(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
A word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
Hmmm! Testing my grey matter today.
I’ve managed all except 1a and 2d.
I have a word for 2d but having trouble parsing it
I think I’ll walk away and come back later.
Finally realised parsing for 2d. Easy when you realise why!
Joy; I’m stuck on the same to as you. I’ve walked away but still no good. 26 a also a problem at the moment.
Finally got congratulations Cathy.
1a.. unsentimental is one lacking feeling. Think if stickybeak lacking feeling.
2d. Think of what a public hanging could be and use as a subtraction.
Good luck
Cathy,
26a … top is what you’re after. The contemptible one is a word us oldies would have used rather than the younger generation.
Thanks Joy 26a very obvious now.
I have the words to fit for the other 2 but not still not quite sure how I got there.
Cathy the goal on 1a is a sporting term.
I can’t say to much more for 2d without spoiling it for others. If you gave the correct answer, think where your reduction came from..
Well, well, very surprised to get the congrats. Went with a sporting goal at 1a, thanks to Joy, but with absolutely no clue as to how the unfeeling stickybeak fits in. Still 25a enlightenment on that one. Rest was great with clever wordplay like 2d and amazing anagrams. 12a leapt from the crosses but then parsed beautifully in retrospect. Loved 1d, 7d, 11d and 15a was so simple but such fun. A bit worried, apart from 1a, about the definitions in 3d and 8d, so waiting for them to be 22a! Thanks as always, David.
Oh! I think I’ve just understood 1a, thanks to the the idea of subtraction in the clue hint. So now the answer parses nicely but I’d never have got unsentimental like that at the get-go. Cute and funny but a great clue nonetheless.
Hi Pateick.
In 1a… check what feeling you can see in stickybeak, change it up and think of sport for goal. In 25a, just checked and David gives you clue for comedian, which holds it.in.
Hope these shed some light.
Thanks Joy, our posts arrived simultaneously. Now I’m not sure if the ‘feeling’ is sentimental as an expression of feeling, or un-sentimental as being unappreciative of being over-emotional! A sentiment either way, I suppose, and as part of the wordplay the latter would seem to be the one required. My 25a above was a smart-alec way of saying the word and same for 22a.
I’ve walked away from this Many times & still have fewer than ten answers.
Much talk of 1a above, maybe that will start to crack this Nut.
Good Grief.
After that ANYTHING is possible!!!
This will probably go down like a lead balloon, but here goes:
‘Setter losing style but not saying why, in case of failure? (6)’
Nah, forget that – all wrong, got confused with the definitions. Silly me. I’d definitely stick with my day job if I had one!
Good Grief – Patrick
what were you thinking – Midnight & attempting to Cryptocise!!!
You said it, Richard!
“Like”
upper right corner has me baffled. I’ve read all the comments and no help. What are we looking for in 12a? In 1a is it the sport or the goal that’s wanted. Totally blanking on what a public hanging could be…is it a familiar term? Thought I had 1d by finding a word that describes what a lamb does but can’t see if it’s right w/o solving 12a and 1a.
Sorry to be so dense.
sorry upper left hand corner.
Michael, your 1d “sounds” as though it could be right.
1a…. is what a goal in this particular sport is called.
2d … you are after a deceptive ruse. Also, think what else is hung , besides people, and that has to be subtracted from a word in the clue.
Hope these help
Michael, I forgot to help on 12a. Its an anagram and you want something that is done on line …. not on line like a computer!
Thanks Joy. I was looking for an anagram but kept getting stuck on what words to anagram..bad counting of letters. Once that fell in the others were much easier. I must say that the “feeling” kept tripping me up because I was hung up on the adjective and not the noun version of the word.
I’m stuck Upper Left too Michael. Joy’s comments should get you there.
9a – have a word that says “in a foreign country not by choice”, but don’t know why.
3d – can’t find any “recluse” that fits
7d – no idea – except the “White” may be my favourite.
Delete 7d – wrong “White” wrong Track – too easy in the end.
Richard, in 9a……. maybe the old friend was of the opposite sex? By getting that, it should start you off on the right track.
3d …. recluse “finally”
Many Thanks Joy – Yes, fell over the line with a fresh look.
Correct 3d = “matters” – which led to correct 9a!!!
All Good – All Done.
Again the Cryptic Joys here are too numerous to mention
but have to single out 1a & 12a for Extra Special Mention.
Thank You – David.
What a great workout.
Thanks to Joy for 1a. Unsentimental is a great word play which I would not have found without your suggestion about the goal. I got the solution and worked backward to the wordplay via your comment.
12a One of Richard’s favourites. It was my last one today, and I took some working to give up ideas related to NBN.
2d I had the word early on , but it did not seem to work with my choice for 1a. The public hanging was very deceptive.
15a and 8d were topical given the cup meeting this week.
7d I raise my glass to this clue. The penny has just dropped about the parsing.
Agree Arthur – all on my List too, specially 12a. What a Gem.
The past few weeks seem to have been particularly tough and particularly entertaining. #247 has kept up the standard. My highlights (which generally echo the bouquets above):
1a: “Unsentimental stickybeak”
4a, 9a, 12a, 26a: Nice definitions
12a: “being”
19a: I hope this clue doesn’t prompt a libel suit
2d: “public hanging”
11d: “time and time again”
Well, that was a difficult. Not certain about some clues but happy to get the Congrats.