Times Cryptic Crossword #28529

Times Cryptic · 28 clues with answers and explanations · 2023-02-17

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

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Across

1 Meaning to embrace unique selling point, leaves one hanging (8)

Def

leaves one hanging

Type

Container

Expl

USP (synonym="USP") in SENSE (synonym="SENSE") = SUSPENSE; definition: "leaves one hanging"

Answer

SUSPENSE
5 Repeatedly appeal to consume second pastry (6)

Def

pastry

Type

Charade

Expl

SA (synonym="sex appeal") + MO (synonym="MO") + SA (synonym="sex appeal") = SAMOSA; definition: "pastry"

Answer

SAMOSA
8 One racing on the carriageway is cuckoo (10)

Def

cuckoo

Type

Charade

Expl

ROAD (synonym="ROAD") + RUNNER (synonym="RUNNER") = ROADRUNNER; definition: "cuckoo"

Answer

ROADRUNNER
9 One with a tale to tell is back in this bar (4)

Def

bar

Type

Reversal

Expl

LIAR (reversal="LIAR") = RAIL; definition: "bar"

Answer

RAIL
10 Delighted as result of well-crafted scenes, applaud hard (7,2,5)

Def

Delighted

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of SCENES APPLAUD H — Times for the Times

Answer

PLEASED AS PUNCH
11 Inherited title I removed from S American country (7)

Def

Inherited title

Type

Charade

Expl

SUR (synonym="SUR") + NAME (synonym="NAME") = SURNAME; definition: "Inherited title"

Answer

SURNAME
13 Refuses to accept one is among hills (7)

Def

Refuses to accept

Type

Container

Expl

I’S in DOWNS — Times for the Times

Answer

DISOWNS
15 Possible appearance of lantern in new jail out of place (7)

Def

Possible appearance of lantern

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of NEW + JAIL = JAWLINE; definition: "Possible appearance of lantern"

Answer

JAWLINE
18 Giant operations on transport cut short (7)

Def

Giant

Type

Charade

Expl

CYCL (synonym="CYCL") + OPS (synonym="OPS") = CYCLOPS; definition: "Giant"

Answer

CYCLOPS
21 A case for clothing artist's body part succeeded (5,2,7)

Def

A case for clothing

Type

Charade

Expl

CHEST OF DRAWER (artist’s body part) + S But of course this clue needs a question mark. — Times for the Times

Answer

CHEST OF DRAWERS
22 A pound off, pack with egg and pastry (4)

Def

pastry

Type

Charade

Expl

FIL (synonym="FIL") + O (synonym="O") = FILO; definition: "pastry"

Answer

FILO
23 With great intelligence I pass back the local spirit (6,4)

Def

the local spirit

Type

Reversal

Expl

GENIUS + I COL (mountain pass) reversed “Literally, the spirit of the place” (Chambers) — Times for the Times

Answer

GENIUS LOCI
24 Commit to paper refusal of French flag (6)

Def

flag

Type

Charade

Expl

PEN (synonym="PEN") + NON (synonym="no, in French") = PENNON; definition: "flag"

Answer

PENNON
25 Quizzical look you twice aimed at a little jewel (5,3)

Def

Quizzical look

Type

Charade

Expl

BEAD (synonym="BEAD") + YE (synonym="YE") + YE (synonym="YE") = BEADY EYE; definition: "Quizzical look"

Answer

BEADY EYE

Down

1 Small drinks bottles are raised, showing Egyptian deity (7)

Def

Egyptian deity

Type

Reversal

Expl

SIPS (small drinks) around ARE, reversed I now see that ‘small’ was not one of those ‘S’s, and hence SUPS is not possible. — Times for the Times

Answer

SERAPIS
2 Scruffy type's anxiety meeting councillor in broadcast (9)

Def

Scruffy type

Type

Charade

Expl

CARE + CR (councillor) in SOW (broadcast) Ended up getting this from the crossing letters. I never once suspected the correct wordplay. — Times for the Times

Answer

SCARECROW
3 Mimosa ultimately is a shrub raised in a large part of the world (7)

Def

a large part of the world

Type

Reversal

Expl

{mimos}A IS A RUE reversed Didn’t know about the rue plant. — Times for the Times

Answer

EURASIA
4 No good having formally given agreement that is undated (4,3)

Def

undated

Type

Charade

Expl

SIGNED (having formally given agreement) – G + I.E. (that is) Also did not get this wordplay while solving. — Times for the Times

Answer

SINE DIE
5 So carelessly written, to revise play script, wasting time (9)

Def

So carelessly written

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of PLAY (synonym="PLAY") + SCRIP (synonym="SCRIP") = SCRAPPILY; definition: "So carelessly written,"

Answer

SCRAPPILY
6 Warhorse, no stallion, with new energy (7)

Def

Warhorse

Type

Charade

Expl

MARE (synonym="no stallion") + N (synonym="N") + GO (synonym="GO") = MARENGO; definition: "Warhorse,"

Answer

MARENGO
7 Supposed weather forecaster at first skulking indoors (7)

Def

Supposed weather forecaster

Type

Hidden word

Expl

S{kulking} + WITHIN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swithun Known in the US as “a groundhog”. — Times for the Times

Answer

SWITHIN
12 Arm supporting baby that regularly signals distress (6,3)

Def

that regularly signals distress

Type

Charade, Parts

Expl

MINUTE (synonym of "baby") [last letter: "supporting"] + GUN (synonym of "Arm"); definition: "that regularly signals distress"

Answer

MINUTE GUN
14 Spaces in the ladies, no end healthy (9)

Def

healthy

Type

Container

Expl

HOLES (synonym="HOLES") in WOME (synonym="WOME") = WHOLESOME; definition: "healthy"

Answer

WHOLESOME
16 A Catholic place of business, a large one in the Vatican (7)

Def

a large one in the Vatican

Type

Charade

Expl

A + R.C. + HIVE (place of busy-ness) — Times for the Times

Answer

ARCHIVE
17 One wild criminal made to be submissive (3,4)

Def

to be submissive

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of ONEWILD ("One wild") [anagram: "criminal"] = LIEDOWN; definition: "to be submissive"

Answer

LIE DOWN
18 Secret formula in tablet, this one? (7)

Def

this one?

Type

Charade

Expl

CODE (synonym="CODE") + IN (synonym="IN") + E (synonym="E") = CODEINE; definition: "this one?"

Answer

CODEINE
19 Graded Charlie very behind in speaking (7)

Def

Graded

Type

Homophone

Expl

C + homophone of LAST

Answer

CLASSED
20 Sigh as father gets round this family piano (7)

Def

Sigh

Type

Container

Expl

SIRE around US + P — Times for the Times

Answer

SUSPIRE