Times Cryptic 29576
Stuck on a clue in Times Cryptic 29576? Every clue is solved below with the definition, wordplay, and answer explained — plus hints for the tricks that catch most solvers out.
Across
1A — Notices Fleet Street boss introducing a thousand retrograde working areas (8) — DESKTOPS
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Definition
Definition found: 'working areas' — The straight definition sits at one end — here two words at the very end name a kind of surface you work at.The straight definition sits at one end — here two words at the very end name a kind of surface you work at.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'introducing'A word like 'introducing' between two pieces is a steer that one thing is being slipped inside another.
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Operation
'introducing' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Notices Fleet Street boss a thousand'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'retrograde''retrograde' means going backwards — once the wordplay is built, read the whole thing the other way.
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Operation
'retrograde' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Notices Fleet Street boss a thousand'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Notices' → SPOTSBuild the shell first — a verb for noticing things.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Fleet Street boss' → EDThe newspaper boss adds a short tag straight onto the end of that shell.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'thousand' → KThe 'thousand' letter slips inside the shell you just built.
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Assembly
(SPOTSED + K > SPOT(K)SED) > SPOTKSED = DESKTOPS
5A — Tell where truant should be? (6) — INFORM
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Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.A student playing truant (skipping school) should ideally be sitting in their classroom or registration group, which is structurally known as being IN FORM (in class).
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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
INFORM = INFORM
9A — Low-value coin market finally dropped (3) — SOU
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Definition
Definition found: 'Low-value coin' — The definition sits at one end as a plain synonym for the answer; here two words at the start name a particular old coin.The definition sits at one end as a plain synonym for the answer; here two words at the start name a particular old coin.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'finally dropped''finally dropped' is a steer to remove the very last letter of the word it follows.
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Operation
'finally dropped' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'market'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'market' → SOUKStart from the full word for the marketplace, before anything is removed.
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Assembly
SOUK - K = SOU
10A — Obese shrank with exercise bicycles (11) — BONESHAKERS
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Definition
Definition found: 'bicycles' — A plain synonym for the answer sits at one end of the clue — which single word reads as a kind of bike?A plain synonym for the answer sits at one end of the clue — which single word reads as a kind of bike?
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'exercise'A word about working out or moving about can be a nudge to shuffle the letters beside it.
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Operation
'exercise' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Obese shrank'
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Assembly
OBESESHRANK = BONESHAKERS
12A — Beyond doubt drunk on Adam’s ale (10) — WATERTIGHT
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Definition
Definition found: 'Beyond doubt' — Two words at the start read as a plain description of the answer; everything after is the recipe.Two words at the start read as a plain description of the answer; everything after is the recipe.
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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: 'drunk' → TIGHTJoin the second piece straight onto the end of the first, and check it fits the crossings.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Adam’s ale' → WATERIn an across clue, read the pieces left to right as the answer spells out — the leading chunk comes first.
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Assembly
TIGHT + WATER = WATERTIGHT
13A — Form of drug university prohibited (4) — TABU
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Definition
Definition found: 'prohibited' — The straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here, look to the very last word for a plain synonym of the answer.The straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here, look to the very last word for a plain synonym of the answer.
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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: 'Form of drug' → TABRead the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'university' → UTag the single letter on the end to finish the word.
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Assembly
TAB + U = TABU
15A — Sheep heads in any rich goulash are largely inedible (6) — ARGALI
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Definition
Definition found: 'Sheep' — A single word at one end names a kind of animal — that plain naming word is the definition.A single word at one end names a kind of animal — that plain naming word is the definition.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'heads in'A word about the tops or starts of things, paired with 'in', is steering you to read down the leading letters of what follows.
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Operation
'heads in' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'any rich goulash are largely inedible'
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Assembly
ARGALI = ARGALI
16A — Rubbish US has left around old metropolis there (7) — DETROIT
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Definition
Definition found: 'metropolis there' — The straight definition sits at one end and names a place by example — which end reads as a plain pointer to the answer?The straight definition sits at one end and names a place by example — which end reads as a plain pointer to the answer?
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'around'A small word like 'around' between two pieces often means one thing is wrapped about another.
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Operation
'around' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Rubbish US has left old'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'has left'When the clue names some letters and says they 'have left', that is a steer to strike those letters out of a longer word.
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Operation
'has left' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Rubbish US'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Rubbish' → DETRITUSStart from the full word for rubbish, before anything is removed.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'old' → OA single short letter stands for 'old'.
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Assembly
DETRIT + O = DETR(O)IT
18A — Very deep blue large American orchid (7) — VANILLA
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Definition
Definition found: 'orchid' — A definition sits at one end of the clue — here the last word names a kind of plant the answer belongs to.A definition sits at one end of the clue — here the last word names a kind of plant the answer belongs to.
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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: 'Very' → VRead the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'deep blue' → ANILThe deep-blue piece supplies the longest chunk — the name of the indigo-yielding plant.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'large' → L
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'American' → A
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Assembly
V + ANIL + L + A = VANILLA
20A — New shaft is cramped (6) — NARROW
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Definition
Definition found: 'cramped' — A definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain synonym for the answer?A definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain synonym for the answer?
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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: 'New' → NRead the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'shaft' → ARROWA spear's flying part, taken as an everyday synonym, lands the rest of the answer.
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Assembly
N + ARROW = NARROW
23A — City of God, is initially good to enter (4) — RIGA
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Definition
Definition found: 'City' — A straight definition sits at one end — here the very first word names a place.A straight definition sits at one end — here the very first word names a place.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'to enter'A phrase like 'to enter' tells you one piece is dropped inside another.
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Operation
'to enter' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'God, is initially good'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'God,' → RABuild the outer shell first — the deity gives a short two-letter tag.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'good' → GA word of approval is a standard one-letter abbreviation; it joins the inner piece.
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Assembly
RA + IG = R(IG)A
24A — Repellent edited clone trial (10) — CITRONELLA
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Definition
Definition found: 'Repellent' — One end of the clue reads as a plain synonym for the answer; here a single word names what the answer is.One end of the clue reads as a plain synonym for the answer; here a single word names what the answer is.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'edited'A word suggesting something has been tampered with or rewritten is often a nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.
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Operation
'edited' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'clone trial'
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Assembly
CLONETRIAL = CITRONELLA
26A — Easy game, smart holding it with zero score (7,4) — SITTING DUCK
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Definition
Definition found: 'Easy game,' — A two-word phrase at one end reads as a plain description of the answer.A two-word phrase at one end reads as a plain description of the answer.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'holding'A word like 'holding' tells you one piece is tucked inside another.
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Operation
'holding' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'smart it'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'smart' → STINGBuild the outer shell first — the word for what 'smart' does as a verb.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'zero score' → DUCKA final chunk joins on the end — the cricketing name for a nought.
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Assembly
(STING + IT > S(IT)TING) + DUCK = SITTING DUCK
27A — One in knight’s apparel (3) — KIT
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Definition
Definition found: 'apparel' — The straight definition sits at one end — which single word is a plain synonym for the answer?The straight definition sits at one end — which single word is a plain synonym for the answer?
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'A short word like 'in' between two pieces often means one of them is tucked inside the other.
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Operation
'in' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'One knight’s'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'One' → INow the small inner piece that drops inside the shell.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'knight’s' → KTBuild the outer shell first — the piece that wraps around the other.
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Assembly
KT + I = K(I)T
28A — Finally counted one’s last boring sheep in bedtime thoughts (6) — DREAMS
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Definition
Definition found: 'bedtime thoughts' — A straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here it's a short phrase about night-time. The rest is the recipe.A straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here it's a short phrase about night-time. The rest is the recipe.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'Finally''Finally' is a steer to take just the final letter of the word it points at.
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Operation
'Finally' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'counted'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'boring'A word like 'boring' — as in tunnelling straight through — hints that one piece is driven inside another.
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Operation
'boring' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'one’s last sheep'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'last'
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Operation
'last' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'one’s'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'sheep' → RAMSBuild the shell that will swallow the inner letter — the males of the flock.
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Assembly
D + (E + RAMS > R(E)AMS) = DREAMS
29A — Muffled echo in closed passage (8) — DEADENED
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Definition
Definition found: 'Muffled' — One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer; the rest is the recipe.One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer; the rest is the recipe.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'A small word like 'in' between two pieces can mean one is tucked inside the other.
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Operation
'in' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'echo closed passage'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'echo' → EThe radio-alphabet letter is the small piece that drops inside.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'closed passage' → DEADENDBuild the outer shell first — the passage you can't get out of.
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Assembly
DEADEND + E = DEADEN(E)D
Down
1D — Reject is in blue (6) — DISOWN
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Definition
Definition found: 'Reject' — One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer — here a single verb meaning to cast off or refuse to acknowledge.One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer — here a single verb meaning to cast off or refuse to acknowledge.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'A small word like 'in' sitting between two pieces often means one is tucked inside the other.
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Operation
'in' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'is blue'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'blue' → DOWNBuild the outer shell first — a word for a glum, low-spirited mood.
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Assembly
DOWN + IS = D(IS)OWN
2D — Quiet voice is closer (7) — SHUTTER
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Definition
Definition found: 'closer' — A plain synonym for the answer sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a single word meaning the same thing?A plain synonym for the answer sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a single word meaning the same thing?
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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: 'Quiet' → SHRead the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'voice' → UTTER
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Assembly
SH + UTTER = SHUTTER
3D — A celebrant running place of worship (10) — TABERNACLE
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Definition
Definition found: 'place of worship' — A definition sits at one end of the clue — here a short phrase at the close names a kind of building.A definition sits at one end of the clue — here a short phrase at the close names a kind of building.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'running'A word suggesting motion or things on the move is often a nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.
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Operation
'running' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'A celebrant'
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Assembly
ACELEBRANT = TABERNACLE
4D — Declaiming in a way fitting Pacino (13) — PONTIFICATING
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Definition
Definition found: 'Declaiming' — A single word at one end of the clue states plainly what the answer means.A single word at one end of the clue states plainly what the answer means.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'in a way'A phrase suggesting things happen in some altered or rearranged manner is your nudge to jumble the neighbouring letters.
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Operation
'in a way' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'fitting Pacino'
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Assembly
FITTINGPACINO = PONTIFICATING
6D — Demonstrating skill catching article in trap (4) — NEAT
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Definition
Definition found: 'Demonstrating skill' — A two-word phrase at the very start reads as a plain description of the answer; the rest is the recipe.A two-word phrase at the very start reads as a plain description of the answer; the rest is the recipe.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'catching'A word about catching or holding often signals that one piece is tucked inside another.
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Operation
'catching' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'article trap'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'article' → AThe indefinite article is a single letter, dropped into the shell.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'trap' → NETBuild the outer shell first — the short word for a snare.
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Assembly
NET + A = NE(A)T
7D — Round wild ass up that might go into stew? (7) — OREGANO
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Definition
Definition found: 'that might go into stew?' — The straight definition sits at one end — here a playful '?' flags a culinary read at the tail.The straight definition sits at one end — here a playful '?' flags a culinary read at the tail.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'up'In a down clue, a word meaning 'upwards' is a steer to read the letters the other way.
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Operation
'up' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'wild ass'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Round' → ORead the clue as a recipe — this round-shaped letter leads off.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'wild ass' → ONAGERStart from the full animal name before turning it around.
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Assembly
O + (ONAGER > REGANO) = OREGANO
8D — Insect that flies low across southern desert (8) — MOSQUITO
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Definition
Definition found: 'Insect that flies' — The straight definition sits at one end — here a run of words at the start names a kind of biting fly.The straight definition sits at one end — here a run of words at the start names a kind of biting fly.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'across'A word meaning 'placed across' or 'spanning' often signals that one piece wraps around another.
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Operation
'across' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'low southern desert'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'low' → MOOBuild the outer shell first — it splits to let the inner piece sit between its halves.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'southern' → SA compass direction gives the first inner letter.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'desert' → QUITA verb for abandoning gives the rest of the inner piece, joined on.
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Assembly
MOO + SQUIT = MO(SQUIT)O
11D — Delight in misfortune a chef’s endured cooking (13) — SCHADENFREUDE
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Definition
Definition found: 'Delight in misfortune' — The straight definition sits at one end — here it's a phrase about taking pleasure in another's bad luck.The straight definition sits at one end — here it's a phrase about taking pleasure in another's bad luck.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'cooking'A word about preparing food can be a nudge to rearrange the letters that sit beside it.
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Operation
'cooking' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'a chef’s endured'
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Assembly
ACHEFSENDURED = SCHADENFREUDE
14D — Bet about chest one exposed is quite bare (5-5) — STARK-NAKED
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Definition
Definition found: 'quite bare' — A plain phrase meaning the answer sits at one end of the clue, never the middle. Which two words read as a straight description?A plain phrase meaning the answer sits at one end of the clue, never the middle. Which two words read as a straight description?
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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: 'Bet about' → STRead the clue as a recipe — lay the pieces down left to right. This short opener comes first.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'chest' → ARKThe chest synonym slots in next.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'one exposed' → NAKEDFinally the word for one left exposed completes the phrase.
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Assembly
ST + ARK + NAKED = STARK-NAKED
17D — Hackneyed revues do badly (8) — OVERUSED
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Definition
Definition found: 'Hackneyed' — One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer; here it sits at the very start.One end of the clue is a plain synonym for the answer; here it sits at the very start.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'badly'A word meaning 'wrongly' or 'astray' is often a nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.
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Operation
'badly' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'revues do'
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Assembly
REVUESDO = OVERUSED
19D — What envelops many in the dark close to moor (7) — NIGHTIE
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Definition
Definition found: 'What envelops many in the dark' — A cryptic clue has a plain definition at one end. Here a longer descriptive phrase paints a picture of what the answer does after dark.A cryptic clue has a plain definition at one end. Here a longer descriptive phrase paints a picture of what the answer does after 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: 'close to' → NIGHRead the wordplay as a recipe — set down the first piece, then add the next on the end.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'moor' → TIEJoin the second piece directly onto the first and check it fits the crossings.
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Assembly
NIGH + TIE = NIGHTIE
21D — Paintings family’s giving protection from damp (7) — OILSKIN
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Definition
Definition found: 'giving protection from damp' — A definition sits at one end of the clue — here a phrase at the tail describing what a waterproof garment does.A definition sits at one end of the clue — here a phrase at the tail describing what a waterproof garment does.
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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: 'Paintings' → OILSRead the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'family’s' → KIN
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Assembly
OILS + KIN = OILSKIN
22D — Henry and Edward called it a day (6) — HALTED
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Definition
Definition found: 'called it a day' — A definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain phrase meaning 'stopped'?A definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain phrase meaning 'stopped'?
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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: 'Henry' → HALRead the clue as a recipe — join the two pieces left to right.
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Edward' → TEDThe second name's short form slots straight on the end.
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Assembly
HAL + TED = HALTED
25D — Video coverage of little significance (4) — FILM
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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
FILM = FILM