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Guardian Cryptic 28361 Crucible

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Thanks to Crucible. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Most of the solutions are associated with the answer to 16 across, ie. animals, plants, and other things existing in nature and not made … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 1107 Carpathian

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Thank you to Carpathian. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Difficult prisoner loudly taking drugs (9) CONFUSING : CON(short for “convict”/prisoner) + F(abbrev. for “forte”, musical instruction to play loudly) + … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28354 Nutmeg

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Thanks to Nutmeg for an enjoyable one. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Young Bengal tigers skirting lake? They’re used to exercise (6,5) INDIAN CLUBS : [INDIAN CUBS](possibly tiger youngsters from … Read more >>

Financial Times 16681 Basilisk

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Thank you Basilisk. Some nice surfaces here. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Great role identified by diminutive actor? (6) HAMLET : HAM(an overacting actor) – LET(a suffix signifying a small/diminutive … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 1103 Hectence

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Thank you to Hectence for this tricky Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Luxury extension can perhaps ruin housing (12) EXTRAVAGANCE : EXT(abbrev. for “extension”) + [anagram of(… perhaps) CAN … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28331 Brendan

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Thanks to Brendan. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 8. Semi-human creature Greek character encountered in youth (8) MINOTAUR : TAU(nineteenth character in the Greek alphabet) contained in(encountered in) MINOR(a youth/person under … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28325 Paul

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Thank you to Paul for the seasonal offering.  Definitions are underlined in the clues.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. Across 7. Drug, one fuelling a short run (7) ASPIRIN : I(Roman … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1608 Poins

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Thank you to Poins. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Likable general speaking after pressure to confess (8) PLEASING : [Homophone of(… speaking) “Lee”(Robert E., Confederate general during the American Civil … Read more >>

Financial Times 16660 Falcon

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Thank you to Falcon. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Colour scheme in side corridor (5) DECOR : Hidden in(in) “side corridor“. 4. Material needed by friend, organ cleaner (6,3) COTTON … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28302 Pasquale

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Thank you to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Routine for Jewish comedian, dull person sounding drunk? (6) SHTICK : “is thick”(is dull/dim) pronounced as ” ‘shtick” by a drunk … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1604 Tees

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Thank you to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Direction of take-off in this plane! (8) VERTICAL : Cryptic defn: Reference to a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft/plane which … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28295 Vlad

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Thank you to Vlad. This wasn’t a write-in for me. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1, 18. He dealt with state affairs a lot — wrong description of Boris? (1,6,2,2,5,3) A … Read more >>

Financial Times 16636 Peto

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Thanks to Peto. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Able to go through without a hint of resistance (6) CLEVER : “cleave”(to go through/to make a way through something, as if … Read more >>