Cyclops 814 – Apoplectic Diplomat

Logic/parsing

D_PLOMAT (anag, i.e. to shift, of TOLD A PM) around (getting in) I (one)

HOOK (Captain Hook, fictional pirate) + A + H (hard, pencil lead calibration)

[one puffs on a hookah pipe]

the Roman love god CUPID, famous for his bow-and-arrow, goes by his Greek equivalent’s name Eros for his statue in Piccadilly Circus!

BES_T (the cream) around E (Ecstasy tablet, drug)

NET (nick, arrest) + ZERO (love, score in e.g. tennis)

DIETIN (anag, i.e. contrived, of EDIT IN) + G (leading letter of Guardian)

if you can’t organise a piss-up in a BREWERY, you are incapable!

[although if you did organise such an event, you might be left incapable at the end of it?]

T_IGHT (drunk, pissed) around HE_FAR_R (anag, i.e. movement, of HER RAF)

RE (with reference to, to do with) + COUNT (matter, have import)

S (second) + t (time) + RETCH (vomit)

FE (iron, chemical symbol) + Z (ultimate character of the alphabet)

punning double defn. – the House of LORDS is a legislative body; and LORDS cricket ground is no stranger to spin bowling!

W_OW (to shock, impress) around I (one) + D (day)

S_TY (pig pen) around URE (Midge Ure, ageing rock star!)

anag, i.e. out, of FORCE TED

Logic/parsing

subtractive anagram, i.e. casually and dumping IAN, of POLICE CAPT(AIN)

V (very) + O (old) + ID (I’d, contraction of I HAD, from Cyclops’ point of view)

GAS (GA, Georgia, US state, plus contracted ‘s) + BAG (steal, appropriate)

BOOT (dismiss, boot out) + LEG (stage) + GER (anag, or reversal, i.e. screwing, of REG)

S (another contracted ‘s!) + KIN (people)

SHUT (close) + EYE (the magazine you are reading!)

homophone, i.e. reported – an assistant, or AIDE, on a yacht, might be on DECK, so might be a DECK AIDE, which sounds like DECADE, or period of time.

[the ‘luxury’ might be superfluous, although maybe you are more likely to find an aide on a luxury yacht, working for someone rich enough to hire an aide?!…)]

anag, i.e. pants, of ROBES

anag, i.e. screwing, of QUIETLY IN A

EST_TE (anag, i.e. injured, of TESTE(S), endlessly) around A (indefinite article) + DUTY (one’s job)

[one-time, as estate duty, or death duty is now referred to as inheritance tax]

homophone, i.e. broadcast – ALTER (reform) can sound like ALTAR (somewhere blood was once spilt!)

PRO (in favour of) + FUSE (something that might blow)

S_OWER (broadcaster, of seeds) around (consuming) H (heroin)

SYS_EM (anag, i.e. excited, of MESSY) around (inserting) T (beginning of Todger)

see 12A

W_EN (new, latest, upset) around R (Republican)