Times Cryptic Crossword #28534

Times Cryptic · 32 clues with answers and explanations · 2023-02-23

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

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Across

1 Cut what bridegroom did (5)

Def

Cut

Type

Charade

Expl

HE (synonym="HE") + WED (synonym="WED") = HEWED; definition: "Cut"

Answer

HEWED
4 Very obvious trail grew confused (4,5)

Def

Very obvious

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of TRAILGREW ("trail grew") [anagram: "confused"] = WRITLARGE; definition: "Very obvious"

Answer

WRIT LARGE
9 Mentioned having purchased everything available around river (7,2)

Def

Mentioned

Type

Container

Expl

BOUGHT UP(purchased everything available) surrounding R(river) — Times for the Times

Answer

BROUGHT UP
10 Serviceman: see one at attention endlessly (5)

Def

Serviceman

Expl

V(see), I(one) and most of CARE(attention) — Times for the Times

Answer

VICAR
11 Ring again to cancel (6)

Def

cancel

Type

Charade

Expl

RE (synonym of "again") + PEAL (synonym of "Ring"); definition: "cancel"

Answer

REPEAL
12 Put sport back in modest setting, showing consideration (8)

Def

consideration

Type

Reversal

Expl

SET(put) and RU(sport) reversed inside COY(modest) — Times for the Times

Answer

COURTESY
14 Disappointment ain't turned about by acquiring capital (10)

Def

Disappointment

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of ANTI, then C(about) and X(by) containing LIMA(capital) — Times for the Times

Answer

ANTICLIMAX
16 Obstinate, not born to be a butt (4)

Def

a butt

Type

Deletion

Expl

STUBBORN(obstinate) minus BORN — Times for the Times

Answer

STUB
19 Irritable in overheated gym (4)

Def

Irritable

Type

Hidden word

Expl

Hidden in "irritable in overheatED GYm"

Answer

EDGY
20 Figures sulphur preparations in lab must be contaminated by phosphorus (10)

Def

Figures

Type

Container

Expl

S(sulphur), CULTURES(preparations in lab) containing P(phosphorus) — Times for the Times

Answer

SCULPTURES
22 Small garden area, plain with patches of colour (8)

Def

with patches of colour

Type

Charade

Expl

S (synonym of "Small") + KEW (synonym of "garden area,") + BALD (synonym of "plain"); definition: "with patches of colour"

Answer

SKEWBALD
23 I appreciate that popular number one: it's in South Pacific (6)

Def

it’s in South Pacific

Expl

TA(I appreciate that), HIT(popular) and I(number one) — Times for the Times

Answer

TAHITI
26 Rubbish in middle of ship picked up (5)

Def

Rubbish

Type

Homophone

Expl

sounds like WAIST(the middle of a ship)

Answer

WASTE
27 Bright and shiny chap in elite force not taking sides (9)

Def

Bright and shiny

Type

Container

Expl

GENT(chap) inside MARINES(elite force) minus the exterior letters — Times for the Times

Answer

ARGENTINE
28 One spread out on back of board, as shown (9)

Def

shown

Type

Charade

Expl

I(one), SPLAYED(spread out) after the last letter of boarD — Times for the Times

Answer

DISPLAYED
29 Travels with no man born in British Isles (5)

Def

Travels

Type

Deletion

Expl

remove HE(man) and B(born) from HEBRIDES(British Isles) — Times for the Times

Answer

RIDES

Down

1 Breathe in groggily and go to sleep (9)

Def

go to sleep

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of BREATHEIN ("Breathe in") [anagram: "groggily"] = HIBERNATE; definition: "sleep"

Answer

HIBERNATE
2 War cry from that corps regularly (5)

Def

War cry

Expl

WHO(that) and alternating letters in cOrPs — Times for the Times

Answer

WHOOP
3 A couple of hours pet-sitting? (8)

Def

A couple of hours

Type

Deletion

Expl

referring to a short watch on a ship, the second part referring to what pet-sitting could be — Times for the Times

Answer

DOGWATCH
4 Engineer's question heard by some (4)

Def

Engineer

Type

Homophone

Expl

sounds like WHAT(question)

Answer

WATT
5 I can be shown to be less than perfect (10)

Def

less than perfect

Type

Charade

Expl

if I can be shown to be, then I’M PROVABLE — Times for the Times

Answer

IMPROVABLE
6 Historian covering royal uniform (6)

Def

uniform

Type

Charade, Container

Expl

LIVY (synonym of "Historian") + ER (synonym of "royal") [container: "covering"]; definition: "uniform"

Answer

LIVERY
7 For City, the scorer is unusual (9)

Def

City

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of THESCORER ("the scorer") [anagram: "unusual"] = ROCHESTER

Answer

ROCHESTER
8 Like an aristocrat perhaps to be in plenty of time? (5)

Def

in plenty of time

Expl

EARL-Y(like an aristocrat) — Times for the Times

Answer

EARLY
13 One's little room covered in a lot of jumble (10)

Def

jumble

Type

Container

Expl

I’S(one’s) CELL(little room) inside MANY(a lot) — Times for the Times

Answer

MISCELLANY
15 Gets side-tracked, needing time for introduction for Cats (9)

Def

Cats

Type

Acrostic

Expl

DIGRESSES(gets side-tracked) with T(time) instead of the first letter — Times for the Times

Answer

TIGRESSES
17 Luxuriant condition of hair is prominent in coach (9)

Def

Luxuriant condition of hair

Type

Charade

Expl

SHINES (synonym of "is prominent") + BUS (synonym of "coach"); definition: "Luxuriant condition of hair"

Answer

BUSHINESS
18 Riddle of shoes son moved to the furthest possible place (8)

Def

Riddle

Expl

TRAINERS(shoes) with S(son) moved to the other end — Times for the Times

Answer

STRAINER
21 Let oneself down in trouble concealing disease (6)

Def

Let oneself down

Answer

ABSEIL
22 News at last due for broadcast (5)

Def

broadcast

Type

Charade, Parts

Expl

S (last letter of "News") + OWED (synonym of "due") [last letter: "at"]; definition: "broadcast"

Answer

SOWED
24 Poem of the millennium overlooked by church (5)

Def

Poem

Type

Deletion

Expl

CHILIAD(millennium) minus CH(church) — Times for the Times

Answer

ILIAD
25 Bill for example's taken first oath (4)

Def

oath

Type

Charade

Expl

EG (synonym="for example") + AD (synonym="bill") = EGAD; definition: "oath"

Answer

EGAD