Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword #17745

Daily Mail Cryptic · 32 clues with answers and explanations · 2025-11-07

1 Spanish pop duo in taxi on return with singer Irene (7)

Answer

BACCARA
5 Lines covered by feet in hot atmosphere (6)

Answer

FROWST
9 Bike trip taken in dread oddly is subject to mockery (7)

Answer

DERIDED
10 Invite group with aid on road in a tense motorcycling event (7)

Answer

ATTRACT
11 Cite outstanding poetic work (3)

Answer

ODE
12 Colder shift possibly for one in temporary care? (6,5)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of COLDER + SHIFT = FOSTERCHILD

Answer

FOSTERCHILD
13 Copper, maybe, came across a learner (5)

Def

Copper, maybe,

Type

Charade

Expl

MET (synonym="came across") + A (from clue) + L (abbreviation="learner") = METAL; definition: "Copper, maybe,"

Answer

METAL
14 Female with dotty character bewails things in bulbs (9)

Answer

FILAMENTS
16 Rugby player altered tone about new supporter (9)

Answer

PROPONENT
17 Well-presented hospital in Welsh town (5)

Answer

NEATH
19 Pause at work, say, for beefcake surprisingly (6,5)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of FOR + BEEFCAKE = COFFEEBREAK

Answer

COFFEEBREAK
22 Mascot regularly in part of a play (3)

Answer

ACT
23 Most vocal pair backed in Latin estate (7)

Answer

LOUDEST
24 Woman adjusting his belt (7)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of HIS + BELT = LISBETH

Answer

LISBETH
26 Modifies a point in a Dutch society (6)

Answer

ADAPTS
27 Secures first of these dessert apples with time gone (7)

Answer

TRUSSES

1 Starts to examine dirt in item for cleaning part of a house (7)

Answer

BEDROOM
2 Trio found circle designed as stationery item (10,5)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of TRIO + FOUND + CIRCLE = CORRECTIONFLUID

Answer

CORRECTIONFLUID
3 Join commercial department (3)

Def

Join

Type

Charade

Expl

AD (abbreviation="commercial") + D (abbreviation="department") = ADD; definition: "Join"

Answer

ADD
4 Area that is restricted for assistants (5)

Answer

AIDES
5 Recorder nervously left gaol around end of strike (9)

Answer

FLAGEOLET
6 Some drop ticked is related to the eyes (5)

Answer

OPTIC
7 A man eating sorts out network officials (7,8)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of A + MAN + EATING + SORTS = STATIONMANAGERS

Answer

STATIONMANAGERS
8 Actor Richard put in middle of cast is arguing (2,4)

Answer

ATODDS
12 Fine mixture in leaf of paper (5)

Answer

FOLIO
14 Feet Basil treated showing tiny marks (4,5)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of FEET + BASIL = FLEABITES

Answer

FLEABITES
15 Frenchman at home with empty sack in Eastern European capital (5)

Answer

MINSK
16 Spot gherkin, perhaps (6)

Answer

PICKLE
18 Hot things to scratch present slight problems (7)

Answer

HITCHES
20 Regard as attractive detective in the lead (3,2)

Answer

EYEUP
21 Detail deployed first off in Israeli resort (5)

Answer

EILAT
25 Old coin in this way for all to see (3)

Answer

SOU