Across dale, up top, ruined with too many souls (13)
1A — Across dale, up top, ruined with too many souls (13) — OVERPOPULATED
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Definition
Definition found: 'with too many souls' — A definition sits at one end of the clue, never the middle — the closing phrase here reads as a plain description of the answer.A definition sits at one end of the clue, never the middle — the closing phrase here reads as a plain description of the answer.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'ruined'A word meaning 'wrecked' or 'spoiled' is often telling you to rearrange the letters of the words beside it.
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Operation
'ruined' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'dale, up top,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Across' → OVERRead the clue as a recipe: this opening piece joins the front of the answer.
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Assembly
OVER + (DALEUPTOP > POPULATED) = OVERPOPULATED