Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword #17744

Daily Mail Cryptic · 32 clues with answers and explanations · 2025-11-06

1 Motivate Vince in site after break (11)

Def

Motivate

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of VINCE + IN + SITE = INCENTIVISE; definition: "Motivate"

Answer

INCENTIVISE
9 Sort of muscle, whichever way you look at it (7)

Answer

ROTATOR
10 Writer with a link about soft snack (4,3)

Answer

MEATPIE
11 Repellent to dismiss learner for struggle (3)

Answer

VIE
12 Assumption empires break up (7)

Def

Assumption

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of EMPIRES = PREMISE; definition: "Assumption"

Answer

PREMISE
13 Drawn with sun gone and stooped? (7)

Answer

DEIGNED
14 By the sound of it, mark Jamaican music (3)

Answer

SKA
15 Illicit liquor, not cold, linked to a fuss (3,2)

Answer

HOOHA
17 Put right chaps in education (5)

Answer

EMEND
18 Heading off, stops to get garden tools (5)

Answer

RAKES
20 Put in office three lecterns? Not altogether (5)

Answer

ELECT
22 Officer caught before work (3)

Def

Officer

Type

Charade

Expl

C (abbreviation="caught") + OP (abbreviation="work") = COP; definition: "Officer"

Answer

COP
24 Learn to retreat into centre in funerary procession (7)

Answer

CORTEGE
25 Type of sugar, sticky stuff around Greek island (7)

Answer

GLUCOSE
26 Publicise a club (not half) (3)

Answer

AIR
27 Deny entry to posh tourist initially amid round of drinks (4,3)

Answer

SHUTOUT
28 A theologian to complete a further set of items (7)

Answer

ADDENDA
29 Daughter somehow feels scene is typical of young children? (11)

Answer

DEFENCELESS

1 Unnoticed like spectators at a game retaining support? (2,3,10)

Answer

INTHEBACKGROUND
2 Trickster on social media if chats go astray (7)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of IF + CHATS = CATFISH

Answer

CATFISH
3 Courage embodied by finer veterans (5)

Answer

NERVE
4 Time aimed for reform without delay (9)

Def

without delay

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of TIME + AIMED = IMMEDIATE; definition: "without delay"

Answer

IMMEDIATE
5 Dream up current change in game (7)

Answer

IMAGINE
6 Old writers deployed on TUC case - fat cats like them? (7,8)

Answer

EXPENSEACCOUNTS
7 Altered prices producing expression of surprise (6)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of PRICES = CRIPES

Answer

CRIPES
8 Remain over poster with journalist, describing some dresses? (6)

Answer

BEADED
16 Having acquired too much fuel? (9)

Answer

OVEREATEN
18 Traces play with a new group of actors? (6)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of TRACES = RECAST

Answer

RECAST
19 Leave a bus with varied pets on holiday (4,3)

Answer

STEPOFF
21 Trustee with private school, nothing less, gets to move slowly (7)

Answer

TRUNDLE
23 Gross pair beginning to experience trouble (6)

Answer

PRETAX
25 Greek expert showing finesse (5)

Answer

GRACE