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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 >>

Guardian Cryptic 28272 Vlad

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Thanks to Vlad for this puzzle, which contains some topical references. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Plant rejected a kind of strike after one fellow sacked (7) FUCHSIA : Reversal … Read more >>