Times Cryptic Crossword #28288

Times Cryptic · 28 clues with answers and explanations · 2022-05-12

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

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Across

1 Act as vicar maybe, providing church with a set of holy books (5)

Def

Act as vicar maybe

Type

Anagram, Charade

Expl

anagram of A ("a") + CH (synonym of "church") + NT (synonym of "set of holy books") = CHANT; definition: "Act as vicar maybe,"

Answer

CHANT
4 One's got on in an endeavour to go with the flow (9)

Def

One's got on in an endeavour to go with the flow

Type

Cryptic definition

Expl

Cryptic definition

Answer

BANDWAGON
9 One ''spiky'' type to go off the deep end, rambling (9)

Def

rambling

Type

Charade

Expl

I (synonym="one") + TINE (synonym="“spiky” type") + RANT (synonym="to go off the deep end") = ITINERANT; definition: "rambling"

Answer

ITINERANT
10 Buggy feasible for bringing fruit (5)

Def

fruit

Type

Double definition

Expl

LEM (synonym="Lunar Excursion Model, moon buggy") + ON (synonym="feasible") = LEMON; definition: "fruit"

Answer

LEMON
11 Formula for making little Sarah's shoe (6)

Def

shoe

Type

Container

Expl

AND (synonym="AND") in SAL (synonym="SAL") = SANDAL; definition: "shoe"

Answer

SANDAL
12 Trying hard, not having succeeded in the gym? (8)

Def

in the gym

Type

Deletion

Expl

STRAINING(trying hard) minus S(succeeded) — Times for the Times

Answer

TRAINING
14 Exceptional man with great hope campaigning very vigorously? (2,3,7)

Def

campaigning very vigorously

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of MANGREATHOPE ("man with great hope") [anagram: "Exceptional"] = ONTHERAMPAGE; definition: "campaigning very vigorously?"

Answer

ON THE RAMPAGE
17 Notice lout is on the loose — I will speak out in a clear manner (12)

Def

I will speak out in a clear manner

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of NOTICE (synonym="NOTICE") + LOUT (synonym="LOUT") + IS (synonym="IS") = ELOCUTIONIST

Answer

ELOCUTIONIST
20 Most idiotic fools, right to the fore, in court (8)

Def

Most idiotic

Type

Container

Expl

ASSES(fools) with R(right) in front, inside CT(court) — Times for the Times

Answer

CRASSEST
21 Miserable aim to get new leader (6)

Def

Miserable

Type

Acrostic

Expl

OBJECT(aim) with the first letter changed. — Times for the Times

Answer

ABJECT
23 Maybe one-to-one operation is somewhat lacking (5)

Def

Maybe one-to-one

Type

Hidden word

Expl

hidden inside opeRATIOn

Answer

RATIO
24 Soon despicable fellow gets a woman to have close relationship (9)

Def

woman to have close relationship

Type

Charade

Expl

IN A MO(soon), then RAT(despicable fellow), A — Times for the Times

Answer

INAMORATA
25 Description of Winnie as a mammal? (5,4)

Def

a mammal

Type

Charade

Expl

HONEY (synonym="HONEY") + BEAR (synonym="BEAR") = HONEY BEAR; definition: "a mammal?"

Answer

HONEY BEAR
26 Scruffy children — last thing academy needs (5)

Def

Scruffy

Expl

SEED(children) and the last letter in academY — Times for the Times

Answer

SEEDY

Down

1 Club hit — accompaniment to fish just cooked? (4,4)

Def

Club hit

Type

Charade

Expl

CHIPS (synonym of "- accompaniment to fish") + HOT (synonym of "just cooked?"); definition: "Club hit"

Answer

CHIP SHOT
2 A story, nipper's prime requirement, had to be off-putting (8)

Def

to be off-putting

Type

Acrostic

Expl

A (abbreviation="A") + LIE (abbreviation="story,") + N (first_letter="nipper's") + ATE (abbreviation="had") = ALIENATE; definition: "to be off-putting"

Answer

ALIENATE
3 Host's moderately tipsy — we've heard that so many times before! (3,4,3,5)

Def

we’ve heard that so many times before

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of HOST’S MODERATELY — Times for the Times

Answer

THE SAME OLD STORY
4 Dress up and talk big (4)

Def

talk big

Type

Charade, Reversal

Expl

reverse of GARB (synonym of "Dress") [reversal: "up"]; definition: "talk big"

Answer

BRAG
5 International organisation to protect old city: way one can make people feel better? (10)

Def

one can make people feel better

Type

Container

Expl

NATO(international organisation) containing UR(old city) then PATH(way) — Times for the Times

Answer

NATUROPATH
6 Upcoming fashion — chain of shops to provide special footwear (10,5)

Def

special footwear

Type

Charade

Expl

WELLING (synonym="upcoming") + TON (synonym="fashion") + BOOTS (synonym="BOOTS") = WELLINGTON BOOTS; definition: "special footwear"

Answer

WELLINGTON BOOTS
7 Periodical served up piece as a good opener? (6)

Def

a good opener

Type

Charade, Reversal

Expl

MAG (synonym of "Periodical") + BIT (synonym of "piece") [reversal: "served"]; definition: "a good opener?"

Answer

GAMBIT
8 No worry with energy at a minimum in early period (6)

Def

early period

Type

Charade

Expl

NO (literal="No") + NAG (synonym="worry") + E (abbreviation="energy") = NONAGE; definition: "early period"

Answer

NONAGE
13 County and country inadequately supplied with money — anger ensues (10)

Def

County

Expl

LAND(country) missing the last letter, then CASH(money), IRE(anger) — Times for the Times

Answer

LANCASHIRE
15 Dog left out in the open given drink at the pub (8)

Def

Dog

Type

Charade

Expl

AIRED (synonym="open") + ALE (abbreviation="drink") = AIREDALE; definition: "Dog"

Answer

AIREDALE
16 Pieces of sculpture mostly standing on a pair of parallel lines (8)

Def

Pieces of sculpture

Expl

remove the last letter from STATUS(standing) then A, RY(railway, pair of parallel lines) — Times for the Times

Answer

STATUARY
18 Char and whisky, when time is right (6)

Def

Char

Expl

SCOTCH whisky with T(time) replaced with R(right) — Times for the Times

Answer

SCORCH
19 Worker in study somewhere in Switzerland? (6)

Def

somewhere in Switzerland

Type

Charade

Expl

ANT (synonym of "Worker") + CON (synonym of "study"); definition: "somewhere in Switzerland?"

Answer

CANTON
22 An item or two? (4)

Def

An item

Type

Double definition

Expl

Double definition

Answer

PAIR