Daily Telegraph Cryptic 3370
Stuck on a clue in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 3370? Every clue is solved below with the definition, wordplay, and answer explained — plus hints for the tricks that catch most solvers out.
Across
1A — Keen on pattern of fine threads, looking back - lovely! (10) — BEWITCHING
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Definition
Definition found: 'lovely!' — 'lovely!' here means utterly captivating, charming.'lovely!' here means utterly captivating, charming.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'looking back''looking back' in cryptics signals reading the letters backwards — a standard reversal cue.
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Operation
'looking back' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'pattern of fine threads,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Keen' → ITCHING'Keen' = ITCHING — as in 'itching to', eager.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'pattern of fine threads,' → WEB'pattern of fine threads' = WEB — a cobweb is the textbook fine-thread pattern.
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Assembly
ITCHING + (WEB > BEW) = BEWITCHING
6A — Opening letters (4) — POST
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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.
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Assembly
POST = POST
9A — Builder just like that punches valet, say (5) — MASON
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Definition
Definition found: 'Builder' — Builds with stoneBuilds with stone
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'punches'
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Operation
'punches' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'just like that valet,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'just like that' → SO
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'valet,' → MAN
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Assembly
SO + MAN = MA(SO)N
10A — Meat and drink kept, as pickled (4,5) — RUMP STEAK
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Definition
Definition found: 'Meat'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'pickled'
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Operation
'pickled' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'kept, as'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'drink' → RUM
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Assembly
RUM + (KEPTAS > PSTEAK) = RUMP STEAK
12A — Published page, improbable (7) — OUTSIDE
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Definition
Definition found: 'improbable' — 'improbable' here means slim — 'an outside chance' is a slim chance.'improbable' here means slim — 'an outside chance' is a slim chance.
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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: 'Published' → OUT'Published' = OUT — as in 'the book is out' = released.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'page,' → SIDE'page' = SIDE — one side of a leaf in a book.
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Assembly
OUT + SIDE = OUTSIDE
13A — Fault found with perfect mount (5) — SINAI
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Definition
Definition found: 'mount' — Mount Sinai is the biblical mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.Mount Sinai is the biblical mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
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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: 'Fault' → SIN'Fault' = SIN — a moral fault, a transgression.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'perfect' → AI'perfect' = AI — the standard cryptic rendering of A1, the top-quality grade.
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Assembly
SIN + AI = SINAI
15A — Reportedly, where apples found for agent (7) — INSIDER
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Definition
Definition found: 'agent' — The man on the _ _ _ _ _ _The man on the _ _ _ _ _ _
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Reportedly,'
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Operation
'Reportedly,' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'where apples found'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'where apples found' → IN CIDER
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Assembly
INCIDER = INSIDER
17A — Resort said to come into view – here? (7) — SEASIDE
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Definition
Definition found: 'Resort' — A seaside is a coastal resort destination.A seaside is a coastal resort destination.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'said''said' is a classic homophone indicator — the next bit sounds like something else.
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Operation
'said' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'to come into view'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'to come into view' → SEE'to come into view' = SEE (to perceive).
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'here?' → SIDE'here?' = SIDE, as in 'on this side' — a location word.
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Assembly
(SEE > SEA) + SIDE = SEASIDE
19A — Surprisingly, Belgian is from Asia (7) — BENGALI
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Definition
Definition found: 'from Asia'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Surprisingly,'
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Operation
'Surprisingly,' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Belgian'
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Assembly
BELGIAN = BENGALI
21A — Dawn in short, except if dark (7) — SUNLESS
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Definition
Definition found: 'if dark' — Sunless means without sunlight — dark.Sunless means without sunlight — dark.
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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: 'Dawn in short,' → SUN'Dawn in short' = SUN — the sun is the source of dawn, in short form.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'except' → LESS'except' = LESS — as in 'minus' or 'excluding'.
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Assembly
SUN + LESS = SUNLESS
22A — Playboy finds love east of capital city (5) — ROMEO
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Definition
Definition found: 'Playboy'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'east of'
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Operation
'east of' signals a ordering operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'love capital city'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'love' → O
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'capital city' → ROME
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Assembly
O + ROME = ROMEO
24A — Finely shave old man gripping end of blade (7) — FEATHER
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Definition
Definition found: 'Finely shave' — To feather is to thin or shave finely — a woodworking and painting term.To feather is to thin or shave finely — a woodworking and painting term.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'gripping''gripping' signals one piece wraps around another — a standard container cue.
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Operation
'gripping' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'old man blade'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'end of''end of' takes the last letter of the adjacent word.
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Operation
'end of' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'blade'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'old man' → FATHER'old man' = FATHER — a standard cryptic synonym.
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Assembly
FATHER + E = F(E)ATHER
27A — Feast in celebration on a cake (9) — ABUNDANCE
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Definition
Definition found: 'Feast' — An abundance is a feast — a plentiful supply.An abundance is a feast — a plentiful supply.
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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: 'celebration' → DANCE'celebration' = DANCE — a celebratory event.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'cake' → BUN'cake' = BUN — a bun is a small round cake.
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Assembly
DANCE + A + BUN = ABUNDANCE
28A — Under examination, eat ham sandwiches (5) — NEATH
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Definition
Definition found: 'Under' — 'neath is the archaic / poetic short form of beneath — under.'neath is the archaic / poetic short form of beneath — under.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'sandwiches''sandwiches' signals a hidden word — letters spanning the adjacent words.
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Operation
'sandwiches' signals a hidden_word operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'examination, eat ham'
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Assembly
NEATH = NEATH
29A — Check out starter in trattoria, food consumed (4) — DIET
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Definition
Definition found: 'food consumed'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'starter'
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Operation
'starter' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'trattoria,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Check out' → DIE
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Assembly
DIE + T = DIET
30A — Testing wheel? That's too bad (4,6) — HARD CHEESE
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Definition
Definition found: 'That's too bad' — 'Hard cheese!' is a British expression of commiseration — bad luck.'Hard cheese!' is a British expression of commiseration — bad luck.
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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: 'Testing' → HARD'Testing' = HARD — a testing experience is a hard one.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'wheel?' → CHEESE'wheel?' = CHEESE — a wheel of cheese is a round whole; '?' flags the cryptic licence.
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Assembly
HARD + CHEESE = HARD CHEESE
Down
1D — Killer, a killing made? (4) — BOMB
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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.
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Assembly
BOMB = BOMB
2D — State is onto criminals, land invaded (9) — WISCONSIN
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Definition
Definition found: 'State' — WISCONSIN is a US state.WISCONSIN is a US state.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'invaded''invaded' signals one piece goes inside another — a standard container cue.
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Operation
'invaded' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'is criminals, land'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'criminals,' → CONS'criminals' = CONS — a standard cryptic synonym.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'land' → WIN'land' as a verb = WIN, as in 'land a deal'.
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Assembly
WIN + ISCONS = W(ISCONS)IN
3D — Opener for England in pavilion followed rule (5) — TENET
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Definition
Definition found: 'followed rule'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Opener for'
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Operation
'Opener for' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'England'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'
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Operation
'in' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Opener for England pavilion'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'pavilion' → TENT
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Assembly
E + TENT = TEN(E)T
4D — Runner, flier and hunter (7) — HARRIER
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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.
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Assembly
HARRIER = HARRIER
5D — Might those identify pages in book? (7) — NUMBERS
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.Page numbers identify pages in a book — the whole clue is a playful definition, with the '?' signalling cryptic licence.
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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.
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Assembly
NUMBERS = NUMBERS
7D — Oblique cone filled with a large quantity of water (5) — OCEAN
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Definition
Definition found: 'large quantity of water'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Oblique'
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Operation
'Oblique' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'cone'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'filled with'
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Operation
'filled with' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'cone a'
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Assembly
(CONE > OCEN) + A = OCE(A)N
8D — Veg out, eat that with a piece of cake (4,2,4) — TAKE IT EASY
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Definition
Definition found: 'Veg 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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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'eat that' → TAKE IT
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'piece of cake' → EASY
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Assembly
TAKEIT + EASY = TAKE IT EASY
11D — Mark has trapped American bear (7) — SUSTAIN
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Definition
Definition found: 'bear' — 'bear' as a verb = sustain, endure, carry on with.'bear' as a verb = sustain, endure, carry on with.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'has trapped''has trapped' signals one piece goes inside another — a standard container cue.
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Operation
'has trapped' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Mark American'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Mark' → STAIN'Mark' = STAIN — a stain is a kind of mark.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'American' → US'American' = US — the standard cryptic abbreviation for the country.
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Assembly
STAIN + US = S(US)TAIN
14D — Where planks cut, right length, bet I'm wrong initially (6,4) — TIMBER YARD
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Definition
Definition found: 'Where planks cut,'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'wrong initially'wrong initially an anagram indicator?
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Operation
'wrong initially' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'right bet I'm'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'right' → R
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'length,' → YARDImperial 3 feet
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Assembly
(R > RBETIM > TIMBER) + YARD = TIMBER YARD
16D — Brilliant place to play baseball (7) — DIAMOND
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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.
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Assembly
DIAMOND = DIAMOND
18D — Boozer, where beer ain't drunk after one (9) — INEBRIATE
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Definition
Definition found: 'Boozer,' — An 'inebriate' is a habitual drunkard — the surface 'Boozer' definition.An 'inebriate' is a habitual drunkard — the surface 'Boozer' definition.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'drunk''drunk' is a classic anagram indicator — rearrange the letters of the adjacent words.
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Operation
'drunk' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'beer ain't one'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'one' → I'one' = I, the Roman numeral for 1.
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Assembly
BEER + AINT + I > BEERAINTI = INEBRIATE
20D — Princess at home with lover, much appreciated (7) — INFANTA
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Definition
Definition found: 'Princess' — An infanta is a Spanish or Portuguese princess.An infanta is a Spanish or Portuguese princess.
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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: 'at home' → IN'at home' = IN — the textbook cryptic phrase for 'inside the house'.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'lover,' → FAN'lover' = FAN — an enthusiast who loves something.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'much appreciated' → TA'much appreciated' = TA — British slang for 'thanks'.
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Assembly
IN + FAN + TA = INFANTA
21D — We see a funny little bit of dulse – here? (7) — SEAWEED
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Definition
Definition found: 'here?' — Dulse is a kind of seaweed — 'here?' points to the category it belongs to.Dulse is a kind of seaweed — 'here?' points to the category it belongs to.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'little bit of''little bit of' takes a single letter from the next word — the first letter by convention.
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Operation
'little bit of' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'dulse'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'funny''funny' is a classic anagram indicator — rearrange the letters.
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Operation
'funny' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'We see a dulse'
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Assembly
WE + SEE + A + D > WEESEAD = SEAWEED
23D — Small animal, minute value (5) — MOUSE
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Definition
Definition found: 'Small animal,' — A mouse is a small animal — the textbook tiny rodent.A mouse is a small animal — the textbook tiny rodent.
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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: 'minute' → MO'minute' = MO — informal for 'a moment', as in 'wait a mo'.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'value' → USE'value' = USE — worth or utility.
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Assembly
MO + USE = MOUSE
25D — Feeling nice, oddly, what about that? (5) — HUNCH
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Definition
Definition found: 'Feeling' — A hunch is an intuitive feeling — a gut instinct.A hunch is an intuitive feeling — a gut instinct.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'oddly,''oddly' in cryptics signals taking the odd-positioned letters of the adjacent word.
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Operation
'oddly,' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'nice,'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'about''about' is a standard container indicator — one piece wraps around another.
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Operation
'about' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'nice, what that?'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'what that?' → HUH'what … that?' = HUH — the interjection of confusion or surprise.
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Assembly
HUH + NC = HU(NC)H
26D — Article on middle of shelf for you (4) — THEE
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Definition
Definition found: 'you' — 'thee' is the archaic singular 'you' — the object form of 'thou'.'thee' is the archaic singular 'you' — the object form of 'thou'.
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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: 'Article' → THE'Article' = THE — the standard definite article.
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Assembly
THE + E = THEE