Times Cryptic Crossword #28338

Times Cryptic · 30 clues with answers and explanations · 2022-07-09

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

1 Quarantine means moving to open space in the capital (9,6)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of QUARANTINE + MEANS = TIANANMEN SQUARE

Answer

TIANANMEN SQUARE
9 Keep plugging away in private, working (7,2)

Def

Keep

Answer

SOLDIER ON
10 Bar's better with piano for music, in the end (5)

Def

Bar

Answer

EXPEL
11 Spud without jacket consumed in about turn (6)

Def

turn

Answer

ROTATE
12 Reportedly polished off the harvest in short style (4,4)

Answer

ETON CROP
13 Set off, getting boxed in on return with not enough parking (6)

Def

Set

Answer

DEPART
15 Comforter, excellent for so-called gangster (8)

Def

gangster

Answer

SCARFACE
18 These specs on, it is suggested? (4-4)

Answer

HALF-MOON
19 Animal's lair in decay (6)

Def

Animal

Type

Charade

Expl

DEN (synonym of "lair") + ROT (synonym of "decay"); definition: "Animal's"

Answer

RODENT
21 Point at country's famous building for example (8)

Answer

LANDMARK
23 Gloomy day, one's breakfast possibly with no coffee at the end (6)

Def

Gloomy

Answer

DISMAL
26 Left in difficulty, lacking sense (5)

Answer

BLIND
27 Exmoor family's head in rave (2,4,3)

Answer

DO ONES NUT
28 Child's repeated demand at bedtime? It never improves (3,4,3,5)

Answer

THE SAME OLD STORY

1 Sprayed? You'll get dry in a bit (7)

Answer

TASERED
2 Distribute the vote first off (5)

Def

Distribute

Type

Charade, Deletion

Expl

BALLOT (synonym of "vote") [beheading: "first off"]; definition: "Distribute"

Answer

ALLOT
3 An impression mud is rising, not permanently (2,7)

Answer

AD INTERIM
4 Pool used up in ceremony (4)

Def

Pool

Answer

MERE
5 Making things very small? He cannot, sadly! (8)

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of HE + CANNOT, = NANOTECH

Answer

NANOTECH
6 Pop group that was once someone's pawn? (5)

Answer

QUEEN
7 Like some American lowlife, finally offering a sweetener (9)

Def

sweetener

Answer

ASPARTAME
8 In darkness, say what 'airdresser does? (7)

Def

In darkness,

Answer

ECLIPSE
14 Piano solo briefly played with energy, one of Chopin's perhaps (9)

Answer

POLONAISE
16 Baggy state of jumpers: my one is among them (9)

Answer

ROOMINESS
17 Stir — this? (8)

Def

Stir

Answer

PORRIDGE
18 Swimmer's short excuse to enter beach building (7)

Def

building

Answer

HALIBUT
20 Writer related anecdote, missing a little from each part (7)

Def

Writer

Answer

TOLSTOY
22 Sorceress wants me shortly killed (5)

Answer

MEDEA
24 Must travel in the country for cheap cloth (5)

Answer

MUNGO
25 At court, lied at first, it may be felt (4)

Answer

WOOL