Times Cryptic 29562 — 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 — Altered borders ultimately all will be disputed (10)
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Definition
Definition found: 'disputed'The straight definition sits at the very end — one word meaning called into question.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'ultimately''Ultimately' tells you to take the final letter — here the last letter of each word that follows.
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Operation
'ultimately' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'all will be'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'borders''Borders' tells you one piece wraps around another.
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Operation
'borders' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Altered all will be'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Altered''Altered' is a plain synonym — find the 7-letter word it points to.
7A — Some people have returned to lend a hand (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'to lend a hand'A multi-word phrase often clues a short verb — 'to lend a hand' is a stock equivalence. Definitions sit at the very start or end of a clue.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Some''Some' is one of the family of hidden-word indicators (with bit of, part of, in) — it points at a chunk hiding inside the next words.
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Operation
'Some' signals a hidden_word operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'people have'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'returned''returned' belongs to the reversal family (with back, upset, flipped) — read the letters backwards.
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Operation
'returned' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'people have'
9A — Talk continuously, except about potentially boring thing taking place (6,2)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Talk continuously,'
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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: 'potentially boring thing'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'taking place'
10A — Private areas in clubs hosted by one who’s big at present time? (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Private areas'Private inner rooms or sacred retreats — the plural of a Latin-rooted word for a holy place. Definitions sit at the very start or end of a clue.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'hosted by''in ... hosted by' is a container construction — one set of letters is placed inside another.
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Operation
'hosted by' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'clubs one who’s big at present time?'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'clubs''clubs' is the card suit — its one-letter abbreviation is a stock cryptic device.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'one who’s big at present time?'The question mark flags a playful definition-by-example — think who looms largest at gift-giving time of year.
11A — Particular house in comfortable surroundings (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Particular'The definition is the first word — meaning fussy or hard to please.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'surroundings''Surroundings' tells you one piece sits inside another.
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Operation
'surroundings' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'house comfortable'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'house''House' abbreviates to HO in cryptics.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'comfortable''Comfortable' points to a 4-letter word for snug.
13A — Angry snitch admitting what the Mafia disaffirm in the end (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Angry'The definition is the first word — boiling with anger.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in the end''In the end' takes the final letter — here of each word before it, read in order.
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Operation
'in the end' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'what the Mafia disaffirm'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'admitting''Admitting' tells you one piece is let inside another.
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Operation
'admitting' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'snitch what the Mafia disaffirm'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'snitch'To 'sing' is to inform — a classic word for a snitch.
14A — Trained seals swimming somewhere in the Pacific (6,6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'in the Pacific'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'swimming'
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Operation
'swimming' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Trained seals'
17A — Ostentatious, pro-conflict Democrat giving glimpse of what’s to come (12)
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Definition
Definition found: 'giving glimpse of what’s to come'Definition by description — a narrative or film device that previews a future scene fits the long phrase here. Definitions sit at the start or end of a clue.
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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: 'Ostentatious,''Ostentatious' as a noun-adjective for showy display — a short stock equivalent in cryptics.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'pro-conflict'A hyphenated clue word can decompose into two stock equivalences — 'pro' is for, 'conflict' is war, joined as written.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Democrat''Democrat' is a stock single-letter abbreviation in cryptics — D.
20A — Got reminder to take medicine? (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Got''Got' here is the past tense of a verb of obtaining — definitions sit at the very start or very end of the clue, never in the middle.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'take''take' is one of the family of container indicators (with takes, holds, accepts, embraces, grips) — it signals that one set of letters sits inside another.
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Operation
'take' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'reminder medicine?'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'reminder'A 'reminder' or nudge is a short stock equivalence — the clue word almost never sits in the answer as-is, it points at another short word with the same sense.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'medicine?''medicine' in cryptics is usually a four-letter remedy — the clue word is a pointer, not a literal.
21A — Stop initially doing everything slowly — it’s so thoughtless (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Stop'A short verb of halting — definitions sit at the very start or the very end of a clue, never in the middle.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'initially''initially' belongs to the family of first-letter indicators (with leading, first, primarily, top of) — it tells you to take the opening letter of each named word.
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Operation
'initially' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'doing everything slowly it’s so thoughtless'
22A — Possible problem for low-level member of British workers’ collective (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Possible problem for low-level member'Definition by elaboration — 'low-level member' is a quaint reading for 'foot' (lowest limb), and the problem is a foot ailment. Definitions always sit at the start or end of a clue, never in the middle.
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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: 'British''British' is one of the most common single-letter abbreviations in cryptics — B.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'workers’ collective'A multi-word phrase often clues a single word — 'workers' collective' is a stock equivalence for a five-letter labour body.
23A — Clothing company always primarily protected by patent (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Clothing'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'primarily'
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Operation
'primarily' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'always'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'protected by'
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Operation
'protected by' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'company always patent'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'company'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'patent'Patently obvious =
25A — Weak article reduced in length (4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Weak'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'reduced in length'
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Operation
'reduced in length' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'article'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'article'
26A — Increase introduced by key power business (10)
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Definition
Definition found: 'business''business' as a noun for a commercial venture — definitions sit at the start or end of a clue, never in the middle.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'introduced'
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Operation
'introduced' signals a ordering operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Increase key power'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Increase'An 'Increase' clues a four-letter upward word — the clue word almost never sits in the answer literally.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'key''key' in cryptics often points at a keyboard key by name — short, exact, easy to miss.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'power''power' is a stock single-letter abbreviation in cryptics — P (as on a physics formula).
Down
2D — I approve this location for those attending more than once (4,4)
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Definition
Definition found: 'I approve'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'for those attending'
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Operation
'for those attending' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'this location'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'more than once'
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Operation
'more than once' signals a repetition operation
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'this location'
3D — Pound sheltering a dog (3)
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Definition
Definition found: 'dog'The plain definition is a breed — short for a popular retriever.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'sheltering''Sheltering' tells you one piece is wrapped around another.
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Operation
'sheltering' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Pound a'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Pound''Pound' is the weight LB — from the Latin libra.
4D — Guard at gate failing to open gate, perhaps (5)
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Definition
Definition found: 'open gate, perhaps'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'failing'
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Operation
'failing' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Guard at gate'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Guard at gate'
5D — Book group? (7)
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
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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.
6D — In France, some bother nabbing a reckless criminal (9)
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Definition
Definition found: 'reckless criminal'The plain definition sits at the end — a lawless, daring outlaw.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'nabbing''Nabbing' tells you one piece is grabbed and tucked inside another.
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Operation
'nabbing' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'In France, some bother a'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'In France, some'In France, 'some' is DES — the French word for 'some'.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'bother''Ado' means fuss or bother — as in 'much ado'.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'a''A' often means PER in cryptics, as in 'twice a day' = per day.
7D — Odd demand shown for used gear (4-2-5)
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Definition
Definition found: 'used gear'A short multi-word def — second-hand clothing or kit passed from one wearer to the next. Definitions sit at the start or end of a clue.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Odd''Odd' belongs to the anagram-indicator family (with strange, mixed, shaken, weird, peculiar) — it signals that the fodder letters need rearranging.
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Operation
'Odd' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'demand shown'
8D — Reduced stuff written on some dull list (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'dull list'A multi-word def — a long monotonous recitation. Definitions sit at the very start or very end of a clue.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Reduced'
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Operation
'Reduced' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'stuff written'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'stuff written'Multi-word phrases often clue a single short word — written material in shortened form is a stock cryptic equivalence.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'some''some' and 'any' are interchangeable in many constructions — a stock three-letter pointer.
12D — Regular contributors to robust old group currently not working (3,2,6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'currently not working'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Regular contributors to'
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Operation
'Regular contributors to' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'robust'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'old'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'group'
15D — Switch behind large stove (9)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Switch''Switch' as a verb of swapping or reordering — definitions sit at the very start or end of a clue.
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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: 'behind''behind' is a stock cryptic equivalence for a four-letter back/rear word — the clue word almost never sits in the answer as-is.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'large stove'A multi-word phrase often clues a single word — 'large stove' is a kitchen appliance synonym.
16D — Illegally enter resort breaking lock (8)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Illegally enter'A verb for unlawful entry — definitions sit at the very start or very end of a clue.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'breaking''breaking' is a container indicator — one chunk of letters is forced inside another.
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Operation
'breaking' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'resort lock'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'resort'A 'resort' often points at a three-letter health retreat in cryptics.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'lock'A 'lock' is not always a fastening — here it is a lock of hair, a stock cryptic misdirection.
18D — Important suspect picked up somewhere secret (7)
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Definition
Definition found: 'somewhere secret'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'picked up'
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Operation
'picked up' signals a homophone operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Important suspect'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Important'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'suspect'
19D — Where animals may eat, close to verdant part of golf course (6)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Where animals may eat,'A trough is a container where farm animals may eat.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'close to''close to' indicates taking the final letter of the following word.
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Operation
'close to' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'verdant'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'part golf course'A part of a golf course is the ROUGH.
21D — Gloomy days are somehow beginning to recede (5)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Gloomy'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'somehow'
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Operation
'somehow' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'are'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'beginning to'
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Operation
'beginning to' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'recede'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'days'
24D — Vehicle in speed event almost overturned (3)
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Definition
Definition found: 'Vehicle''Vehicle' as a short noun for a three-letter conveyance — definitions live at the start or end of the clue, never in the middle.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'almost''almost' is one of the standard deletion indicators (with nearly, mostly, partly) — it tells you to chop the last letter off the fodder.
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Operation
'almost' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'speed event'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'overturned''overturned' belongs to the reversal family (with upset, flipped, back, returning) — read the letters in reverse.
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Operation
'overturned' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'speed event'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'speed event'Multi-word phrases often clue a single word — 'speed event' is a stock four-letter equivalent.