Times Cryptic Crossword #28655
Times Cryptic
· 30 clues with answers and explanations
· 2023-07-14
Explanations sourced from Times for the Times
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Across
-
Def
taking protective interest
Type
Container
Expl
PAL (friend) containing A + TERN (seabird).
— Times for the Times
Answer
PATERNAL
-
Def
curve in road
Type
Charade
Expl
C (abbreviation="Caught") + AMBER (synonym="light") = CAMBER; definition: "curve in road"
Answer
CAMBER
-
Def
Auntie’s boss
Type
Charade
Expl
DIRECT (synonym="precise") + OR (synonym="OR") + GENERAL (synonym="vague") = DIRECTOR GENERAL; definition: "Auntie's boss"
Answer
DIRECTOR GENERAL
-
Def
cooking medium
Type
Charade
Expl
COCO (synonym="Clown,") + NU (abbreviation="Greek") + TOIL (synonym="work") = COCONUT OIL; definition: "cooking medium"
Answer
COCONUT OIL
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Def
Wild cat
Type
Homophone
Expl
sounds like “Links”, a seaside golf course.
Answer
LYNX
-
Def
championing exclusive group
Type
Container
Expl
ELI (priest) + IS contained by TT (times).
— Times for the Times
Answer
ELITIST
-
Def
Vengeful spirits
Type
Charade
Expl
ERIN (synonym="Hibernia") + YES (synonym="certainly") = ERINYES; definition: "Vengeful spirits"
Answer
ERINYES
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Def
linguistics unit
Type
Charade
Expl
PHONE (synonym="call") + ME (synonym="writer") = PHONEME; definition: "linguistics unit"
Answer
PHONEME
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Def
public outrage
Type
Container
Expl
first of Cinders contained by SANDAL (shoe).
— Times for the Times
Answer
SCANDAL
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Def
False god
Type
Charade
Expl
BA (synonym="BA") + AL (synonym="lacking originality") = BAAL; definition: "False god"
Answer
BAAL
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Def
27s of a sort?
Expl
famous Danish authors, or barkers/dogs.
— Times for the Times
Answer
GREAT DANES
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Def
Genius
Type
Anagram
Expl
anagram of ISONTESTCRICKET ("is on test cricket") [anagram: "ground"] = ROCKETSCIENTIST; definition: "Genius"
Answer
ROCKET SCIENTIST
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Def
tout
Type
Container
Expl
BAKER (one earning crust from bread) containing R (right).
— Times for the Times
Answer
BARKER
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Def
Here goes
Type
Reversal
Expl
O (oscar) + MINOR (child) + EG (say), all reversed.
— Times for the Times
Answer
GERONIMO
Down
-
Def
Stalk
Type
Container
Expl
L (learner) contained by DICE (Vegas rollers) after PE (training).
— Times for the Times
Answer
PEDICLE
-
Def
rocky height
Type
Reversal
Expl
ROT (reversal="go off") = TOR; definition: "rocky height"
Answer
TOR
-
Def
Think again
Type
Anagram
Expl
anagram of RE (synonym="about") + SON (synonym="SON") + CIDER (synonym="drink") = RECONSIDER; definition: "Think again"
Answer
RECONSIDER
-
Def
in train
Type
Container
Expl
A, then OO (pair of spectacles) contained by FT (pink paper).
— Times for the Times
Answer
AFOOT
-
Def
Karenina / twelve pies
Type
Double definition
Expl
Double definition
Answer
ANNA
-
Def
literary character
Type
Anagram
Expl
anagram of ONLYDRYBRAN ("Only dry bran") [anagram: "mixed"] = BARRYLYNDON; definition: "literary character"
Answer
BARRY LYNDON
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Def
slacks off
Type
Deletion
Expl
REL (synonym="REL") + AXES (synonym="cuts") = RELAXES; definition: "slacks off"
Answer
RELAXES
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Def
unfair condition?
Type
Container
Expl
U (posh), then LINES (theatrical part) contained by G and S.
— Times for the Times
Answer
UGLINESS
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Def
might he ask for your hand?
Type
Charade
Expl
CHI (synonym="vital energy") + ROMANCER (synonym="lothario") = CHIROMANCER
Answer
CHIROMANCER
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Def
Slowing down
Answer
RITARDANDO
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Def
Speculator
Type
Acrostic
Expl
first letter of Tense, then OR (gold) contained by HEIST (robbery).
— Times for the Times
Answer
THEORIST
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Def
the local food
Type
Container
Expl
PUG (dog) contains B (black), then RUB (produce shine).
— Times for the Times
Answer
PUB GRUB
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Def
kingdom
Type
Hidden word
Expl
Hidden in "carlyLE SO THOught to contain kingdom"
Answer
LESOTHO
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Def
Adventurous heroine
Type
Container
Expl
IC (synonym="in charge") in ALE (synonym="beer") = ALICE; definition: "Adventurous heroine"
Answer
ALICE
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Def
Olympian goddess
Type
Deletion
Expl
tHEBEs (seven-gated city) missing its outermost letters.
— Times for the Times
Answer
HEBE
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Def
Ugandan dictator’s name
Expl
regular letters from dIsDaIn.
— Times for the Times
Answer
IDI