Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31265 — Prize Puzzle
🏆 Prize Puzzle — hints without spoilers.
Stuck on a clue? Every clue below has step-by-step hints, the wordplay structure, and a convention lookup — work out the definition, the technique, and the indicator words yourself, without seeing the answer. Full solutions and wordplay appear here once the competition closes on .
Across
1A — Staggering loan some day for already wealthy person (11)
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Definition
Definition found: 'already wealthy person'The definition is the last three words — a brash character flush with cash.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Staggering'A word meaning unsteady or reeling often tells you the nearby letters need rearranging.
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Operation
'Staggering' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'loan some day'
7A — Hard answer no good? Setter perhaps guilty (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'guilty'The definition is the last word — shamefaced, looking caught out.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Hard'The 'hard' letter first.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'answer'Then 'answer'.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'no good?'Then 'no good'.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Setter perhaps'Finish with the animal a setter is an example of.
8A — Milk product – gallons upset by vacuous yobbo (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Milk product'The definition is the first two words — something creamy made from milk.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'vacuous''vacuous' empties a word out, leaving just its outer shell.
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Operation
'vacuous' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'yobbo'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'gallons'Add the gallons abbreviation.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'upset'Finish with the word for upset.
10A — Chat about roundabout ahead of motorway? It's not important (2,6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'It's not important'The definition is the last three words — of no consequence.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'about''about' tells you one piece wraps around another.
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Operation
'about' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Chat roundabout motorway?'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Chat'The chat word forms the outer shell.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'roundabout'The round letter goes inside first.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'motorway?'Then the motorway letter, just after it.
11A — Close to grandma, kid's relaxed (2,4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'relaxed'The definition is the last word — comfortable, unhurried.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Close to''Close to' points at the final letter of the word beside it.
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Operation
'Close to' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'grandma,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'kid's'Follow with the word for to kid.
13A — During November, start to source places to stay (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'places to stay'The definition is the last three words.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'start to''start to' points at the opening letter of the word that follows.
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Operation
'start to' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'source'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'During'Start with the word for 'during'.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'November,'Add November's letter.
14A — Try granola, prepared with pride (10)
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Definition
Definition found: 'with pride'The definition is the last two words — how a haughty person behaves.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'prepared'A word like 'prepared' or 'cooked' next to some letters is usually telling you to jumble them.
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Operation
'prepared' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Try granola,'
16A — Biscuits and drink next to German out to lunch (6,4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Biscuits'The definition is the first word.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'drink'The spirit comes first.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'German'Then the German abbreviation — together they make a spicy root.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'out to lunch'Finish with the word for crazy.
18A — Multiple choice involves such repetition (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'such repetition'The definition is the last two words — a sound that bounces back.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'involves''involves' hints the answer is sitting unbroken inside the words before it.
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Operation
'involves' signals a hidden_word operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Multiple choice'
21A — Object to Post Office overturning present (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Object to'The definition is the first two words — to come out against something.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'overturning''overturning' sends the letters just built backwards.
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Operation
'overturning' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Post Office'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Post Office'Start with the stamps-shop abbreviation.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'present'Present a question
22A — Small part of shower control reported by doctor before work (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Small part of shower'The definition is the first four words — one bead of a downpour.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'reported''reported' tells you to take the sound of the word before it, not its spelling.
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Operation
'reported' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'control'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'control'Start from the horse's control strap.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'doctor'Add the doctor's abbreviation.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'work'Finish with the word for an operation.
24A — Hair found in youth's ale – yeuch! – sent back (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Hair'The definition is the first word.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'found in''found in' says the answer is sitting unbroken inside the following words — read across the gaps.
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Operation
'found in' signals a hidden_word operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'youth's ale yeuch!'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'sent back''sent back' turns the run of letters the other way.
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Operation
'sent back' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'youth's ale yeuch!'
25A — More irate near girl ignoring learner driver manoeuvring (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'More irate'The definition is the first two words.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'ignoring learner driver''ignoring learner driver' tells you to drop the single letter that marks a learner.
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Operation
'ignoring learner driver' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'near girl'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'manoeuvring''manoeuvring' says the remaining letters need rearranging.
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Operation
'manoeuvring' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'near girl'
26A — One destined to climb high in their chosen profession? (11)
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.The whole clue is one playful definition: the '?' flags the pun — someone whose job literally is to climb high things like steeples and chimneys.
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Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
Down
1D — Label and zip the wrong way around for American footballer (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'American footballer'The definition is the last two words.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'the wrong way around''the wrong way around' tells you to read the letters you've gathered backwards.
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Operation
'the wrong way around' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Label zip'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Label'Start with the word for label.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'zip'Then the word for zip/nothing.
2D — Checks how Tesla gets going, boxed in by German cars (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Checks'The definition is the first word — inspections of the books.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'gets going,''how ... gets going' points at the opening letter of the word beside it.
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Operation
'gets going,' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Tesla'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'boxed in by''boxed in by' tells you the letter sits inside the other piece.
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Operation
'boxed in by' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Tesla German cars'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'German cars'The German cars form the outer shell.
3D — Young bird audible? Call for digital enhancement (6,4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'digital enhancement'The definition is the last two words — a 'digit' is a finger, so think what adorns one.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'audible?''audible?' tells you the wordplay works on sound — say the young bird out loud.
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Operation
'audible?' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Young bird'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Young bird'Start from the baby swan.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Call'Add the word for a phone call.
4D — Irish county's blossom regrowing in the middle (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Irish county's'The definition is the first two words — a county in the west of Ireland.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in the middle''in the middle' points at the central letter of the word beside it.
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Operation
'in the middle' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'regrowing'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'blossom'Start with the blossom that's also a month.
5D — Thing broadcast on Clash singer after dark (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'singer after dark'The definition is the last three words — a bird that churrs through the small hours.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'broadcast''broadcast' (scattered) tells you the letters of the word before it need rearranging.
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Operation
'broadcast' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Thing'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Clash'Follow with the word for colours that clash.
6D — Warning from solver primarily wanting variety now and then? (3,4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Warning'The definition is the first word — a threat, as in 'just ___ ___!'.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'primarily''primarily' points at the opening letter of the word beside it.
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Operation
'primarily' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'wanting'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'now and then?''now and then' tells you to take every other letter of the word it follows.
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Operation
'now and then?' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'variety'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'solver'The solver, addressed directly.
7D — In cahoots, what some do at lost property office? (4,2,5)
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Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definitionTwo side-by-side definitions of the answer. No wordplay split — just spot that both halves define the same word.
9D — Fashionable adolescent's two hats for Spooner (5-6)
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.The opening words define the answer — a trend-following young teenager — while 'for Spooner' flags a swap of opening sounds on two hats.
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Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
12D — Kind friend scoffed portion of chops (4,6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'portion of chops'The definition is the last three words — part of the roof of the mouth ('chops').
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Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Kind'The 'kind' word first.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'friend'Then the word for friend.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'scoffed'Finish with the word for scoffed.
15D — Eased up, working to accommodate Republican lobby (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'lobby'The definition is the last word — to press someone to your view.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'working''working' says the letters of the phrase before it need rearranging.
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Operation
'working' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Eased up,'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'to accommodate''to accommodate' tells you a letter is taken inside.
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Operation
'to accommodate' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Eased up,'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Republican'The Republican letter goes inside.
17D — Kidnap persecutors covering heads (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'heads'The definition is the last word — slang for what sits on top of your shoulders.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'covering''covering' hints the answer is hiding unbroken across the words before it — read straight through the gap.
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Operation
'covering' signals a hidden_word operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Kidnap persecutors'
19D — Off on the road? (3-4)
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.The whole clue is one playful definition: 'off' can mean unwell, and where might you feel queasy while travelling? The '?' flags the wordplay.
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Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
20D — Mystery image possibly capturing apparition at last (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Mystery'The definition is the first word — a puzzle or riddle.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'possibly''possibly' says the letters of the word before it need rearranging.
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Operation
'possibly' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'image'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'capturing''capturing' tells you a letter is taken inside.
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Operation
'capturing' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'image apparition'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'at last''at last' points at the final letter of the word before it.
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Operation
'at last' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'apparition'
23D — Mum quietly getting hold of one schooner, maybe (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'schooner, maybe'The definition is the last two words — a schooner is one example of this.
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Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Mum'The silence word first.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'quietly'Finish with the 'quietly' letter.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'one'Then 'one'.