately in REINS (controlling mechanism) |
About to depart or part forcefully (6) | CLEAVE | Definition: part forcefully
C (circa, about) + LEAVE |
You may part with this part of fowl (4) | COMB | Definition: You may part with this
Double definition |
Publicise footwear aid for a diver? (3,4) | AIR PUMP | Definition: aid for a diver
AIR (publicise) + PUMP (type of shoe) |
Attempt by shy little bird (7) | GOSLING | Definition: little bird
GO (attempt) + SLING (throw, sling) |
Travelled, heading away from Welsh area (4) | WENT | Definition: Travelled
[G]WENT |
Broadcaster crosses barrier, becoming a drinker? (9) | SWALLOWER | Definition: a drinker
WALL in SOWER |
D-Day beach sergeant's first news (5) | SWORD | Definition: D-Day beach
S[ergeant] + WORD |
Joker and king involved with piquet (spades) (8) | QUIPSTER | Definition: Joker
Anagram of R (king) + PIQUET + S[pades] |
International holding of billionaire (4) | LION | Definition: International
Hidden in bilLIONaire – a member of the British and Irish Lions. Originally they were the British Lions: "and Irish" was added in 2001 |
Round of cards — fast one (5) | TRICK | Definition: Round of cards
Double definition |
One's taken by the dancing, not love (4) | HATE | Definition: not love
A in THE |
Possibly an official enquiry from them, as a way to break awkward situations (8) | STEWARDS | Definition: Possibly an official enquiry from them
A RD (road, way) in STEWS (awkward situations); the definition refers to Stewards' enquiries in horse-racing etc |
One who can bridle at Americans somewhat (5) | TAMER | Definition: One who can bridle
Hidden in aT AMERicans |
Feel rule needs changing about new carbon molecule (9) | FULLERENE | Definition: carbon molecule
N in (FEEL RULE)* – Fullerene is named after the architect Buckminster Fuller, famous for his geodesic dome; one variant of this recently-discovered form of carbon is called Buckminsterfullerene |
Canned ham with top removed (4) | HIGH | Definition: Canned
[T]HIGH (ham) – canned and high are both slang for "drunk" |
Promotional gift of loose cheese? Right out of it (7) | FREEBIE | Definition: Promotional gift
FREE (loose) + B[R]IE |
Wheeler's modest loveless description of low-level celebrity? (7) | CYCLIST | Definition: Wheeler
COY less O (love) + C-LIST (celebrities who don't make the A- or even B-list) |
Secret device used with indignation? (4) | WIRE | Definition: Secret device
W + IRE – I was a bit stuck in the NW corner until the theme led me to this |
This allowed pub customers to get stuff off their chest (8) | SPITTOON | Definition: This allowed pub customers to get stuff off their chest
Cryptic definition |
Victoria wasn't a married American journalist (6) | AMUSED | Definition: Victoria wasn't
A + M + US + ED – from Victoria's famous line "we are not amused" (which she probably never said) |
Result of a failure to score: cocaine added to a kilo (kg), roughly (4,4) | GOAL KICK | Definition: Result of a failure to score
Anagram of C[ocaine] + A KILO KG |
Fools around with large snowdrifts (6) | CLOWNS | Definition: Fools
C (circa, around) + L + SNOW |
Note about US city (4) | ONER | Definition: Note
Reverse of RENO (city in Nevada) – a note as in money |
Agree Jacquie's certainly guarding this (9) | ACQUIESCE | Definition: Agree
Hidden in jACQUIE'S CErtainly |
Wader has to keel over after sun (5) | STILT | Definition: Wader
S[un] + TILT – the stilt is a type of wader (bird) |
Sort of a tree, one seen in refectory? (5) | EATER | Definition: one seen in refectory
(A TREE) |
Spice up routine crime, perhaps (8) | TURMERIC | Definition: Spice
Reverse of RUT (routine) + CRIME |
Care worker's flat support? (4,4) | HOME HELP | Definition: Care worker
HOME (e,g, a flat) + HELP (support) – rather a weak clue if you ask me |
Pedestrian jazz performer left out and replaced by King (6) | WALKER | Definition: Pedestrian
[Fats] WALLER (jazz pianist/singer) with the second L replaced by K |
Drawn to the old kind of patterned cloth (3-3) | TIE-DYE | Definition: kind of patterned cloth
TIED (drawn) YE (old "the", with the usual disclaimer that the Y should really be a Thorn) |
Passion Tree, associated with ecstasy (4) | FIRE | Definition: Passion
FIR + E |
First bit of stomach fits into opening? Let out pants (4) | GASP | Definition: Let out pants
S[tomach] in GAP |
Left before decision, creating divided opinion (5) | SPLIT | Definition: Left
Triple definition, at a stretch: I think "before decision" refers to the fact that you can have a "split decision" in boxing etc |
Caesar, perhaps, in his day and age had one with Antony … (8) | BROMANCE | Definition: had one with Antony
ROMAN (e.g. Caesar) in BCE |
… where you may learn Italian couple is due! (8,6) | LANGUAGE SCHOOL | Definition: where you may learn Italian couple is due
Cryptic definition: "due" is the Italian for "two". Rather too vague as a CD if you ask me, as it could equally well lead to "language lesson" and maybe others |
Reposition the panel, revealing frequently overlooked room feature (8) | ELEPHANT | Definition: frequently overlooked room feature
(THE PANEL)* – as in the expression "the elephant in the room" for something important but not talked about |
Force bank to provide short term storage (6) | FRIDGE | Definition: short term storage
F + RIDGE |
Nervous types could set something off (9) | TREMBLERS | Definition: Nervous types
Double definition – a trembler is a kind of switch, found in bombs, mines etc |
Picking up waste after performing is pure tedium (5) | ENNUI | Definition: pure tedium
Homophone of "on" (performing) + "wee" (waste) |
Following instinct, director proceeded carefully (5) | NOSED | Definition: proceeded carefully
NOSE (instinct) + D[irector] |
Cleaner finds it is more sensible going outside (9) | SANITISER | Definition: Cleaner
IT IS in SANER |
Perfect place for turning one vessel covered in gold (6) | UTOPIA | Definition: Perfect place
I POT in AU, all reversed |
Singer entertaining queen, for example, reveals a different side (5,3) | ALTER EGO | Definition: a different side
ER (the Queen) + EG in ALTO (singer) |
Defeat prior to engagement? Things aren't so good after that (4,6,4) | BEST BEFORE DATE | Definition: Things aren't so good after that
BEST (defeat) BEFORE (prior to) DATE (engagement) |
Some armour Britain lost in dreadful gun battle (8) | GAUNTLET | Definition: Some armour
Anagram of GUN BATTLE less B |
Exercise illegal occupation (5) | SQUAT | Definition: Exercise
Double definition |
Subsets and Splits