question

Alec Robins hit for six by former England captain (5,5)

answer

BRIAN CLOSE - The late Alec Robins wrote Teach Yourself Crosswords one of the best-known crossword books - his name is an anagram (hit for six) of a former England cricket captain

question

Father's conflicting degrees (4)

answer

ABBA - a biblical word for father, when applied to God, is created by reversing a university degree and following it with the same degree

question

Man with prospects — or Aussie? (4-6)

answer

GOLD-DIGGER - this man who prospects for a valuable mineral is a charade of the colour represented heraldically by OR and an informal Australian term of address

question

Jack has trouble with pen (4)

answer

JAIL - a charade of J(ack) and some trouble gives a pen(itentiary)

question

Sow and cat having rest disturbed (7)

answer

SCATTER - to get a word meaning to sow, put CAT inside an anagram (disturbed) of REST

question

Letchworth or Petersfield. Only part, and much smaller (6)

answer

THORPE - hidden inside (only part) the first three words is a place - there are several places with this name, the one I know is in Surrey and has a theme park

question

Stevedore who reduces pay (6)

answer

DOCKER - another name for a stevedore could be someone who reduces pay

question

Profitable redundancy has had dog-kennel converted (6,9)

answer

GOLDEN HANDSHAKE - a large sum of money paid to someone whose services are no longer required is an anagram (converted) of HAS HAD DOG-KENNEL

question

Heroine employed at Bentley? (6)

answer

CARMEN - the heroine of Bizet's opera could, if split (3,3), be people working at Bentley (or Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Ford)

question

Rock's ego divided by popular twins (6)

answer

GEMINI - a rock used in jewellery and I (ego) are separated by a word meaning popular to get these heavenly twins

question

Fighter's slice of bread and butter (7)

answer

SOLDIER - this fighting serviceman is also a name for a narrow strip of bread-and-butter which is dipped into a boiled egg

question

Ship's load first removed (4)

answer

ARGO - Jason's ship is constructed by dropping the first letter from a load

question

Floral setting of gorse blossoming by forest (4,6)

answer

ROSE GARDEN - this floral setting comes from an anagram (blossoming) of GORSE followed by a forest that is stated by Shakespeare to be the setting for As You Like It

question

2 half sealed off (4)

answer

HERM - a 2 down is derived by dropping the second half of a word meaning sealed off or airtight

question

Top-rate lines in poetry at palace (10)

answer

VERSAILLES - put top-rate (2) and two L(ine)s inside some poetry to get a palace built for Louis XIV

question

I lay claim to lots of trousers (4)

answer

BAGS - a colloquial word meaning "I lay claim to" is also a colloquial term for trousers

question

Marine detachment (4)

answer

ISLE - a cryptic definition of a piece of land surrounded by sea

question

Lack of success upsetting tutor on reserve (2,4)

answer

NO DICE - a phrase which indicates that there is no chance of success is built by reversing a tutor and following it with a word meaning reserve or coldness

question

The dizzy quality of blondes? (15)

answer

LIGHTHEADEDNESS - a slightly-cryptic definition of a dizzy quality attributed to blondes - the enumeration is usually (5-10)

question

Horse eating bit of wheat cooked (6)

answer

STEWED - put a spirited horse around (eating) a bit of W(heat) to get a word meaning cooked

question

Card game in vehicle going to Dartmoor? (5,5)

answer

BLACK MARIA - a card game, also known as Hearts), and a van for transporting prisoners

question

Edinburgh — that is where duke and earl clashed first (4,6)

answer

AULD REEKIE - a nickname for Edinburgh is derived from the Latin abbreviation for "that is" preceded by an anagram (clashed) of DUKE and EARL

question

Old transport at RADA? (10)

answer

STAGECOACH - an old-fashioned form of transport describes, when split (5,5) someone who teaches at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

question

Party understood naval indicator (5,5)

answer

JOLLY ROGER - a slang word for an office party followed by the word used in signalling for understood gives a flag flown by pirate ships

question

Special reducing dissension for circles of society (7)

answer

SPHERES - a charade of SP(ecial) and word meaning dissenting with conventional beliefs, without its final letter(reducing), gives these circles of society

question

Empty list, cock! (7)

answer

ROOSTER - put O (nothing) into a list to get a cockerel

question

Moron edited first edition — never again! (2,4)

answer

NO MORE - an anagram ()edited of MORON followed by the first letter of E(dition) gives a phrase meaning never again

question

Angel at Ikea consuming ice-creams (6)

answer

GELATI - hidden inside (consuming) the first three words of the clue are these whipped ice-creams made from cream, milk and/or water and flavoured with fruit or nuts

question

One and the same Latin image (4)

answer

IDOL - a charade of I (one), an abbreviation meaning the same as before and L(atin) gives an image of a god

question

Small county losing leading hard workers (4)

answer

ANTS - drop the initial H (losing leading Hard) from the abbreviated form (small) of an English county to get these workers

question

Inner cities had become disorderly, getting cut off (14)

answer

DISINHERITANCE an anagram (disorderly) of INNER CITIES HAD spells out what happens when one is cut out of a will.

question

In part of plant, allowed to distribute pamphlets (7)

answer

LEAFLET A type of pamphlet is a charade of LEAF (part of a plant) and LET (allowed to).

question

Small organism inserting sting in rodents (7)

answer

MICROBE - Sting here means a deception or theft. The rodents are MICE, insert ROB (steal) to obtain a microscopic organism such as a bacteria

question

Yahoo available on line (4)

answer

LOUT a yahoo is a boorish lout - L (line) and OUT (available in the sense of being in the public domain).

question

Female assistant upset make-up people? (10)

answer

FANTASISTS People who create or indulge in fantasies - F (female) followed by an anagram (upset) of ASSISTANT.

question

Two rings attached to European bird (6)

answer

HOOPOE - This rather special bird is made up by HOOP and O (two rings) and E (European).

question

Time put into handicraft, note (8)

answer

CROTCHET - A note equal to half a minim - CROCHET (decorative handicraft using a needle to create intertwined loops using wool or thread) with T for time inserted.

question

Holy word in response to ring, getting married (8)

answer

HALLOWED - You answer a phone by saying HALLO (in response to ring) and another way of saying married is WED. The resulting holy word is an adjective meaning holy or revered

question

Tries to win where some games are played (6)

answer

COURTS - A nice double definition - wooing or winning the attention of someone/a place where games such as netball and tennis are played.

question

Old Bank of England, initially, as source of notes (4)

answer

OBOE The musical instrument is obtained, as the clue instructs by taking the initial letters from Old Bank Of and England.

question

Scoundrel promises to pay — that's odd (7)

answer

CURIOUS - CUR is another word for a scoundrel and paper promises to pay are IOUS. Here the meaning of curious is odd or strange.

question

Fruit taken from bed after almost one month (7)

answer

APRICOT - These delicious fruit are the result of combining APRI (APRIL without the L is almost one month) COT (a baby's bed).

question

Silly Harry reckoned without parking in West End location (4,4,6)

answer

HYDE PARK CORNER An anagram (silly) of HARRY RECKONED and P (parking) - this brought back memories as I worked for many years in the 1970s a couple of streets away from this busy London 'junction'.

question

Femme fatale lied disgracefully and upset prince (7)

answer

DELILAH - the lady who was responsible for Samson's downfall - an anagram (disgracefully) of LIED and LAH (Prince Hal reversed).

question

Prominent figure in New York moved there from France (6,2,7)

answer

STATUE OF LIBERTY - the clue is a cryptic definition of the famous statue given to the United States of America by France as sign of international friendship.

question

A swan, deprived of space, sits on this river (4)

answer

NILE The clue instructs you to move the space between A and SWAN, producing ASWAN, the site of the famous temples and dam on the River NILE.

question

Catch colleague, endlessly shown up (6)

answer

ENTRAP to catch or entangle someone is a reversal (shown up) of a word meaning colleague PARTNER without the R (endlessly).

question

Shut up about a Tory leader being inexperienced (8)

answer

IMMATURE - To imprison or confine IMMURE with A and T(Tory leader) inserted. Inexperienced in the sense of not being fully developed.

question

Charge about, protecting us in battle (10)

answer

ACCUSATION - the act of charging or bringing a charge - Insert into ACTION (battle) C (Circa = about) and US (protecting us).

question

Take irrevocable step in crucial problem, dividing religious objects (5,3,7)

answer

CROSS THE RUBICON - To go pass the point of no return as Julius Caesar did when he crossed the River Rubicon when invading Ancient Rome in 49 BC - the religious objects are the CROSS and ICON, and the snag or the crucial problem, as Hamlet says in his To be or not to be speech: "there's THE RUB" .

question

Basic accommodation in county, just what's needed (6)

answer

BEDSIT - The last one to go in for me. The county is Bedfordshire (abbreviated to BEDS) and IT here means just what's needed.

question

Black and white children admitted by doctor with no capital (10)

answer

MONOCHROME - another term for black and white is a charade of MO (medical officer, doctor) NO, CH (children) and ROME (the capital of Italy).

question

Banks are ruined in this part of US (8)

answer

NEBRASKA - an anagram (ruined) of BANKS ARE gives you a Mid Western state in the USA.

question

Don't audibly greet crewman like this on plane! (6)

answer

HIJACK - Sailors are often known as Jack (Tars). Greeting one "Hi Jack" might cause major problems on an aeroplane in mid air.

question

Warm garment husband's not needed in Southern climate (7)

answer

SWEATER - another term for a jumper (a warm garment we UK-based solvers have been wearing a lot lately) - S (southern) and WEATHER with the H removed (husband's not needed).

question

Expose corrupt man in American bank, finally (6)

answer

UNMASK - reveal someone's identity - An anagram (corrupt) of MAN inserted into US (American) with the last letter (finally) of banK.

question

Vivacious spirit queen's shown in life (4)

answer

BRIO - this Italian word, used in musical terminology, means liveliness, spirit or vivacity. BIO (a combining form signifying life, or living organisms) with R (Regina, queen) inserted.

question

Frost deposit — degrees start falling (4)

answer

HOAR - A white frost formed by freezing dew - remove the D (degrees falling)

question

Great anger finding vermin in outskirts of Wisbech (5)

answer

WRATH - Violent anger - place RAT (vermin)

question

Account held in part agreement (4)

answer

PACT - Insert AC, the abbreviation for account, into PT, the abbreviation for part- a PACT is apparently an informal or not legally enforceable agreement.

question

Explaining wrongly cover during exceptional springtime (15)

answer

MISINTERPRETING - An anagram (exceptional)

question

I name dishonest person said to be at outcrop (6)

answer

INLIER - Start with I and N(ame)

question

Experienced hand getting on with little Timothy expressing hesitation (3-5)

answer

OLD-TIMER This describes me both in crossword-solving and day-job terms (though, quite clearly, not age-wise!)

question

James reportedly, before break, had cheap gadget (8)

answer

GIMCRACK - A worthless knickknack or poorly made article - according to Chambers you can spell this with a G or a J but here you need GIM, a homophone of Jim as indicated by 'reportedly', followed by another word for a break in the sense of a narrow opening CRACK.

question

Choke regulates itself (6)

answer

STIFLE - an anagram (regulates)

question

Right to have a face on this tyre? (6)

answer

RADIAL - Most cars have, I think, radial tyres these days - R (right)

question

Unperturbed about commercial song (8)

answer

SERENADE - A word meaning calm or unruffled with AD (abbreviation for commercial advertisement)

question

Hick cuddling hot bird (8)

answer

PHEASANT - Hick is a derogatory term for someone from the country - so PEASANT but 'cuddling' instructs you to insert H for hot - there is a gentleman pheasant teasing our cat in the garden as I type this.

question

Made fun of nurse put out (4,2)

answer

SENT UP - A State Enrolled Nurse or SEN and an anagram (out)

question

New place in green for bird (9,6)

answer

PEREGRINE FALCON - A lovely fifteen letter anagram (new)

question

Quails be on both sides of valley (4)

answer

BEVY - I am a great fan of collective nouns (parliament of owls being my favourite of all)

question

Buffalo calf penned nearby (5)

answer

LOCAL - I read the first two words of this clue and for a couple of seconds wondered if there was some obscure word for the offspring of a buffalo unknown to me. Luckily I then saw the word 'penned' and realised that hidden inside buffaLO CALf is a synonym for nearby.

question

Overpriced honey? (4)

answer

DEAR - A very nice double definition - expensive or a term of endearment

question

Blockbuster rehung 'mid confusion (9)

answer

HUMDINGER - a slang expression for an exceptionally excellent person or thing - an obvious anagram (confusion)

question

Salts, a large order from David's son (7)

answer

ABSALOM - A charade of AB (salty sailors)

question

Ebb-tide (9)

answer

WATERFALL - The ebb tide is literally a FALL of WATER so can be described as a WATER FALL.

question

Expose piece of hair causing stoppage of flow in pipe (7)

answer

AIRLOCK - AIR (expose to ventilation)

question

He had the measure of the old king (5)

answer

HEROD - One of the nastier biblical kings - HE followed by ROD (a rod, pole or perch equals five and a half yards)

question

Lady has name of aristocrat (9)

answer

PATRICIAN - These aristocrats were originally a member of one of the original families of Rome - PATRICIA followed by N.

question

Study manufacture of lace or hide (7)

answer

CONCEAL - One of the setter's handy words for study CON followed by an anagram (manufacture)

question

Sharp practice seen in series of tight turns on track (9)

answer

CHICANERY - A series of sharp bends on a motor racing circuit a CHICANE plus RY (abbreviation for railway [track])

question

Demanding headmistress fully content (9)

answer

STRESSFUL - the word 'content' is an indicator that hidden inside headmiSTRESS FULly is an adjective meaning causing a strain on someone or something. Cephas obviously met my grammar school headmistress who was both demanding and stressful!

question

Startling enlightenment as a result of raising the lid (3-6)

answer

EYE-OPENER - One of my favourite clues this week - your eyelid is of course what opens your eye, so for crossword setting purposes could be described in the same way as a startling enlightenment.

question

Runner's two 18s allowed to be included (7)

answer

ATHLETE - It was obvious from the checking letters what the runner had to be. The reference to 18d explains the word play - the articles A and THE are placed round LET (allowed to be)

question

Did not stand heartless antic that was wicked (7)

answer

SATANIC - If you did not stand, you SAT; follow this with AN(T)

question

An editorial? Either (7)

answer

ARTICLE - an editorial is of course an article written by the top reporter at a newspaper. Think back to 16d and realise that an article can also be either A or THE.

question

Of the ear or of the mouth, we hear (5)

answer

AURAL - This is a double definition making use of homophones - here you require AURAL relating to or received by the ear, rather than ORAL relating to or uttered by the mouth.

question

Bent over by fish that one plays - the biggest of its type (6,4)

answer

DOUBLE BASS - the largest bowed stringed instrument (that one plays) is a charade of DOUBLE (bent over) and a fish that can be either freshwater or marine - the BASS.

question

Second record is a big hit (4)

answer

SLOG - a verb meaning to hit hard - S (second) and LOG (a record of a ship's performances or work done over a certain time by a mainframe computer)

question

Boldness of Charlie's predecessor retaining advantage (7)

answer

BRAVADO - When joining the Armed Forces, the Police Force or becoming a crossword setter/solver, it is necessary to learn the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. Before C for Charlie (its predecessor) is B for BRAVO; insert into this the abbreviation AD (which Chambers tells me is the N American term for advantage in a game of tennis) to produce a term for a display of bravery.

question

Lunatic is running for president (7)

answer

MADISON - An adjective meaning mentally disordered - MAD plus IS ON (is running) produces the surname of the fourth President of the United States.

question

English author swallowing mixture of gin and tasteless liquid (8,5)

answer

DRINKING WATER - John DRINKWATER was an English author and poet. Insert an anagram (mixture) of GIN in the middle - BD described this liquid as tasteless, they obviously don't put as much chlorine in the water in Hanley Swan as they do here in East Kent.

question

During end of cold spell I turn blue (6)

answer

INDIGO - A shade of blue - a charade of a synonym for during - IN, the final (end) letter in the spelling of colD, I and then GO, a turn in, eg, a board game.

question

They were often hung or framed by eccentric artist (8)

answer

TRAITORS - A lot of discussion on this one on Sunday - grammatical questions 'hung or hanged' etc - it's a fairly obvious anagram (eccentric) of ARTIST with OR inserted (framed) - people are no longer hung/hanged for treason but traitors met their fate this way in the past.

question

Person willing to get runs to finish off match at Oval (8)

answer

TESTATOR - Someone who makes a will is a TESTATOR - TEST (an international cricket match played at the Oval) plus AT, O (oval) and R (runs).

question

Horrified, in a way, by frightful hag (6)

answer

AGHAST - Chambers defines this adjective splendidly as 'stupefied with horror'. An anagram of HAG (frightful) inserted into A and ST (abbreviation for street or way).

question

Publications in university town are important (7,6)

answer

READING MATTER - Printed material such as books and magazines could be on a list of important (ie they MATTER) study requirements at the University of READING.

question

Employ in a staff that's wide awake (7)

answer

AROUSED - Another word for a staff in the sense of a stick is A ROD. Insert a synonym for employ (USE) to produce a word meaning woken up or stimulated.

question

Achieve victory, pushing back border around state (7)

answer

PREVAIL - A verb meaning to be victorious over is achieved by placing AVER (state) inside another word for border (LIP) and reversing (pushing back) the result - LIAVERP = PREVAIL.

question

Some beef, for example, that's left if it's not right (4)

answer

SIDE - Sides can, of course, be either left or right, although you would have to pay a small fortune for a side of beef these days.

question

Observer is in English, yet news is somehow different (10)

answer

EYEWITNESS - an anagram (somehow different) of YET NEWS IS plus E (English). These observers are very useful when a crime has been committed.

question

Setting up base on time is an obligation (4)

answer

DEBT - a financial obligation - another word for a base in the sense of a place on which anything rests - BED - reversed (setting up) on T (time).

question

Run raid he'd put together without leaders and without support (7)

answer

UNAIDED - Another way of saying without any help - the letters of (r)UN (r)AID (h)E'D joined (put) together but with their initial letters removed (without leaders).

question

Star players Girl Guides grow up to become? (7,6)

answer

LEADING LADIES - Principal actresses in a play or film - Girls grow up to be LADIES and guides show or LEAD people, hence grown up Girl Guides become LEADING LADIES.

question

Poet's right out of place in competition for novelists (6)

answer

BROOKE - Rupert Brooke is the poet here - the Booker Prize is presented to a novelist - do as the clue says and move the R from the end of the word to the inside (out of place).

question

House not, as some say, the place to teach ministers lessons (8)

answer

SEMINARY - A house joined to another is semi-detached, informally referred to as a SEMI. Add to this NARY - a dialect word meaning never or not to produce a theological college for the instruction of ministers, priests and rabbis.

question

Wayward shot piercing lion in part of Africa (7)

answer

LESOTHO - LEO (the constellation/sign of the zodiac represented by a lion) with an anagram (wayward) of SHOT inserted produces the landlocked enclave in south Africa.

question

Behaviour of the kind that's wasted energy, so restricting it (10)

answer

GENEROSITY - People who are kind behave in a generous manner - an anagram (wasted) of ENERGY SO with IT (restricting) inserted.

question

Revise tenet's wording for political address (7,6)

answer

DOWNING STREET - the home of the Prime Minister is an anagram (revised) of TENETS WORDING.

question

People like Gladstone and those around Melbourne (10)

answer

VICTORIANS - My clue of the day - Gladstone was Prime Minister during the reign of Queen Victoria; Melbourne is the capital of the Australian State of Victoria, its residents, like Mr Gladstone, are known as Victorians.

question

Pursued the ends of liberty with determination (8)

answer

DOGGEDLY - Behaving in a determined dog-like manner - DOGGED (pursued / tailed) with the first and last letters (ends) of LibertY.

question

Main courses? (7)

answer

SEAFOOD - Food caught on the high seas - or fish served as part of a meal.

question

A pen enclosing about this amount of land (7)

answer

ACREAGE - A CAGE (pen) with RE (about) inserted - an amount of land measured in acres.

question

Hands or feet used to get fruit (6)

answer

PAWPAW - another word for a hand or foot (particularly in an animal) is a PAW. Two of them given you a name of a tropical fruit of the custard apple family.

question

Positive starts from politicians leading us somewhere (4)

answer

PLUS - another word for positive is formed from the initial letters (starts) of Politicians Leading Us and Somewhere.

question

Piano I put in club converted by jazz singer — chance for all to relax (6,7)

answer

PUBLIC HOLIDAY After working this clue out, I thought we had a mistake because I was convinced that the singer's name was Billie Holliday! However a check with several sources happily revealed I was wrong and our setter was right! The clue comprises P (public) added to an anagram of CLUB with I inside. On to this is added our jazz singer's surname and it gives you the name given to days when (most of) the population are not working.

question

Knowledge internal to government department (4)

answer

INFO A wordsum. IN (internal) + FO (abbreviation for Foreign Office)

question

Withdrawal symptoms we may get the day after Christmas? (4,6)

answer

COLD TURKEY One of several topical clues. A double definition with the second cryptic. What a drug addict goes through coming off drugs and a pretty bland way of dealing with the leftover Christmas dinner meat. Here's a much better way:-

question

The law broken on open land in Australia, say (12)

answer

COMMONWEALTH A word for open land (COMMON) takes an anagram (broken) of THE LAW, which leads to the group of which Australia is a part, although for how long who knows?

question

Let down badly in paid post (10)

answer

DISAPPOINT An anagram (badly) if IN PAID POST leads you to a word meaning to let someone down.

question

Get as reward leading part of Abenazar in theatre (4)

answer

REAP A type of theatre is repertory, or REP and in that goes the first letter (leading part) of Abanazar (the villain in a well-known 1 down).

question

Exited right? On the contrary (4)

answer

LEFT Double Definition clue. A word meaning exited, with the remainder of the clue another definition of the solution. It also makes a nice all-in-one as well.

question

Novel recalled about popular rags-to-riches story (10)

answer

CINDERELLA

question

In that sense, improperly seizing power creates today's martyr (5,7)

answer

SAINT STEPHEN An anagram (improperly) of IN THAT SENSE with P inserted gives the name of the person whose feast is celebrated on December 26th

question

Fighting confusion, so to speak, in times like the present (6,4)

answer

BOXING DAYS A word for fighting added to a homophone for a form of confusion gives the other name for 19 ac's festival occasions.

question

Part of Christmas scene family organised (4)

answer

TREE When scanning through this, I nearly fell for a (probably unintentional) trick that it was a hidden answer and entered Mass, however it's a double definition. Part of Christmas in most houses, and how your family may be organised genealogically.

question

What happens in sales, for example, gets GNP prophesies revised (8,5)

answer

SHOPPING SPREE Rule number one in crosswords is always to read the clue properly, and this time I didn't, which meant I entered SPENDING SPREE first. When I realised the down clue didn't intersect, I reread the clue and realised it was an anagram of GNP PROPHESIES, which meant that SPENDING became SHOPPING. D'oh!

question

Criticize big books I'm into for seasonal entertainments (10)

answer

PANTOMIMES If you criticize something, you PAN it, and add word for big volumes of books(TOMES) with I'M inside to lead you to shows seen at this time of the year

question

Protecting pound, become prosperous and flourish (5)

answer

BLOOM If you become rich, you can be said to do this, and inside BOOM goes (L for pound) to reveal a word meaning flourish.

question

Like some South Americans, having been filmed (5)

answer

INCAN When a film is complete it's said to be this, a two word phrase more usually split by the word THE. Put the two words together and you get the name to describe some people from ancient South American.

question

Hold about fifty to share with another (5)

answer

HALVE A word meaning hold has L (fifty) inside and produces one that means split in two.

question

Smallest piggy allowed nothing within brood, mostly (6,3)

answer

LITTLE TOE The smallest piggy comes from LET O (allowed nothing) inside LITTE(R), most of a word meaning brood.

question

It's not fair, panto animal being unknown quantity (4,5)

answer

DARK HORSE I thought it a bit odd that half of the answer to 1d is given in this clue. The opposite to fair is added to the name of a comedy creature found in 1d. This gives me an excuse to post this!

question

All right to include very short Frenchman, so-called? (4)

answer

YVES When you say "all right" in response to a question it usually means this. Insert V (very, short) and you get a French male name. Think of Monsieur Montand.

question

Something put on tomb, say, to honour US patriot (4,6)

answer

PAUL REVERE The name of a cloth put over a coffin or tomb. An attendant at a funeral is known as a ___ BEARER. A homophone of this is added to a word meaning honour or respect. This gives you the name of a famous American patriot.

question

Partly to miss it, landing up pitched very high (9)

answer

ALTISSIMO Hidden in "to miss it, landing" and reversed (up) is a phrase meaning "high-pitched" in musical terms. Clever clue.

question

Improving, having drunk gin in truck (7,2)

answer

PICKING UP The name for a type of truck, mainly used in the US, has an anagram of GIN inside to mean recovering, as I am at the moment!

question

Local, perhaps, appearing in Aladdin nightly (3)

answer

INN Another hidden answer; this time the name of a pub or local, inside "Aladdin nightly"

question

Old couple having tea, we hear — on the wagon (5)

answer

TWAIN A one-letter homophone of Tea goes onto the name for a cart (think Constable's Hay vehicle!), and this gives an old word for two.

question

Conclusions drawn from what judge says at Christmas trials (5)

answer

TESTS The last letters of "what judge says at Christmas"

question

Young hero (with start of 1 down) is safe (5)

answer

PETER It seemed odd that 1 down was used here rather than panto, and not in other clues. The start of the answer is of course PAN and the famous hero with that surname's Christian name is needed. His name when used as an adjective can mean safe.

question

What villains may get to drink, so to speak (4)

answer

BOOS When you go to a 1 down, part of the fun is the reaction of the audience to the bad guy, what they do is a homophone of an American word for drink.

question

Speciality of some doctors — a line in part of body (6)

answer

SPINAL - start with the speciality of doctors like Alastair Campbell and add A and L(ine) to form an adjective relating to part of the body.

question

Rubbish given applause — a trick (8)

answer

CLAPTRAP - a synonym for nonsense or rubbish is a charade of applause and a trick.

question

Reduction in speed with which society is given info (8)

answer

SLOWDOWN - start with S(ociety) and add an informal word (3-4) meaning the true facts (info) to make a reduction in speed.

question

Medic, a person putting boy off — one with a yarn (6)

answer

DRAPER - someone with yarn for sale is the abbreviation of a medic followed by A and what's left of person once a boy has been removed.

question

Old felines about to catch another one, making short sharp sounds (8)

answer

STACCATO - reverse (about) O(ld) and felines, then put another feline inside (to catch) to make a musical term indicating that each note is sharply detached from the others.

question

Like spectators in arena, weary around end of game (6)

answer

TIERED - a description of spectators sitting on rows of seats (or of the seats themselves) is a synonym for weary containing (around) the end letter of (gam)E.

question

Reserve group to join A team (3,5)

answer

SET ASIDE - a phrasal verb meaning to reserve or earmark something is another word for group followed by A and a synonym of team.

question

Shut up, but partially open tomorrow (4)

answer

PENT - hidden (partially) in the clue is a past participle meaning shut up or enclosed.

question

Country needing to destroy any bug (4)

answer

GERM - this bug is the name of a European country without (to destroy) ANY.

question

Indian support becomes more disturbing (8)

answer

CREEPIER - a charade of a Native American tribe and a solid support forms a comparative meaning more disturbing or more sinister.

question

How affection is shown at great cost (6)

answer

DEARLY - double definition.

question

Scoundrel I sacked, right away getting endorsed (8)

answer

RATIFIED - this is a verb meaning endorsed or sanctioned. It's a despicable person or scoundrel followed by I and a verb meaning sacked or dismissed without the R(ight).

question

Let me have a party with wife somewhere that's suitable for a picnic? (6)

answer

MEADOW - where you might have a picnic is a charade of ME, A, a party and W(ife).

question

Lout gives call to excite attention in gaol, rioting (8)

answer

HOOLIGAN - a call to excite attention (traditionally heard from a sailor in the crow's-nest at the first sight of land) is followed by an anagram (rioting) of IN GAOL.

question

First hint of cloud and Poland's suffering a chilly spell (4,4)

answer

COLD SNAP - follow the first letter (hint) of C(loud) with an anagram (suffering) of POLAND'S.

question

Club's chauffeur? (6)

answer

DRIVER - double definition.

question

Exercise involving a dead language and someone who used it (8)

answer

PALATINE - put the usual abbreviation for exercise around (involving) A and a dead language to make a high-level official of the Roman Empire (named after one of the seven hills of Rome).

question

Fresh actors with the introduction of second TV programme? (8)

answer

NEWSCAST - the definition is TV programme. Combine synonyms for fresh and actors and between them insert S(econd).

question

Take care of attractive person needing to conceal behind (4,5)

answer

LOOK AFTER - this is a phrasal verb meaning to take care of. An informal term for an attractive person has the naval word for behind or towards the back inserted (to conceal).

question

His cousin, person cast in the role of a pundit (15)

answer

CONNOISSEURSHIP - an anagram (cast) of HIS COUSIN PERSON makes the role of someone with specialised knowledge. Chambers has a nice definition of a pundit - "someone who considers himself or herself an authority".

question

Like farm animal that's knocked over harvested stuff in back of store (7)

answer

PORCINE - an adjective meaning like a specific farm animal is what's brought in during the harvest reversed (knocked over) followed by IN and the last letter (back) of (stor)E.

question

To change the words of rap here's tricky (8)

answer

REPHRASE - an anagram (tricky) of RAP HERE'S.

question

Soldier wanting money said to be an example (8)

answer

PARADIGM - a word meaning model or example is an airborne soldier followed by what sounds like (said to be) a US ten-cent coin.

question

Deal going down the Swanee? (9)

answer

DRIFTWOOD - the phrase to go down the Swanee originated in the Mississippi region of the USA during slave trading days. Slaves who caused trouble were sold from the northern slave states into the much harsher conditions on plantations further south, hence the phrase "sold down the river" (the Swanee being a river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico). The phrase going down the Swanee has now come to mean going disastrously wrong. This clue, however, is a cryptic definition of deal (or any other similar fibrous material) which might float down any river.

question

Disease fear — medicine (in short supply) about to be brought in (8)

answer

PANDEMIC - this is a disease which has spread over a very wide area. A word meaning fear or hysteria has an abbreviation (in short supply) of medicine reversed (about) and inserted (brought in).

question

No army giant provides my pleasure! (3,2,3)

answer

NOT AT ALL - a phrase which is a polite reply (my pleasure!) to a word of thanks is a charade of NO, our reserve army and an adjective meaning large or giant.

question

Maybe the writing's on the wall (8)

answer

GRAFFITI - cryptic definition of the artistic work of Banksy, for example.

question

Agree end should be settled for deserter (8)

answer

RENEGADE - an anagram (should be settled) of AGREE END.

question

Insensitive visit with nothing offered to you and me (7)

answer

CALLOUS - an adjective meaning insensitive is a charade of to visit, O (nothing) and a pronoun meaning you and me.

question

The French FBI agent is one doing the donkey work (3-3)

answer

LEG-MAN - The runner or 'donkey' is a charade of LE (The in French) and GMAN - A word for FED or FBI agent first coined (allegedly) during the arrest of gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly in 1933

question

Blade runner mixed up in Ikea sect (3,5)

answer

ICE SKATE - The sporting footwear choice of Torvill and Dean is an anagram of IKEA SECT. The blades run across the ice.

question

A hunger it dealt with having more sauce (9)

answer

NAUGHTIER - An anagram of A HUNGER IT. If you are saucier you are a bit more naughty...but I like you!

question

Cardinal was prime minister once (5)

answer

NORTH - Sir Frederick North , 2nd Earl of Guildford was Prime Minister from 1770 to 1782 (Once is trying to indicate that this was a long time ago!). His surname is also a cardinal point of the compass. Whilst one may not have heard of him (I hadn't) it is only a matter of checking letters to choose between North or South once the clue structure is understood.

question

Stick on gallows, up there is a difficult situation (3,4)

answer

GUM TREE - A charade here: Gum for Stick and tree for gallows (think 'Hanging Tree'). If you are 'Up a Gum Tree' then you in a predicament (particularly in Australia)

question

One giving up playing reedily (7)

answer

YIELDER - An anagram (playing) of REEDILY gives someone who gives up, cedes or possibly yields.

question

Finish work losing right to make another attachment (5)

answer

RETIE - Lose the R from 'retiRe' (finish work) in order to attach something once more.

question

Stir men playing lute primarily? He might (8)

answer

MINSTREL - My favourite clue on balance. This is a semi &Lit (all-in-one) clue where one needs to read the whole clue for the definition. Apart from the 'he might' at the end, make an anagram (playing) of STIR MEN then follow with L(ute) primarily. This gives you the troubadour that is described in the sentence.

question

Song about one Australian that is strongly disliked (8)

answer

ANATHEMA - Stand up for the Queen and put an ANTHEM around A (one). Adding A(ustralian) gives a word for a detested or cursed person.

question

'Mother and Child' one worked in stone (5)

answer

MASON - A charade of MA (mother) and SON (her child) gives a shaky-handy stoneworker.

question

Construction set holy place's working back (7)

answer

MECCANO - A beloved (of me anyway) toy that allowed one to create structures with an eye to the engineering. Start with MECCA (The holiest meeting place for the Islamic Faith) then add a reversal of ON (working).

question

Old man against keeping recipe for light snack (7)

answer

POPCORN - A cinema snack. Take POP (old man, father, pa) and then add R(ecipe) into CON (against, keeping being the insertion instruction). As we all know by now, Recipe is Latin for 'Take' and is abbreviated on doctors prescriptions and cooking instructions as R. Don't forget this kids!

question

Belgian city lord (5)

answer

LIEGE - A double definition. The lovely Belgian city and also a lord in the king's court.

question

Host's pretty good shot besieging stronghold (9)

answer

INNKEEPER - A pretty good shot in archery is an INNER (just outside of the bullseye). Place this outside of KEEP (a fortress or stronghold) to find the landlord of a pub- 'Mein Host' if you will.

question

Tellurium's not radioactive as can be proved experimentally (8)

answer

TESTABLE - A charade of TE (the chemical symbol for Tellurium) and STABLE (not radioactive or likely to decay). These things can be tested.

question

Past history revolutionary holds that's surprising! (6)

answer

RECORD - We have seen an influx of words expressing astonishment/surprise - COR, MY, BLIMEY, STAP ME VITALS etc!). Actually, we have seen MY and COR a lot. Take the latter and put it inside RED (the communist revolutionary is RED and it holds COR. The definition is a 'Past History' - written down of course.

question

Hero of romantic comedy does so miss working outside (4,4)

answer

LAND GIRL - This one held me up for ages but turned out to be among my favourites. It is a double definition and you need to insert your crowbar between SO and MISS to get the two meanings. The LAND GIRL worked outside in a farm as part of the war effort and before the end of a romantic comedy the leading man should also LAND (get) the GIRL

question

Get M Roux endlessly cooking for him? (7)

answer

GOURMET - Another well worked clue which is a semi all-in-one. Take the end letter from GET M ROU(x) and make an anagram (cooking) to get the foodie for whom Michel Roux may cook.

question

Bad breath or containing a bit of niff is noisome (9)

answer

ABHORRENT - The synonym of noisome or hated is an anagram (bad) of BREATH OR including the fist letter (a bit of) Niff.

question

Old comedy film, a right corny production acting foppishly outside (5,2,7)

answer

CARRY ON CAMPING - Another of my favourites this week. The definition is clear but we need to make an anagram, a production of, A R(ight) CORNY and then place CAMPING (acting foppishly) around the outside. I think the clue would work as an &Lit (all in one) without the 'Old Comedy Film' part since the remainder does define the work. Maybe the setter was attempting an &Lit but was asked to make the definition easier...

question

Nice items I'm arranging on monument longer than anyone knows (5)

answer

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL - An anagram (arranging) of NICE TIMES IM, when placed before the MEMORIAL (monument) leads to a well known phrase meaning for as long as anyone can remember.

question

Cut a part of the nose (7)

answer

ABRIDGE - A slightly chestnutty clue for some - A + Part of one's nose gets cut, shorten or expurgate.

question

Urge old flame excited about start of relationship (6)

answer

EXHORT - Take the usual EX for old flame and then add HOT (excited) placed around the start of Relationship. The definition is 'Urge' as a verb

question

Perhaps watch to see how long performance takes (9)

answer

TIMEPIECE - An artistic performance can be known as a piece. To check how long it lasts means one would time it. Hence TIMEPIECE, of which a watch is one example (note that the perhaps is required to show that the definition is but one example )

question

Nears end painfully caught in trap (8)

answer

ENSNARED - A painful anagram of NEARS END gives 'caught in a trap'

question

Faldo and S. African golfer change in America (7)

answer

NICKELS - A few people who don't watch golf don't like to see these sort of clues. Personally I think you could take a number of popular sports and reasonably expect people to know a couple of the top names. NICK Faldo was the most successful English golfer (I think still is in terms of Major Championship Victories) and Ernie ELS is one of the most successful golfers of the last 20 years and is now making fairly regular appearances in crosswordland. Adding those two together gives the 5 cent bit (change) in the US

question

Sign exclusive story mostly about amount of inflation (7)

answer

SCORPIO - 'Sign ' on its own as a definition can often mean a sign of the Zodiac. This one is made from most of SCOO(p) (exclusive story mostly) around (about) the abbreviation for Retail Price Index, or amount of inflation.

question

Charm a cross teacher to begin with (6)

answer

AMULET - A charm or talisman is a charade of A + MULE (a cross between a male donkey and a female horse) + the beginning of Teacher - A MULE T

question

One leading pack from Lakeland (5)

answer

AKELA - It occurred to me as I solved this that I had probably never seen the word written down (I was never in the cubs or scouts). Hidden in lAKELAnd is the name of the Scout Pack's leader.

question

Town in decline, vibrant originally in Wales? Not quite (4,4)

answer

EBBW VALE - this is a town in South-East Wales which was once the parliamentary constituency of Aneurin Bevan and later of Michael Foot. Start with a verb meaning to decline or recede, then insert the initial (originally) letter of V(ibrant) inside most (not quite) of WALE(s).

question

Stratagem revealed by doctor during walk (6)

answer

GAMBIT - put one of the abbreviations for a medical doctor inside a manner of walking.

question

Instruction to postman, faced with tiny letterbox, to try to achieve more than seems possible? (4,3,8)

answer

PUSH THE ENVELOPE - this phrase, meaning to try to achieve more than seems possible, has its origins in the world of aviation, where the relevant word is used for a set of performance limits that may not be safely exceeded. Test pilots are often called on to stretch these limits to extremes, for example to determine just how fast an airplane can be flown.

question

Deep regret about short mouthful (7)

answer

REMORSE - a charade of a prefix meaning about and a small amount of food without (short) its final L.

question

Reprimand involving old and conceivably mad plan for achieving a goal (4,3)

answer

ROAD MAP - this is a step-by-step plan for achieving a goal. Put a verb meaning to reprimand around (involving) O(ld) and an anagram (conceivably) of MAD.

question

Usual colours (8)

answer

STANDARD - double definition.

question

Run in next race (5)

answer

EXTRA - hidden in the clue is a type of run in cricket which is added to the batting side's total, but not to the score of any individual batsman.

question

Religion in Mali's unorthodox (5)

answer

ISLAM - an anagram (unorthodox) of MALI'S.

question

Access for transport (8)

answer

ENTRANCE - double definition. This word comes up regularly as a synonym for transport and just as regularly seems to cause problems for some solvers. Transport, as a verb, can mean to fill with rapturous delight or throw into an ecstasy.

question

Hard on journalist that's remained suspended (7)

answer

HOVERED - the definition is remained suspended. It's a charade of H(ard) (a classification of pencils), a synonym for on and the usual abbreviation for a senior journalist.

question

Dress's hem is dropped in church (7)

answer

CHEMISE - HEM IS has to be inserted (dropped in) inside the abbreviation for Church of England to make a straight dress.

question

Faith right to be imprisoned in credit fraud (10,5)

answer

CONFIDENCE TRICK - this is a type of fraud, as demonstrated in the TV series 'Hustle'. Start with a synonym for faith or trust and add an informal word for credit (deferred payment) with R(ight) contained (imprisoned) inside it.

question

Pale china stopper (6)

answer

PALLID - a charade of what china means in Cockney rhyming slang ("china plate") and a stopper or cover for a container produces an adjective meaning pale or anaemic.

question

New cadet penning article before English social event (3,5)

answer

TEA DANCE - this social event is an anagram (new) of CADET around (penning) an indefinite article, then ending with E(nglish).

question

Jurisdiction of Military Police in Ireland (6)

answer

EMPIRE - put the abbreviation for Military Police inside a former name of Ireland to make jurisdiction or political control.

question

Copper, say, has contemptible spirit, we hear (4,5)

answer

BASE METAL - "say" is an indication that this is a definition by example, so copper is an example of this. Put together a synonym for contemptible or dishonourable and a homophone (we hear) of a word meaning spirit or courage, as used in the phrase "to be on one's ******".

question

Animal expert near injured warhorse (7)

answer

VETERAN - the definition is warhorse, i.e. someone old and experienced. Start with an abbreviation for someone who is trained to treat sick animals and add an anagram (injured) of NEAR.

question

On about one close to time lord (5)

answer

LIEGE - for our second cricket-related clue (I can hear the complaints already!) we want another word for the "on" side of the wicket (i.e. the side that the batsman's legs are on when he's at the crease). This goes around (about) I (one) and we finish up with the last letter (close) of (tim)E to make a feudal lord.

question

Storm after hail is normal (7)

answer

AVERAGE - a word meaning normal or 13a is made by putting a verb meaning to storm after a latin salutation (hail).

question

Bishop fell over brush (5)

answer

BROOM - start with the abbreviation for B(ishop) and then reverse (over) another word for fell (a stretch of high, uncultivated land).

question

He paints tragic actor (8)

answer

THESPIAN - an anagram (tragic) of HE PAINTS.

question

Working with distinction, with payment to be made at a future date (2,6)

answer

ON CREDIT - a word meaning working (i.e. not switched off) is followed by a synonym for distinction or esteem to make a phrase describing how goods and services can be obtained without the need for immediate payment.

question

Beer Dane brewed in a Scottish city (8)

answer

ABERDEEN - possibly the most obvious anagram we've had for some time, indicated by brewed.

question

Course artist announced for planner (9)

answer

TACTICIAN - this planner requires two homophones (announced) - firstly a course taken by a sailing ship and secondly an Italian Renaissance artist known for his sensuous use of colour.

question

Late drink may make bad thing better (8)

answer

NIGHTCAP - the clue should really be the other way round, i.e. bad thing better may make late drink. Start with an anagram (bad) of THING and add a verb meaning to better or outdo.

question

Swallow last drop of Chianti, an Italian drink (7)

answer

MARTINI - a type of swallow (the feathered variety) is followed by the final letter (last drop) of (Chiant)I.

question

Declare little Edward must be turned away (7)

answer

AVERTED - a verb meaning to declare or assert is followed by a diminutive (little) of Edward to form a past participle meaning turned away.

question

He appears with Catholic king — the French barrack (6)

answer

HECKLE - string together HE, C(atholic), K(ing) and a French definite article.

question

One taken from minor, easily bribable (5)

answer

VENAL - start with an adjective meaning minor, usually applied to a category of sins less serious than mortal ones, and remove (taken) the I (one) to leave another adjective meaning easily bribable. When researching what such minor sins include I was surprised to find that one of them is wearing designer-labelled clothes, so it's just as well that my tailor is Mr Primark.

question

Unfinished prestige store (5)

answer

CACHE - a distinguishing characteristic conferring prestige loses its final T (unfinished) - what remains is a store.

question

Arab chief, he left one from the subcontinent (4)

answer

SIKH - Start with a SHEIKH, an Arab chief, and remove HE (left) to reveal one from the subcontinent.

question

Union supporter given nourishment before time left first (10)

answer

FEDERALIST - The definition is Union Supporter. We have a charade of FED (given nourishment) before ERA (for time) then Left and finally IST (the printed abbreviation for first).

question

Be round first with flammable liquid for use in cooking (5,3)

answer

OLIVE OIL - Take O for round but add LIVE (Be, exist) first before adding OIL (flammable liquid) to get a Culinary cooking oil.

question

Father has a twopenny espresso initially chilled (6)

answer

FRAPPE - The war is still raging over foreign accents on capital letters. My French lessons excluded them from capitals and crosswords certainly do. The iced drink (usually coffee based) is a charade of FR (for father in the priesthood) then A, PP (twopenny) followed by the initial letter of Espresso.

question

Tools, five pairs found amongst litter (6)

answer

KITTEN - Another charade here. Your tools are your KIT and five pairs is 2 x 5 = TEN. The result is one of a group of fluffy baby cats.

question

Front vehicle to keep watch over (8)

answer

VANGUARD - the fifth charade on the spin!. VAN (vehicle)+ GUARD (to keep watch over) leads to a military front line attack. Watch out for 'IN THE VAN' for 'AT THE FRONT' or even just VAN for FRONT used as wordplay in other puzzles.

question

External feature we initially removed from coats and jackets (5,3)

answer

OUTER EAR - A subtraction clue for a change. Take the W (We initially) from OUTERWEAR, defined by example as 'coats and jackets'. The result is an external feature of the head, as opposed to the inner ear.

question

Rex rings judge backing up one working overhead (6)

answer

ROOFER - A synonym for e.g. a slater or tiler (one working overhead) is built up from R(Rex/King) + OO (rings) + REFeree reversed (backing up)

question

Pattern of Jewish law? (6)

answer

MOSAIC - A tiled pattern of tesserae (another good crossword stalwart) and also an adjective describing the Ten Commandments (Moses adjectivally is Mosaic)

question

Save individual on ship, one of the nobility (8)

answer

BARONESS - Back to the charades!. BAR (for save/except - all over bar the shouting) + ONE (Individual) + SS (a standard abbreviation for ship, steamer or steamship) leads to a noblewoman

question

Rissole lamentably cooked away from New York (8)

answer

MEATBALL - Not the best surface reading or direction in my opinion. The delicious pork product (rissole) is derived from an anagram (cooked) of LAMENTABLY having FIRST removed NY (for New York). I don't really think that 'away from New York' provides a clear enough instruction.

question

After club, he'd had a swim (6)

answer

BATHED - The action of having swam/attended a spa is another charade of BAT (sports club) with H'ED which is in the clue.

question

Handy way to demonstrate pet affection (6)

answer

STROKE - A gentle cryptic definition of the act of manually grooming a cat or a dog.

question

A game with US soldier having a justification for his belief (8)

answer

APOLOGIA - Back to Charadesville, Nebraska. Start with A + POLO + GI (An American soldier, the abbreviation for Government Issue, not General Infantry as you may think!) followed by A (in the clue). An apologia is a written treatise, defence or justification for one's (usually) religious beliefs.

question

Addict's reaction to winter in the Middle East? (4,6)

answer

COLD TURKEY - Cryptically this could describe a trip to a specific middle east country (turkey - indicated by example with a question mark) in the winter. It could also be descriptive of a drug addict's reaction upon finding out that he couldn't score over there!.

question

Divert from southern route (4)

answer

SWAY - A transitive verb meaning to divert. After S add WAY - a route, the 'Boulevard des Charades', in Lyons, for example....

question

Soup kitchen? (9)

answer

STOCKROOM - The storage area in e.g. a Hotel kitchen may cryptically be described as a place for soup (chicken stock and the like). My problem here is that there is no specific definition for the storage facility in the clue. I didn't like this one at all.

question

Finish argument and say 'Amen' (4,3,4,4)

answer

HAVE THE LAST WORD - A cryptic definition of ending an argument (i.e. winning it). Amen being the final word in a prayer (Literally meaning 'so let it be).

question

Fun Cleo arranged with ornamental ruffle (7)

answer

FLOUNCE - An anagram (arranged) of FUN CLEO gives a frill or ruffle sewn into a dress.

question

Free to make a speech (7)

answer

DELIVER - A double definition here. To deliver from slavery and to deliver a speech.

question

Purifier produced some more fine results (7)

answer

REFINER - A device that purifies is hidden (is produced by some) moRE FINE Results.

question

A felonious agent destroyed the old alliance (6,2,7)

answer

LEAGUE OF NATIONS - This old political alliance, a precursor to the United Nations, is an anagram (destroyed) of A FELONIOUS AGENT. My favourite clue this week with a good surface reading.

question

River Wear? (5)

answer

TWEED - A definition and cryptic definition. The river Tweed, and also something that is possibly worn - indicated by the question mark e.g. "Is this something that one wears?.

question

Regret not starting to be in tune (3)

answer

RUE - If something (my Ukulele for example, is in tune it may be described as being TRUE. Remove the first letter (not starting) to get a verb meaning regret.

question

Diary-user in mix-up of what's left (9)

answer

RESIDUARY - An adjective meaning 'of the residue or residual' (what's left). Make an anagram (in mix up) of DIARY USER

question

Gold, English mineral (3)

answer

ORE - A very easy charade of OR (Heraldic term for gold) and English. Mineral is the definition.

question

Fellow on French water — boater, maybe? (7)

answer

CHAPEAU - Our penultimate charade of the puzzle, Start with CHAP for fellow then add the French word for water. This gives an originally French word (which exists in the English Language) for a hat, of which a boater is an example. The nice thing about this clue is tying boater the hat to boater the oarsman.

question

Conflict in greater part of fortification (7)

answer

BULWARK - A structural fortification/strengthening can be found by placing WAR (conflict) in BULK (the greater part of something). Again the surface reading works well to tell us about a fight in a castle.

question

Long and thin skeletal joint on top (7)

answer

RIBBONY - The definition is 'Long and thin'. Placec RIB for 'joint' on top of BONY for skeletal. A few quibbles on the day about RIB = JOINT but I think that a rib joint of meat is sufficiently well known to disallow any quibbles.

question

Greek character thus produced pleasing sounds (5)

answer

MUSIC - A charade to finish!. The Greek letter MU followed by SIC, a written aside meaning 'this was written or pronounced in this way and is not a copying error' (from the Latin for THUS). The definition is 'pleasing sounds' such as may be made on my ukulele!.

question

Expertise is what can enhance a negative, we hear (4-3)

answer

KNOW HOW - I solved this from checking letters and the definition of Expertise. I will leave you with Prolixic's thoughts from the day: "Musing further on 1a, I think that adding the three letter word in the answer to a negative [homophone] gives a more emphatic form of denying something (hence enhance a negative). A homophone of the more emphatic negative is the word for expertise." - I know - I don't like the clue, and how!

question

Top player tucked into fish and fruit (7)

answer

COSTARD - An old apple variety. Place STAR (Top player) into COD.

question

Abundant evidence of debt produced by policeman (7)

answer

COPIOUS - Your policeman is the COP and the usual Crosswordland synonym for 'evidence of debt' is an IOU. Perhaps the plural should have been indicated (debts) but the solution was pretty clear.

question

Road ran windingly in mountainous country (7)

answer

ANDORRA - A straightforward anagram of ROAD RAN leads to the Catalan Principality.

question

Flexible tiles used in one type of house (5,4)

answer

OPERA HATS - A cryptic definition of the collapsible (i.e. flexible) hats that can be collapsed in an auditorium in Victorian days. TILES is an old slang word for HATS (as CS says they goes on yer 'eads!)

question

Statement of approval head of BBC communicated on radio (5)

answer

BRAVO - The head of BBC is the B. The NATO phonetic Alphabet gives B = BRAVO. Lovely clue with excellent surface reading.

question

Fellow exploited caused current stoppage (5)

answer

FUSED - A charade of F(ellow) and USED (exploited). A simple one to get going with, 'caused current stoppage' (i.e. electrickery) being the definition.

question

Learner I reprimanded and let go (9)

answer

LIBERATED - Another charade/word sum. L(earner) driver + I + BERATED for 'reprimanded' gives freed or let go.

question

Ineffectively deal with composer's daughter in audition (9)

answer

MISHANDLE - In audition should tell you that a homophone is happening. In this case, however, one must create it from the name of the daughter of a famous composer, i.e Miss Handel. This one made me laugh as well.

question

You may be urged to take notice after this exercise (3-2)

answer

SIT-UP - Virgilius is very good at breaking down phrases into separate parts and this is a great example. The simple part of the clue refers to an 'exercise' . The phrase 'Sit up and take notice' should be familiar enough to everyone such that the answer is clear but the cryptic part is 'You may be urged to take notice after this'.

question

Oh! I see you are speaking out of order - that's something rare (5)

answer

CURIO - More skullduggery here that raised a laugh. Some may complain but I thought that this was ace!. We first need to understand phonetically (speaking) the initial 5 words: O I C U R. Then make an anagram (out of order). This leads you to a CURIO which is a rarity or oddity. Top 'out of the box' thinking once again.

question

Fish with rod - nothing could be plainer (9)

answer

PIKESTAFF - A charade of PIKE (fish) and STAFF (rod). A pikestaff is the boring straight piece of wood that has the exciting choppy bit on the end and leads to the saying "As plain as a pikestaff"

question

Lead, for example, English people interrupting service that gets cancelled (7)

answer

ELEMENT - The metal, Plumbum, is an element. Place E(nglish) + MEN (people) inside LET (a cancelled service in tennis)

question

Forgetting what can be seen in cinemas, oddly (7)

answer

AMNESIAC - A synonym for forgetting is an anagram (oddly) of IN CINEMAS.

question

Involving practical experience with husband and child (5-2)

answer

HANDS ON - H(usband) AND SON (child) gives a phrase for practical experience where one gets one's hands dirty.

question

It isn't commonly edited, cut, or spoilt (7)

answer

TAINTED - Spoilt is the definition. Start with T'AINT - A common form of saying 'It Isn't'. Then add ED(ited) -cut or shortened.

question

Thrill not present in scene in first act of play (4-3)

answer

KICK-OFF - A charade of KICK (thrill - I get a kick out of you) and OFF (not present in scene). The definition is 'First Act of Play' in e.g. a football match.

question

Poet who lost his wife taking her up, so tragically (7)

answer

ORPHEUS - One of the famous characters in Greek Literature. Poet, Prophet and Musician, he once lost his wife and had to trawl around the Underworld for her. His name is a tragic anagram of HER UP SO. Lovely clue.

question

Contents of shoe box that, in a word, produce a fuss (3-2)

answer

HOO-HA - I'm borrowing BD's explanation: Take the centre letters (contents) of shoe box that and string them together to get a fuss

question

Expressed grief about fool that's drunkenly celebrated (9)

answer

WASSAILED - One of my favourite words meaning partied or caroused in olden days. Place WAILED (expressed grief) around ASS for fool.

question

Part of society formed by female Young Conservative? (5)

answer

CLASS - A female Young Conservative may be described as a C-Lass.

question

Some facial hair right, perhaps, on poet (9)

answer

SIDE BURNS - The facial hair of choice for British Rail porters in the 70's. SIDE (of which 'right' is an example) followed by Rabbie BURNS, the poet.

question

Run into an animal that's alongside (7)

answer

ABREAST - A synonym of 'alongside'. An animal is A BEAST. Place R - the cricketing abbreviation for Run inside.

question

Scene of American sporting contest in which all sides are equal (7)

answer

DIAMOND - It depends on the cut of the glass, of course, but this is a cryptic definition of the inner bit of a baseball pitch.

question

Female minister involved in episode - a con, essentially (9)

answer

DEACONESS - The female priest is hidden in episode - a con, essentially

question

Magistrate imprisoning ring-leader quickly to eat early (9)

answer

BREAKFAST - Place the start of Ring (ringleader meaning the leader of Ring) in BEAK (magistrate - Up before the Beak) and follow that with FAST for 'quickly'. Double Soss, Double Egg, Bacon, Toms, Tea and Toast please.

question

Play produced by girl on computer? Just the opposite (7)

answer

MACBETH - The girl (BETH) is ON top of the computer ( an Apple MAC). 'Just the Opposite' tells you to reverse the clue so as the computer goes on the girl (in a down clue) to find the 'Scottish Play'

question

Hospital worker making nurse go crazy (7)

answer

SURGEON - A simple anagram of NURSE GO (crazy) leads to the skilled sawbones that all the nurses go crazy for!

question

Carrying of people in lots of coaches after I moved on time (7)

answer

TRANSIT - The definition here is 'carrying of people', or indeed anything. Take TRAINS (lots of coaches) and move the I to the back then add T for Time.

question

Humourless quip of ace detective, in part (2-5)

answer

PO-FACED - Another excellently disguised hidden word for 'humourless' can be found in quip of ace detective.

question

It helps support mountaineer getting zero advice when climbing (5)

answer

PITON - A small snow spike is derived from NO TIP (zero advice) reversed (when climbing). Don't eat the yellow snow was Frank Zappa's advice.

question

Doctor is in a part of Egypt (5)

answer

SINAI - Doctor in a cryptic puzzle is usually, DR, MO, MB etc but can also be used as an instruction meaning change or adulterate (i.e. make an anagram). If you do this to IS IN A you get a desert region in Egypt.

the letters of two degrees (BA and AB)

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