| 1 |
One signalling game is up? (7-6) |
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WHISTLE-BLOWER – a cryptic definition with two meanings, depending on the sense of ‘game’ (sporting event or undertaking ); here is Parsing King K’s take: this is a clue ‘where the more literal reading is a cryptic definition and the more cryptic reading is a straight one.’ I think I understand… |
| 2 |
Release loaves bishop ordered (7) |
|
ABSOLVE – LOAVES B* |
| 3 |
Kind of setter for one to turn up (5) |
|
GENUS – reversal of SUN EG (for one) |
| 4 |
Questioned dictator caught in river delta (8) |
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EXAMINED – AMIN in EXE D |
| 5 |
Be careful, young man? (6) |
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STEADY – double definition: ‘Steady. old chap!’ and ‘Kevin’s my steady’ |
| 6 |
Duke’s wife expelled from capital (9) |
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ELLINGTON – wELLINGTON |
| 7 |
Soldiers look round for protection from sun (7) |
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PARASOL – PARAS the LO reversed |
| 10 |
Game of those coming too close to you? (5,8) |
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SPACE INVADERS – another cryptic definition with, shall we say, two elements; shoot ’em up video game released in 1978 and those who get too near you for comfort in social situations |
| 14 |
Facelift going wrong, daughter distressed (9) |
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AFFLICTED – FACELIFT* D |
| 16 |
A help getting into Oxford? (8) |
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SHOEHORN – another cryptic definition, which we had only last week, I believe |
| 18 |
Suspicion surrounding Cockney woman’s patio (7) |
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TERRACE – ‘ER (her being woman’s, ‘er being Cockney woman’s) in TRACE |
| 20 |
Great performances from fantastic English choirs (7) |
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HEROICS – E CHOIRS* |
| 21 |
Enemy not far away, according to Spooner? Certainly not (2,4) |
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NO FEAR – ‘foe near’ after Spoonerisation |
| 23 |
Make out one is enthralled by tight-lipped individual (5) |
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CLAIM – I (one) in CLAM; claim as in ‘She made out that she was an expert’ |
Needed aids to get NHO TELOS, which meant 3d had to be GENUS not GENRE, thanks for explaining why.
Took a while to work out there isn’t a Duke Ashington!
27.03. Held up for far too long by whistleblower( COD) . Then delayed a bit more by genus and telos. It was a toss up whether to put in tolos or telos!
Ooooh I finished another one, and in 29 minutes, too, rather quick for me. Very enjoyable. DNK SIS for MI6 but everything else was clear. CHIN CHIN made me laugh. The “ask grandma” complainers might consider that although I’m indeed of grandma age, being American, the only reason I know such things is that I read a lot. Try it some time, you might like it. Thanks setter and ulaca. Too bad you didn’t like the Tartt, in spite of its shortcomings (ginned-up ending) it still haunts me.
10.41
Late entry from Guatemala – still Monday here …
Very well pitched Monday puzzle I’d say.
Thanks Ulaca/setter.
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Liked this a lot, but didn’t fare so well! I NHO TELOS, but that had to be, nor CURIA (thought it was ATRIA), and for ages looking for the wrong definition synonym for -1d. I was looking for the name of the trap-shooter in game hunting ( where the game is up?). But of course those guys are NOT shooting live pheasant , are they?). So wasted a lot of time there. Had LIEDER instead of LEADER – silly mistake – and didn’t twig to the CHINA synonym for friend. Other than that, did ok, as a couple of easy anagrams started me off (INSINUATE. and WORRISOME).