A gentle workout from MUDD.
FF: 8 DD: 8
| ACROSS | ||
| 7 | IN UNISON |
One sister and one boy together (2,6)
|
|
I ( one ) NUN ( sister ) I ( one ) SON ( boy ) |
||
| 8 | RECOIL |
Winter’s ending, nothing stopping return of insects — spring back! (6)
|
|
R ( winteR, last letter ) [ O ( nothing ) in reverse of LICE ( insects ) ] |
||
| 11 | TASTE |
Sample last of paintings framed by patron of the arts (5)
|
|
S ( paintingS, last letter of ) in TATE ( patron of the arts ) |
||
| 12 | NORTH STAR |
Brilliant guide, Jack goes past prickly thorns (5,4)
|
|
[ THORNS ]* TAR ( jack ) |
||
| 13 | RING OFF |
Stop talking, as prepared for divorce? (4,3)
|
|
cryptic def |
||
| 14 | RELIEVO |
Overlie grotesque, outstanding art? (7)
|
|
[ OVERLIE ]* |
||
| 15 | AT THE DROP OF A HAT |
When Panama falls quickly? (2,3,4,2,1,3)
|
|
cryptic def |
||
| 18 | PIRATES |
Criminals good with taxes (7)
|
|
PI ( good ) RATES ( taxes ) |
||
| 20 | APOSTLE |
Job held by bitter missionary (7)
|
|
POST ( job ) in ALE ( bitter ) |
||
| 22 | NOCTURNAL |
Acorn and nut lost, left in the dark (9)
|
|
[ ACORN NUT ]* L ( left ) |
||
| 23 | HOTEL |
Holiday accommodation — India next? (5)
|
|
cryptic clue; referring to nato alphabet for H and I |
||
| 24 | ELAPSE |
Pass first of exams before blunder (6)
|
|
E ( Exams, first letter ) LAPSE ( blunder ) |
||
| 25 | STONE AGE |
Very old guru breathing in air (5,3)
|
|
TONE ( air ) in SAGE ( guru ) |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | VICTORIA SPONGE |
Light blue line on clean cake (8,6)
|
|
VICTORIA ( light blue line, london underground ) SPONGE ( clean ) |
||
| 2 | HUDSON |
Barking hounds bay? (6)
|
|
[ HOUNDS ]* |
||
| 3 | TIRESOME |
Uninteresting building is remote (8)
|
|
[ IS REMOTE ]* |
||
| 4 | GOING FOR A SONG |
Very reasonable, when off to choir practice? (5,3,1,4)
|
|
cryptic def |
||
| 5 | LETHAL |
All the bombs — are so? (6)
|
|
&lit; [ ALL THE ]* |
||
| 6 | FORTIETH |
Ruby celebrated throwing male attire into river (8)
|
|
TIE ( male attire ) in FORTH ( river ) ; wonder if the tie is an exclusive male attire? |
||
| 9 | LORD OF THE FLIES |
New tiled roof with shelf for book (4,2,3,5)
|
|
[ TILED ROOF SHELF ]* |
||
| 10 | PRE-RAPHAELITE |
Husband into creation of a rapper, best artist (3-10)
|
|
{ H ( husband ) in [ A RAPPER ]* } ELITE ( best ) ; i had no idea about this though i could broadly identify the parse |
||
| 16 | TURNCOAT |
Make taco for Judas? (8)
|
|
reverse clue; TURNCOAT => [ COAT ]* => TACO |
||
| 17 | FROTHING |
Effervescent pond life absorbing light (8)
|
|
FROG ( pond life ) containing THIN ( light ) |
||
| 19 | TRUISM |
Obvious fact is concealed by inadequate US president (6)
|
|
IS in TRUMp ( us president, inadequate i.e. without last letter ) |
||
| 21 | TITIAN |
Artist, giant touring Italy (6)
|
|
TITAN ( giant ) around I ( italy ) |