Times Cryptic Crossword #28337

Times Cryptic · 32 clues with answers and explanations · 2022-07-08

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

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Across

1 What one may do to rocket in take-off (4-2)

Answer

SEND-UP
4 Tommy's edging round enchanting lady in a fearful state? (7)

Def

in a fearful state?

Expl

T{omm}Y round WITCH — Times for the Times

Answer

TWITCHY
9 Pizzazz from legislator wearing nothing? Golly! (5)

Def

Pizzazz

Type

Charade

Expl

MP, wearing O + OH! — Times for the Times

Answer

OOMPH
10 Single young man admits not eating bread pronto (1,4,4)

Def

bread pronto

Expl

A BUCK [single young man] admits FAST [not eating]. Bread pronto as in money, quick — Times for the Times

Answer

A FAST BUCK
11 State one's arguments against invading land (9)

Def

State

Expl

I’S CONS [one’s | arguments against] invading WIN [land; as in “land a big contract”] — Times for the Times

Answer

WISCONSIN
12 Report of toughness in variety of rock (5)

Def

variety of rock

Type

Homophone

Expl

homophone of METTLE; musical not geological rock

Answer

METAL
13 In turnover, hot and lush rhubarb (4)

Def

rhubarb

Type

Charade, Reversal

Expl

H (synonym of "hot") + SOT (synonym of "lush") [reversal: "turnover,"]; definition: "rhubarb"

Answer

TOSH
14 Contemptuous comment declines another card game for bridge players (10)

Def

game for bridge players

Type

Charade

Expl

POOH (synonym="POOH") + STICKS (synonym="STICKS") = POOHSTICKS; definition: "game for bridge players"

Answer

POOHSTICKS
18 Certain of success out tippling? Au contraire! (4,3,3)

Def

Certain of success

Type

Charade

Expl

HOME (synonym="HOME") + AND (synonym="AND") + DRY (synonym="DRY") = HOME AND DRY; definition: "Certain of success"

Answer

HOME AND DRY
20 Monster blunder from the defence troops (4)

Def

Monster

Expl

O(wn) G(oal) [blunder from the defence] + R(oyal) E(ngineers) — Times for the Times

Answer

OGRE
23 Opera company repeated Ring movement (2,3)

Def

movement

Type

Charade

Expl

MET [opera company] + (twice) repeated O [ring] — Times for the Times

Answer

ME TOO
24 Call end to lottery and fail in entry method for pools? (5,4)

Def

entry method for pools?

Type

Charade

Expl

BELL [call, as in “give someone a bell” or perhaps even a “belling stag”] + {lotter}Y + FLOP [fail] — Times for the Times

Answer

BELLY FLOP
25 Workforce, following decline, means to raise standards (9)

Def

means to raise standards

Type

Charade

Expl

FLAG (synonym="FLAG") + STAFF (synonym="STAFF") = FLAGSTAFF; definition: "means to raise standards"

Answer

FLAGSTAFF
26 Better in the fresh air, or hiding (5)

Def

Better

Expl

OUTDO{or} — Times for the Times

Answer

OUTDO
27 Not dating posh girl English idiot embraces (7)

Def

Not dating

Type

Container

Expl

GEL [posh girl] + E(nglish), embraced by ASS — Times for the Times

Answer

AGELESS
28 Storer of cookies knowing to eat 500 (6)

Def

Storer of cookies

Expl

AWARE [knowing] to eat D [Roman 500] — Times for the Times

Answer

ADWARE

Down

1 Cream sample of fabric covers measuring device (9)

Def

measuring device

Type

Charade, Container

Expl

TOP (synonym of "Cream") + SWATCH (synonym of "sample of fabric") [container: "covers"]; definition: "measuring device"

Answer

STOPWATCH
2 Undoing Nadine's jacket I dipped in pickle (7)

Def

Undoing

Type

Charade

Expl

N{adin}E + I dipped in MESS — Times for the Times

Answer

NEMESIS
3 Make detached house in middle of county fine (6)

Def

Make detached

Type

Charade

Expl

UN (synonym="UN") + HO (synonym="use") + OK (synonym="OK") = UNHOOK; definition: "Make detached"

Answer

UNHOOK
4 Old couple back for treatment, on the wagon (5)

Def

Old couple

Type

Charade, Parts

Expl

T (last letter of "treatment,") + WAIN (synonym of "wagon") [last letter: "back"]; definition: "Old couple"

Answer

TWAIN
5 Suggest convict holds appeal up (8)

Def

Suggest

Type

Reversal

Expl

INMATE holds reversed IT [(sex) appeal] — Times for the Times

Answer

INTIMATE
6 Acid set off endless spasm (7)

Def

Acid

Type

Charade, Deletion

Expl

CAUSE (synonym of "set off") + TIC (synonym of "spasm") [deletion: "endless"]; definition: "Acid"

Answer

CAUSTIC
7 Unsophisticated sort of tyranny on line (5)

Def

Unsophisticated sort

Expl

YOKE [tyranny] on L(ine) — Times for the Times

Answer

YOKEL
8 Special signal, something my old man may use in battle? (8)

Def

Special signal

Expl

PA’S SWORD — Times for the Times

Answer

PASSWORD
15 Many a red deer has fled trembling inside (4,4)

Def

Many a red

Type

Container

Expl

anagram of HART (synonym="HART") + FLED (synonym="FLED") = HARD LEFT; definition: "Many a red"

Answer

HARD LEFT
16 Fold paper cut by rogue cop with energy (9)

Def

Fold

Type

Deletion

Expl

anagram of SHEET (synonym="SHEET") + COP (synonym="COP") + E (synonym="nergy") = SHEEPCOTE; definition: "Fold"

Answer

SHEEPCOTE
17 Louvre, German agreed, more insect-infested? Not quite (8)

Def

Louvre

Type

Charade

Expl

JA (synonym="JA") + LOUSIE (synonym="LOUSIE") = JALOUSIE; definition: "Louvre,"

Answer

JALOUSIE
19 Maybe lower emission from flame than exhaust (7)

Def

Maybe lower emission

Type

Hidden word

Expl

Hidden in "maybe lower emission from flaME THAN Exhaust"

Answer

METHANE
21 Celebration with drink for fabulously animated figure (7)

Def

fabulously animated figure

Type

Charade

Expl

GALA (synonym of "Celebration") + TEA (synonym of "drink"); definition: "fabulously animated figure"

Answer

GALATEA
22 Great example of Times news (6)

Def

Great example

Type

Charade

Expl

BY (synonym of "Times") + WORD (synonym of "news"); definition: "Great example"

Answer

BYWORD
23 Parent with ace coats providing raised hoods (5)

Def

hoods

Type

Reversal

Expl

MA (synonym="MA") + IF (reversal="IF") + A (synonym="ce") = MAFIA; definition: "hoods"

Answer

MAFIA
24 Tin item on chest supported by ship (5)

Def

Tin

Expl

BRA [item (worn) on chest] supported by S.S. — Times for the Times

Answer

BRASS