Times Cryptic 5221

A straight definition sits at one end of every clue — here a playful turn on people who work at the 'bar'.

A word suggesting grief or trouble next to a run of words is often a nudge to rearrange their letters.

A straight definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain synonym for the answer? A store of weapons is also a kind of store of words. Think guns!

A word suggesting something is looked back over can be a steer to read the wordplay the other way round.

Begin with the synonym for tracks, written out before anything is turned around.

Add the short tag for the artist on the end, still before the turn.

A buggy

A definition sits at one end of the clue — which single word reads as a straight name for the answer?

A word suggesting turning over often tells you to read a piece of wordplay backwards.

'at front' is a steer to take just the leading letter of the word it points to.

A word meaning 'let in' can signal that one piece is tucked inside another.

Start from the short synonym before any operation is applied.

A definition sits at one end of the clue. Who or what 'pushes a lot' — think where lots are sold off one by one.

A word like 'overwhelms', 'swallows' or 'takes in' tells you one piece is tucked inside another.

Build the shell first: a word for combat joins with the short poetic form of 'always'.

The clipped form of 'ever' tacks on to complete the shell before anything is slipped inside.

The one letter standing for the person addressed is what gets dropped inside.

Think about what carries broadcasts through the sky — something 'heavenly' in the sense of being up in the air. The whole clue points at one answer; the wordplay split isn't settled yet.

No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.

The whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.

A definition can be a whole phrase — read the answer as a verb here, something you can do that turns a face red.

A word like 'housing' tells you one piece is being wrapped inside another — find the shell and the filling.

Build the outer shell first — the short form of the party.

Now the inner piece that gets tucked inside — a word for outer edges.

Two side-by-side definitions of the answer. No wordplay split — just spot that both halves define the same word.

A definition sits at one end of the clue. The first word here reads as a plain synonym for the answer.

Remove a specific letter from synonym for lots

Start from the full word for plenty before anything is taken away.

The straight definition sits at one end — here the closing phrase reads as a plain description of the answer.

A word meaning crazy or unhinged is a classic nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.

One more letter joins the pool, not from a whole word but from a standard one-letter abbreviation.

The straight definition sits at one end of the clue — look for the word that names a gelatinous substance.

A word suggesting one thing wraps or surrounds another usually means a piece is tucked inside.

A word meaning 'without its tail' is a steer to drop the final letter of the word next to it.

Start from the full word before anything is trimmed.

Sweet miss i lik your dress, I like the way ..

No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.

The whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.

A straight synonym for the answer sits at one end of the clue — which single word simply means the answer?

No indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.

Read the clue as a recipe and join the pieces left to right — start with the number.

A single line is L, so two lines give you a pair.

A headland — a head of land reaching into the sea — supplies the closing letters.

The straight definition sits at one end — here a phrase meaning merry or tipsy.

A word like 'mix' is a nudge to rearrange the letters of the words around it.

Two side-by-side definitions of the answer. No wordplay split — just spot that both halves define the same word.

The straight definition sits at one end — a bishop's territory is informally his ___.

'finally appropriated' steers you to take away the final letter of the word it acts on.

Read the clue as a recipe — the first chunk is a man of the cloth.

Start the second chunk from the whole word for someone with money.

St Columba founded a monistory here

'ultimately', 'finally' or 'in the end' all point you at the last letter of the word beside them.

Electrical connectivity or bonding particle

A straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here the first word reads as a plain instruction that equals the answer.

No indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.

This is not right but I canot find a source for DE.

A single-letter tag drops straight in next.

The last piece is a named waterway — and in a down clue it naturally sits at the bottom of the stack.

The straight definition sits at one end — which single word reads as a plain synonym for the whole answer?

A word meaning 'drills into' or 'tunnels through' often signals that one piece is tucked inside another.

An angry tirade boils down to a short synonym — this is what drops inside.

Build the shell first — a one-letter gender tag opens it.

Then a two-letter shorthand for holding a position of command closes the shell.

The plain definition sits at one end of the clue; the rest is wordplay. Here the definition by example carries a question mark.

A word suggesting muddle or disorder is usually a nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.

The straight definition sits at one end of the clue — which end reads as a plain synonym for a select, top-tier group?

A word meaning 'in the middle of' can be a steer that one piece is tucked between two others.

A phrase meaning 'half missing' is a steer to drop part of a word — keep only one portion of its letters.

Going to a rave? take this drug, drugs, take it twice

Start the inner piece from the full word for 'trivial', before any trimming.

The straight definition sits at the other end of the clue from the concealment cue; read it for the sense of the answer.

A word like 'some' at the start often signals the answer is concealed in the letters that follow rather than defined there.

A straight definition sits at one end of the clue — here a phrase describing something that halts a process.

A word suggesting one piece passes through or into another tells you where a letter slots in.

A break from work, decoded earlier, supplies the next chunk.

The busy little worker joins on to finish the build.

The waterway's single letter slips in where the indicator points.

A single word at one end of the clue reads as a plain category for the answer; here the answer is something you might drink.

'at last' is a steer to take just the final letter of the word before it.

A word suggesting heat or preparation often nudges you to rearrange the letters gathered nearby.

The straight definition sits at one end of the clue — the other end is the recipe. Look for a couple of words that simply name a kind of bird.

A lively-movement word, sometimes paired with 'round', is a classic nudge to rearrange the letters beside it.

The straight definition sits at one end of the clue, never the middle — which end reads as a plain synonym for the answer?

A word meaning 'having something within it' is a steer that one piece is tucked inside another.

Build the shell first — a single compass-point letter begins it.

The rest of the shell is a short word for formal ceremonies.

The 'soft' musical mark gives the single letter that slots inside.

The straight definition sits at one end — here a phrase naming the most senior figure of a faith.

No indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.

Read the clue as a recipe — join the pieces left to right.

A word for 'concerning' attaches next.

The little quarrel finishes the build.

The straight definition sits at one end — ask which single word at the very start could be a plain verb for the answer.

'first' (here 'first blush') is a steer to take the opening letter of the word just before it.

Join a short synonym for soothing a worry onto the single letter you already have.

A definition by example sits at one end — here it's flagged by a question mark, hinting the answer is one example of the thing named.

'Contrary' tells you to read a piece backwards.

Start from the title before it's turned around.

A noble rank gives its single-letter tag, joined on next.

And a final single letter completes the answer — check it fits the crossings.

The straight definition sits at one end. Here the tail describes how a tipsy person's speech comes out — cross-referencing the 27 answer.

'mostly' is a steer to drop the final letter of a word.

Start from the whole word for drinking loudly, before anything is removed.