Times Cryptic 29562 — Prize Puzzle

Published

🏆 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)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'disputed'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'ultimately'
  • Operation
    'ultimately' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'all will be'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'borders'
  • Operation
    'borders' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Altered all will be'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Altered'

Try this clue in the trainer →

7A — Some people have returned to lend a hand (4)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'to lend a hand'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Some'
  • Operation
    'Some' signals a hidden_word operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'people have'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'returned'
  • Operation
    'returned' signals a reversal operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'people have'

Try this clue in the trainer →

9A — Talk continuously, except about potentially boring thing taking place (6,2)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Talk continuously,'
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'potentially boring thing'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'taking place'

Try this clue in the trainer →

10A — Private areas in clubs hosted by one who’s big at present time? (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Private areas'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'hosted by'
  • Operation
    'hosted by' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'clubs one who’s big at present time?'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'clubs'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'one who’s big at present time?'

Try this clue in the trainer →

11A — Particular house in comfortable surroundings (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Particular'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'surroundings'
  • Operation
    'surroundings' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'house comfortable'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'house'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'comfortable'

Try this clue in the trainer →

13A — Angry snitch admitting what the Mafia disaffirm in the end (8)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Angry'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'in the end'
  • Operation
    'in the end' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'what the Mafia disaffirm'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'admitting'
  • Operation
    'admitting' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'snitch what the Mafia disaffirm'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'snitch'

Try this clue in the trainer →

14A — Trained seals swimming somewhere in the Pacific (6,6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'in the Pacific'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'swimming'
  • Operation
    'swimming' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Trained seals'

Try this clue in the trainer →

17A — Ostentatious, pro-conflict Democrat giving glimpse of what’s to come (12)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'giving glimpse of what’s to come'
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Ostentatious,'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'pro-conflict'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'Democrat'

Try this clue in the trainer →

20A — Got reminder to take medicine? (8)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Got'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'take'
  • Operation
    'take' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'reminder medicine?'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'reminder'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'medicine?'

Try this clue in the trainer →

21A — Stop initially doing everything slowly — it’s so thoughtless (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Stop'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'initially'
  • Operation
    'initially' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'doing everything slowly it’s so thoughtless'

Try this clue in the trainer →

22A — Possible problem for low-level member of British workers’ collective (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Possible problem for low-level member'
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'British'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'workers’ collective'

Try this clue in the trainer →

23A — Clothing company always primarily protected by patent (8)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Clothing'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'primarily'
  • Operation
    'primarily' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'always'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'protected by'
  • Operation
    'protected by' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'company always patent'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'company'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'patent'

Try this clue in the trainer →

25A — Weak article reduced in length (4)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Weak'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'reduced in length'
  • Operation
    'reduced in length' signals a deletion operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'article'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'article'

Try this clue in the trainer →

26A — Increase introduced by key power business (10)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'business'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'introduced'
  • Operation
    'introduced' signals a ordering operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Increase key power'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Increase'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'key'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'power'

Try this clue in the trainer →

Down

2D — I approve this location for those attending more than once (4,4)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'I approve'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'for those attending'
  • Operation
    'for those attending' signals a homophone operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'this location'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'more than once'
  • Operation
    'more than once' signals a repetition operation
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'this location'

Try this clue in the trainer →

3D — Pound sheltering a dog (3)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'dog'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'sheltering'
  • Operation
    'sheltering' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Pound a'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'Pound'

Try this clue in the trainer →

4D — Guard at gate failing to open gate, perhaps (5)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'open gate, perhaps'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'failing'
  • Operation
    'failing' signals a deletion operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Guard at gate'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Guard at gate'

Try this clue in the trainer →

5D — Book group? (7)

  • Definition
    The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: ''
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Cryptic definition

Try this clue in the trainer →

6D — In France, some bother nabbing a reckless criminal (9)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'reckless criminal'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'nabbing'
  • Operation
    'nabbing' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'In France, some bother a'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'In France, some'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'bother'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'a'

Try this clue in the trainer →

7D — Odd demand shown for used gear (4-2-5)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'used gear'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Odd'
  • Operation
    'Odd' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'demand shown'

Try this clue in the trainer →

8D — Reduced stuff written on some dull list (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'dull list'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Reduced'
  • Operation
    'Reduced' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'stuff written'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'stuff written'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'some'

Try this clue in the trainer →

12D — Regular contributors to robust old group currently not working (3,2,6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'currently not working'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Regular contributors to'
  • Operation
    'Regular contributors to' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'robust'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'old'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'group'

Try this clue in the trainer →

15D — Switch behind large stove (9)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Switch'
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'behind'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'large stove'

Try this clue in the trainer →

16D — Illegally enter resort breaking lock (8)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Illegally enter'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'breaking'
  • Operation
    'breaking' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'resort lock'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'resort'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'lock'

Try this clue in the trainer →

18D — Important suspect picked up somewhere secret (7)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'somewhere secret'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'picked up'
  • Operation
    'picked up' signals a homophone operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Important suspect'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Important'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'suspect'

Try this clue in the trainer →

19D — Where animals may eat, close to verdant part of golf course (6)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Where animals may eat,'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'close to'
  • Operation
    'close to' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'verdant'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'part golf course'

Try this clue in the trainer →

21D — Gloomy days are somehow beginning to recede (5)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Gloomy'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'somehow'
  • Operation
    'somehow' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'are'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'beginning to'
  • Operation
    'beginning to' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'recede'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'days'

Try this clue in the trainer →

24D — Vehicle in speed event almost overturned (3)

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Vehicle'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'almost'
  • Operation
    'almost' signals a deletion operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'speed event'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'overturned'
  • Operation
    'overturned' signals a reversal operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'speed event'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'speed event'

Try this clue in the trainer →