‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 807 – April 27, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

7ac   SCHOOL   (academy)
Anagram of ‘solo’ around ‘ch’ [church]         (a container clue with an anagram)

8ac   ROLY-POLY  
Roly-poly = plump & a pudding              (a double definition clue)

10ac   SPONGERS   (bludgers)
Spongers;  ‘sponges’ [cakes] around ‘r’ [middle letter of ‘afternoon’         (a container clue, pointer being ‘around’)

11ac   WAIATA   (song)
Anagram of ‘await a’          (anagram pointer being ‘reworked’)

12ac   GO TO THE DOGS   (become ruined)
Play on words;  go to the dogs = visit the racetrack

14ac   HASHISH   (dope)
Hashish;  ‘ash’ [tree] inside ‘his’,  h = last letter of ‘dish’      (a container clue with a charade)

16ac   REACTED   (responded)
Anagram of ‘dead cert’ without ‘d’ [five hundred]         (anagram pointer being ‘hapless’)

19ac   DOUBLE CROSS   (betray)
Double = a bet, cross = grumpy        (grumpy after a bet)        (a charade clue)

22ac   SPRANG   (recoiled)
S = first letter of ‘school’, prang = accident      (accident after start of school)     (a charade clue)

23ac   CIRCULAR  
Circular = ring-shaped & letter         (a double definition clue)

24ac   BLOOMERS  
Bloomers = mistakes & underwear        (a double definition clue)

25ac   SWEETS   (confectionary)
Sweets;  ‘saints [sts] around ‘wee’ [very little]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘consume’)

Down clues:

1d   SCAPEGOAT   (a person to blame)
Scape = first letter removed from ‘escape’ [flee], goat = kid perhaps        (a charade clue with a deletion)

2d   TOP-NOTCH   (first-rate)
Top = toy, notch = nick          (a charade clue)

3   CLIENT   (customer)
Anagram of ‘cent’ & L [left] & i [one]          (anagram pointer being ‘mistakenly’)

4d   CROSSED  
Crossed = thwarted & passed over           (a double definition clue)

5d   SLOWPOKE   (dawdler)
Slow = tardy, poke = sack          (a charade clue)

6d   SPRIGS  
Sprigs = twigs & found underfoot        (a double definition clue)

9d   LOTS   (plenty)
Lo = look, ts = last letters of ‘pit bulls’            (a charade clue with last letters)

13d   SEA SHANTY   (air)
Sea = the main, shanty = cabin            (a charade clue)

15   SMUGGLES   (sneakily conveys)
Smuggles;  ‘muggle’ [person with no charms] inside ‘ss’ [on board]          (a container clue)

17d   CHORUSES   (musical groups)
Choruses;  ‘us’ [American] inside ‘chores’ [jobs]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘included in’)

18d   ALECOST   (a herb)
Found within the words ‘sale costumes’           (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘feature a’)

19d   DRAGON   (Tolkien creature)
Dr = doctor, agon = last letter removed from ‘agony’ [suffering]         (a charade clue with a deletion)

20d   CERISE   (colour)
Anagram of ‘cries & ‘e’ [first letter of ‘earthy’]          (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

21d   OPAL   (birthstone)
Found backwards within the words ‘full apology’          (a reversed hidden word clue, pointer being ‘returned as part of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 806 – April 20, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   PARENT   (mother perhaps)
Anagram of ‘planter’ without ‘L’ [learner]            (anagram pointer being ‘prepared’)

4ac   FRIGHT   (sudden fear)
Fright;  r [first letter of ‘ring’] inside ‘fight’ [fray]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

8ac   GALLOWS   (means of execution)
G = first letter of ‘government’, allows = permits            (a charade clue)

9ac   LOITERS   (wastes time)
Loiters;  ‘te r’ [te = ‘the’ in Māori, r = king] inside ‘lois’ [Clark Kent’s colleague]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘intercepts’)

11ac   MANICURIST   (her job is filing)
Play on words; manicurist needs a hand to file

12ac   SEWS   (stitches)
‘Ew’ [first letters of ’exit wounds’] inside ‘ss’ [ship]         (a container clue, pointer being in’)

13ac   TYSON   (US boxer)
Anagram of ‘stony’             (anagram pointer being ‘remarkably’)

14ac   HUNTAWAY   (dog)
Hunt = horse event, away = isn’t at home     (isn’t at home following the horse event)      (a charade clue)

16ac   SKINCARE   (use of cosmetics)
Skincare;  ‘kin’ [family] inside ‘scare’ [panic]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

18ac   THICK   (dim-witted)
T = first letter of ‘team’, hick = hillbilly      (hillbilly is behind the team leader)      (a charade clue)

20ac   HANG  
Hang back = to remain behind & hang up = to end the phone conversation         (a same word, different adverb clue)

21ac   GOLDILOCKS   (character in a children’s story)
Goldilocks;  ‘gi’ [soldier] around ‘old’ [aged], locks = rugby players        (a charade clue with a container)

23ac   SAVIOUR   (rescuer)
Saviour;  ‘sour’ [bitter] around ‘a vi’ [a = a, vi = half dozen]         (a container clue with a charade)

24ac   EGOISTS   (conceited people)
Anagram of ‘stogies’             (anagram pointer being ‘arranged’)

25ac   TUSCAN   (native from Florence)
Anagram of ‘US can’t’             (anagram pointer being ‘change’)

26ac   SNEEZY   (Grumpy colleague)
Play on words/double definition;  sneezy = affected by allergies

Down clues:

1d   PLAZA   (a square)
Found within the words ‘cheap lazaret’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘includes’)

2d   RALLIES   (gets better)
R = king, allies = friends        (friends under the king, a down clue)       (a charade clue)

3d   NEW GUINEA   (Pacific Island)
New = sounds like ‘knew’ [had knowledge of], guinea = old money         (a charade clue with a homophone)

5d   ROOST   (a place to settle)
‘Rooster’ [bird] without ‘er’ [hesitation]             (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘without’)

6d   GO TO SEA   (set out on a voyage)
Anagram of ‘a stooge’             (anagram pointer being ‘alarming’)

7d   THROWBACK   (a reminder of earlier times)
Throw = shy, back = defensive player in football          (a charade clue)

10d   HIGH HEELS   (footwear)
High = stinking, heels = cads        (a charade clue)

13d   TAKE APART   (criticise severely)
Take = accept, apart = a part [a role]          (a charade clue)

15d   NOTHING ON   (unoccupied)
Play on words/double definition;  nothing on = in the nick [naked]       

17d   NOGGINS  
Noggins = heads & small drinks           (a double definition clue)

19d   IDOLISE   (dote on)
Anagram of ‘doilies’             (anagram pointer being ‘designed’)

21d   GOUDA   (something to eat)
Gouda; ‘oud’ [anagram of ‘duo’] inside ‘ga’ [Georgia]          (a container clue with an anagram)

22d   KITTY  
Kitty = a little cat & a fund            (a double definition clue)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 805 – April 13,2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

6ac   BUNKER   (a trap)
Bunk = to flee, er = a Queen          (a charade clue)

8ac   FLAT RACE   (jumpers wouldn’t be well-suited)
Flat = home, race = people       (people after a home)         (a charade clue)

9ac   FAST FOOD   (meals)
Play on words; lent is a time for fasting

10ac   ASSAIL   (to attack)
Ass = idiot, ail = feel unwell          (a charade clue)

11ac   ADHERED   (stuck to)
Anagram of ‘redhead’           (anagram pointer being ‘flighty’)

13ac   URSINE   (bearlike)
Anagram of ‘nurse’ & ‘i’           (anagram pointer being ‘awkwardly’)

14ac   SPIRIT LEVEL   (this ensures it’s true)
Spirit = a drink, level = even        (even after a drink)         (a charade clue)

19ac   ARDENT   (passionate)
Ardent;  ‘art’ [Garfunkel] around ‘den’ [study]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘outside’)

21ac   RUSTLER   (a criminal)
Rustler;  ‘ruler’ [sovereign] around ‘st’ [saint]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘embracing’)

23ac   AVERSE   (opposed to)
A = a, verse = part of the Bible           (a charade clue)

24ac   CARDRONA   (NZ winter resort)
Car = vehicle, dr = doctor, on  = on, a = a        (doctor goes after the vehicle)          (a charade clue)

25ac   STRUTTED   (walked proudly)
St = street, rutted = pot-holed            (a charade clue)

26ac   CREEPS   (weirdos)
Anagram of ‘recipes’ without ‘i’ [one]          (anagram pointer being ‘arranged’)

Down clues:

1d   PUT AWAY  
Put away = consume & keep in reserve            (a double definition clue)

2d   ARBOUR   (shady retreat)
Anagram of ‘a burro’              (anagram pointer being ‘in distress’)

3d   MALAMUTE   (dog)
Ma = scholar, L = left, a = a, mute = dumb           (a charade clue)

4d   CRISES   (emergencies)
‘U’ [upper-class] removed from ‘cruises’ [ocean voyages]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘leaving’)

5d   ACTIONS   (lawsuits)
Initial letter ‘f’ removed from ‘factions’ [dissenting groups]       (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘head off’)

7d   KETCHUP   (sauce)
Ketch = boat, up = initial letters of ‘under par’        (a charade clue)

8d   FAD   (fashion)
Fad;  ‘Fd’ [FD Roosevelt] around ‘a’        (a container clue, pointer being ‘embraced’)

12d   DETER   (discourage)
De = ‘ed’ [journalist] backwards, te r = the Maori King [te = ‘the’ in Maori, r = king]          (a charade clue with a reversal)

15d   RETREATS   (goes back)
Double definition/play on words; retreats = re-treats [ministers to, again]     

16d   ENLARGE   (magnify)
Anagram of ‘general’              (anagram pointer being ‘disruption’)

17d   PRIVATE   (top-secret)
Private;  ‘prate’ [talk] around ‘iv’ [four]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

18d   GRANDPA   (family member)
Grand = impressive, pa = personal assistant         (a charade clue)

20d   EARFUL   (a reprimand)
Found within the words ‘yesteryear fullbacks’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

22d   SPRUCE  
Spruce = dapper & an evergreen           (a double definition clue)

24d   COD   (something to eat)
Found in the initial letters of ‘Carry On Doctor’           (an initial words clue, pointer being ‘leading characters of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 804 – April 6, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

6ac   TADPOLE   (amphibian)
Tad = small, pole = European      (European is after a small)       (a charade clue)

7ac   CLEMENT   (merciful)
Anagram of ‘celt men’          (anagram pointer being ‘can be’)

9ac   RESIN   (plant secretion)
Found within the words ‘futures investment’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘from the’)

10ac   OCEANARIA   (aquariums)
Ocean = [could be] Indian, aria = song          (a charade clue)

11ac   ALLOWED   (given permission)
Sounds like ‘aloud’ [vocally]            (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘by the sound of it’)

13ac   MARMITE   (a spread)
Mar = harm, mite = child           (a charade clue)

14ac   BACK-NUMBERS   (past issues)
Play on words;   back-numbers = spinal anaesthetics [‘number’ rhyming with ‘dumber’]

19ac   EARBASH   (scold)
Ear = listener, bash = party               (a charade clue)

21ac   LOCUSTS   (insects)
Anagram of ‘L’ & ‘scouts’          (anagram pointer being ‘disturbed’)

23ac   OUTSKIRTS   (city fringes)
Out = dated, skirts = women’s wear          (a charade clue)

24ac   IMAGO   (adult stage)
Im = I am, ago = past            (a charade clue)

26ac   MERCURY   (a metal)
Mercury;  ‘merry’ [happy] around ‘cu’ [copper]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘admitting’)

27ac   EXPRESS  
Express = to speak & non-stop             (a double definition)

Down clues:

1d   ADDS   (includes)
Found in the last letters of ‘extra cod and chips’           (a last letters clue, pointer being ‘at last’)

2d   NOW NOW   (a mild reproach)
Now = ‘won’ backwards, repeated            (a repetitive clue with a reversal)

3d   BEHOLDEN   (under an obligation)
Be = first and last letters of ‘bizarre’, holden = Aussie car           (a charade clue)

4d   WET NURSE   (woman feeding the baby)
Play on words; a wet nurse is someone caught in the rain

5d   NEAR MISSES   (close calls)
Near = intimate, misses = young women           (a charade clue)

6d   TARTAN  
Tartan = check material & a boat             (a double definition clue)

7d   CREAM  
Cream = best & an off-white colour         (a double definition clue)

8d   TRACES   (very small quantities)
Anagram of ‘reacts’          (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

12d   LABORATORY   (a research workplace)
L = first letter of ‘lure’, ab = sailor, oratory = rhetoric          (a charade clue)

15d   CRACKS UP   (bursts into laughter)
Play on words; cracks up = drug price increases [crack = drug]

16d   MOLESTED   (attacked)
Moles = secret agents, ted = Edward         (Edward following secret agents)         (a charade clue)

17d   REFORM   (amend)
Anagram of ‘former’          (anagram pointer being ‘mix-up’)

18d   ESTOPS   (legally prevents)
Anagram of ‘posties’ without ‘i’ [one]          (anagram pointer being ‘bewildered’)

20d   HURRY   (get cracking)
Hur = Ben Hur, ry = line [railway line]            (a charade clue)

22d   CHIPPY  
Play on words/double definition;  chippy = carpenter & where a carpenter eats

25d   AXED   (dismissed)
A = a, x = cross, ed = journalist            (a charade clue)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 803 – April 30, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   BLURBS   (words on the jackets)
Blurbs;  ‘blubs’ [weeps] around ‘r’ [right]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘taking in’)

4ac   COMBAT   (a fight)
Combat;  ‘mb’ [doctor] inside ‘coat’ [jacket]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

8ac   KNUCKLE  
Knuckle down = to work earnestly & knuckle under = to submit to authority        (a same word, different adverb clue)

9ac   CLOBBER   (thrash)
Clobber;  ‘cobber’ [friend] around ‘L’ [apprentice]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘embracing’)

11ac   SUPERPOWER   (an influential country)
Super = pension, power = electricity      (electricity after the pension)           (a charade clue)

12ac   INCH   (part of a foot)
First letter removed from ‘finch’ [bird]       (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘remove the head’)

13ac   TANGI   (funeral)
Anagram of ‘giant’       (anagram pointer being ‘arranged’)

14ac   AMBUSHED   (unexpectedly attacked)
Am = American, bushed = exhausted     (exhausted after the American)        (a charade clue)

16/25ac   RAISE THE STAKES   (increase risks involved)
Raise = elevate, the = the, stakes = posts           (a charade clue)

18ac   NIPPY   (quick on his feet)
Nippy; ‘i pp’ [one Parish Priest] inside ‘ny’ [New York]        (a container clue with a charade)

20ac   WELL  
Well off = to be loaded & well up = to get emotional        (a same word, different adverb clue)

21ac   CAN OPENERS   (kitchen gadgets)
Play on words;  can = gaol, can openers used to open gaols

23ac   PIRATES   (buccaneers)
Anagram of ‘parties’       (anagram pointer being ‘drunken’)

24ac   TRY IT ON   (attempt to get away with it)
Play on words/double definition;  try it on = check the garment fits & attempt to get away with it

26ac   FEASTS   (meals)
Anagram of ‘safest’       (anagram pointer being ‘sort of’)

Down clues:

1d   BANTU   (African language)
Found within the words ‘urban tutors’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

2d   UNCLEAN   (grubby)
Uncle = relative, an = initial letters of ‘answers nobody’    (a charade clue with initial letters)

3d   BALLPOINT   (writing implement)
B = first letter of ‘bug’, all = everyone, point = indicate        (a charade clue)

5d   OGLER   (gawker)
Found within the words ‘Google results’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘appeared in’)

6d   BOBBIES   (policemen)
Play on words/double definition;  Bobby Charlton & Bobby Kennedy [bobbies]

7d   TREACHERY   (treason)
Treachery; ‘try’ [attempt] around ‘each er’ [each Queen]      (a container clue with a charade)

10d   TWO A PENNY   (of little value)
Two = pair, a = a, penny = copper      (a copper following the pair)         (a charade clue)

13d   TRAGEDIES   (sad stories)
Tragedies;  ‘tries’ [endeavours] around ‘aged’ [elderly]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘ringing’)

15d   BONAPARTE   (European dictator)
Bonaparte;  b = first letter of ‘berate’, onaparte = ‘one’ around ‘a part’ [a role]       (a charade clue with a container)

17d   SULTANA   (seedless grape)
Sultan = Brunei ruler, a = a      (ruler is over a …, a down clue)          (a charade clue)

19d   PINNIES   (protective garments)
Pinnies;  ‘inn’ [pub] inside ‘pies’ [pastries]      (a container clue, pointer being ‘dividing’)

21d   CRETE   (Mediterranean Island)
Cr = first letters of ‘carefully reform, ete = last letters of ‘one boat race’         (a charade clue with initial letters & last letters)

22d   RIOTS   (disturbances)
Anagram of ‘I sort’       (anagram pointer being ‘out’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 802 – March 23, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

8ac   PAPER CUT   (small wound)
Paper = first anniversary, cut = slashed          (a charade clue)

9ac   YEARLY   (regular intervals)
Yearly;  ‘earl’ [aristocrat] inside ‘yy’ [first and last letters of ‘Yardley]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘appears in’)

10ac   TENDERFOOT   (beginner)
Tender = make an offer, foot = part of a yard         (a charade clue)

11ac   LAG  
Lag = fall behind & convict        (a double definition clue)

12ac   STOUSH   (fight)
Anagram of ‘shouts’           (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

14ac   PORT SAID   (Egyptian city)
Port = left, said = ‘sad’ [unhappy] around ‘i’ [one]           (a charade clue with a container)

15ac   TORPEDO   (missile)
Anagram of ‘trooped’           (anagram pointer being ‘around’)

17ac   FOREIGN   (from overseas)
Foreign;  ‘feign’ [pretend] around ‘or’ [gold]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘holding’)

20ac   SCARCITY   (shortage)
Scar = mark, city = Hamilton, perhaps         (a charade clue)

22ac   TIPPED  
Tipped = predicted to win & capsized        (a double definition clue)

24ac   OWL   (Pooh’s friend)
Found in the last letters of ‘Otago Law School’         (a last letters clue, pointer being ‘at last’)

25ac   DEAD RINGER   (looks like someone)
Dead = late, ringer = campanologist          (a charade clue)

27ac   GETS ON  
Gets on = boards & on friendly terms          (a double definition clue)

28ac   TREVALLY   (fish)
Trevally;  ‘tally’ [correspond] around ‘rev’ [vicar]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

Down clues:

1d   LAMENT   (regret)
Found within the words ‘formula mentioned’       (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

2d   SEND  
Send up = to make fun of & send off = to order a player from the field         (a same word, different adverb clue)

3d   SCORCHED   (burnt)
Scorched;  ‘scored’ [gained points] around ‘ch’ [church]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘outside’)

4d   STROPPY   (bolshie)
Stroppy;  ‘spy’ [secret agent] around ‘trop’ [‘port’ upwards, a down clue]         (a container clue with a reversal)

5d   OYSTER   (shellfish)
Anagram of ‘story’ & ‘e’ [last letter of ‘valuable’)           (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

6d   FALL ASLEEP   (drop off)
Fall = autumn, a = a, sleep = last letter removed from ‘Sleepy’ [dwarf]         (a charade clue with a deletion)

7d   FLOGGING  
Flogging = punishment & stealing          (a double definition clue)

13d   UPPER CLASS   (high-quality)
Upper = part of a shoe, c = conservative, lass = girl      (conservative girl is after part of a shoe)            (a charade clue)

16d   ONCE-OVER   (survey)
Once = formerly, over = finished         (a charade clue)

18d   OUTCRIES   (protests)
Anagram of ‘curio sets’           (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

19d   DYNASTY   (1980s soap opera)
Dy = first & last letters of ‘Denny’ [points are removed], nasty = unpleasant        (a charade clue with a deletion)

21d   IODINE   (symbolically ‘I’ [I is the symbol for iodine])
Io = ten, dine = eat      (eat after ten)         (a charade clue)

23d   EVENLY   (equally)
Anagram of ‘Evelyn’           (anagram pointer being ‘distributed’)

26d   NEAT  
Neat = well-groomed & cattle           (a double definition clue)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 801 – March 16, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

6ac   QUEUE   (line up)
Sounds like ‘cue’ [pool equipment]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘one hears’)

7ac   ORDINARY  
Ordinary = unexceptional & a bishop          (a double definition clue)

10ac   ACCEDED   (assented)
Anagram of ‘decade’ & ‘c’ [first letter of ‘crowned’]        (anagram pointer being ‘uneasy’)

11ac   TEARS UP  
Tears up = becomes emotional & rips to pieces        (a double definition clue)

12ac   LOITERS   (hangs around)
Anagram of ‘tories’ & ‘L’ [fifty]        (anagram pointer being ‘rebellious’)

13ac   SPINNER  
Spinner = Rumpelstiltskin’s occupation & a cricketer       (a double definition clue)

14ac   GRAVEDIGGER   (worker in God’s Acre)
Grave = sober, digger = antipodean soldier            (soldier going after sober)      (a charade clue)

19ac   ADMIRED   (appreciated)
Anagram of ‘mad ride’        (anagram pointer being ‘exciting’)

21ac   COLOGNE  
Cologne = scent & European city           (a double definition clue)

23ac   AUTOPSY   (stiff examination!)
Auto = car, spy = anagram of ‘spy’        (tipsy spy behind the car)       (a charade clue)

25ac   BRASSIE   (old driver)
Brass = money, ie = that is       (a charade clue)

26ac   STRAPPER   (groom)
St = street, rapper = musician      (a charade clue)

27ac   OMENS   (signs)
Omens;  ‘os’ [sailor] around ‘men’ [guys]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘embraces’)

Down clues:

1d   FETCHING  
Fetching = getting something & attractive           (a double definition clue)

2d   MEDDLE   (interfere with)
Sounds like ‘medal’ [award]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘oral’)

3d   CONDESCEND   (stoop)
Con = swindle, descend = to settle         (a charade clue)

4d   EDIT   (correct)
Found in the word ‘meditations’        (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

5d   ORISON   (a prayer)
Or = gold, i = one, son = child       (one child after gold)      (a charade clue)

6d   QUAILS  
Quails = draws back from & birds            (a double definition clue)

8d   NEARING   (getting closer)
Anagram of ‘grannie’        (anagram pointer being ‘could be’)

9d   APART   (off to the side)
Apart;  ‘pa’ [Māori settlement] inside ‘art’ [painting]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

13d   STITCHBIRD   (a feathered friend)
Stitch = darn, bird =- girl       (a charade clue)

15d   AGRIPPA   (Roman general)
A = a, grip = hold, pa = Personal Assistant        (a charade clue)

16d   REGISTER  
Register = become aware & a roll        (a double definition clue)

17d   KAPAI   (good)
Kapai;  ‘pa’ [Dad] inside ‘kai’ [NZ food]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘divides’)

18d   DETERS   (prevents)
Anagram of ‘desert’        (anagram pointer being ‘development’)

20d   MOTETS   (musical compositions)
Motets;  ‘mots’ [witty sayings] around ‘te’ [TE Lawrence]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

22d   LEAD ON   (string along)
Lea = meadow, don = fellow      (fellow behind the meadow)         (a charade clue)

24d   YIPS   (the jitters)
Found in the initial letters of ‘yodelling in Princes Street’         (an initial letters clue, pointer being ‘initially’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 800 – March 9, 2024 – Explanation

Across clues:

1ac   COMICS  
Comics = reading material & funny people        (a double definition clue)

4ac   SKIMPS   (economises)
Skimps;  ‘skips’ [misses] around ‘m’ [1000]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘around’)

8ac   WEBSITE   (online location)
Anagram of ‘wee bits’        (anagram pointer being ‘modify’)

9ac   PASSAGE   (extract from a book)
Passage;  ‘ass’ [dope] inside ‘page’ [attendant]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘intercepted’)

11ac   DOGSBODIES   (skivvies)
Dogs = tracks, bodies = remains         (a charade clue)

12ac   INDY   (motor race)
Found within the words ‘blind youth’        (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘came from’)

13ac   FLEAS   (pests)
Sounds like ‘flees’ [takes off]        (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘reportedly’)

14ac   HELLFIRE   (abyss)
Hell = he will, fire = shoot          (a charade clue)

16ac   CUT LUNCH   (sandwiches)
Cut = miss, lunch = a meal           (a charade clue)

18ac   SASSY   (saucy)
Sassy;  ‘ass’ [fool] inside ‘sy’ [first and last letters of ‘Salisbury’]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

20ac   IDEA   (concept)
Found in the even letters of ‘Middle East’        (an alternate letters clue, pointer being ‘ignore the odd parts’)

21ac   SNAPDRAGON   (located in the garden)
Snap = card game, dragon = drag on [last unnecessarily long]           (a charade clue/play on words)

23ac   TIME LAG   (a delay)
The more difficult form of spoonerism where synonyms are found for the words that Spooner says, then the first letters of these words are transposed.

In this clue, Spooner says the words “green label”. 

Green = lime, label = tag.  If you then transpose the first letters, you end up with ‘time lag’.

24ac   STRIKES   (stops work)
Strikes;  ‘trike’ [kid’s vehicle] inside ‘ss’ [on board]           (a container clue)

25ac   GASHES   (cuts)
Gas = petrol, hes = he’s       (he’s behind the petrol)          (a charade clue)

26ac   CHARMS   (fascinates)
Ch = church, arms = members         (a charade clue)

Down clues:

1d   CREDO   (a belief)
Found within the words ‘sacred office’           (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘in part of’)

2d   MUST SEE   (it’s not to be missed)
Must = new wine, see = look          (a charade clue)

3d   COTTONS ON   (begins to understand)
Cotton = yarn, son =boy       (boy is following the yarn)         (a charade clue)

5d   KEATS   (English poet)
Anagram of ‘steak’        (anagram pointer being ‘prepared’)

6d   MASTIFF   (a dog)
Mas = last letter removed from ‘mass’ [church service], tiff = fight      (fight after brief church service)      (a charade clue)

7d   SAGE DERBY   (cheese)
Sage = wise, derby = bowler         (a charade clue)

10d   TIGHTHEAD   ([player] found on the side of the scrum)
Tight = miserly, head = leader     (leader behind the miserly)       (a charade clue)

13d   FOUNDLING   (orphan)
Found = located, ling = fish         (a charade clue)

15d   LAST-DITCH   (final desperate attempt)
Last = shoemaker’s model, ditch = dump      (dump the shoemaker’s model first)     (a charade clue)

17d   LOAFERS  
Loafers = footwear & lazybones       (a double definition clue)

19d   SHADIER  
Shadier = not so straight & more light is blocked         (a double definition clue)

21d   STARE   (gawk)
Anagram of ‘aster’        (anagram pointer being ‘arrangement’)

22d   OVERS   (periods of play)
Anagram of ‘sore’ & ‘v’ [five]       (anagram pointer being ‘unusually’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 799 – March 2, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

8ac   GUTTED  
Gutted = bitterly disappointed & fish is prepared        (a double definition clue)

9ac   HOW’S THAT  
How’s that = what’s your opinion & a bowler’s appeal [in cricket]       (a double definition clue)

10ac   BLATHERS   (talks)
Blathers;  ‘L’ [apprentice] in ‘bathers’ [togs]           (a container clue, pointer being ’in’)

11ac   NOGGIN  
Noggin = the head & a little alcohol        (a double definition clue)

12ac   REPORT   (assessment)
Found within the words ‘meagre portions’         (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

13ac   LEFTOVER   (superfluous)
Left = port, over = finished         (a charade clue)

15ac   REPENTS   (laments)
Anagram of ‘present’          (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

17ac   CURFEWS   (time limits)
Curfews;  ‘curs’ [mongrels] around ‘few’ [some]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘get around’)

20ac   PLAY BALL   (co-operate)
Play = dramatic work, ball = dance      (dance after the dramatic work)       (a charade clue)

22ac   DAHLIA   (garden flower)
Anagram of ‘Ali had’          (anagram pointer being ‘hybridised’)

23ac   HOBNOB   (socialise)
Hob = pixie, nob = bigwig          (a charade clue)

25ac   STRUMPET   (hussy)
S = first letter of ‘school’, trumpet = musical instrument       (a charade clue)

26ac   PACK MULE   (an ass)
Pack = rugby forwards, mule = drug smuggler     (drug smuggler following the rugby forwards)    (a charade clue)

27ac   EARWAX   (a possible hearing problem)
Anagram of ‘aware’ & x [ten]          (anagram pointer being ‘affected)

Down clues:

1d  BULLSEYE   (a sweet)
Bulls = Manawatū-Whanganui town, eye = look     (look after Manawatū-Whanganui town)         (a charade clue)

2d  STATIONERY   (calendars)
Sounds like stationary [still]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘read aloud’)

3d  ADVENT   (arrival)
Ad = commercial, vent = flue         (a charade clue)

4d  THISTLE   (a Californian or Scotch perhaps)
This = this, t = first letter of ‘team’, le = ‘the’ in French     (the French following this …)    (a charade clue)

5d  SWINE FLU   (a disease)
Swine = scoundrel, flu sounds like ‘flew’ [went by air]         (a charade clue with a homophone)

6d  STAG   (kind of party)
Found in the initial letters of ‘seems twice as good’         (an initial letters clue, pointer being ‘at first’)

7d  MARINE   (soldier)
Anagram of ‘remain’          (anagram pointer being ‘upset’)

14d  OFF THE MARK  
Off the mark = made a start & not on target         (a double definition clue)

16d  TEAL BLUE   (a shade)
Teal = duck, blue = unhappy      (unhappy following the duck)       (a charade clue)

18d  WHINERAY   (an All Black captain)
Whine = grumble, ray = fish    (unhappy over the fish, a down clue)     (a charade clue)

7d  SLASHED   (cut)
Slashed;  ‘ash’ [tree] inside ‘sled’ [sleigh]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

14d  LOOFAH   (a bathroom item)
Loof = ‘fool’ [dope] upwards [a down clue], ah = first letters of ‘after hours’     (a charade clue with a reversal)

16d  DARKEN   (add more shading)
Darken;  ‘ark’ [boat] inside ‘den’ [study]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

18d  NIKE   (a Greek deity)
Ni = first letters of ‘nose into, ke = last letters of ‘track shoe’         (a charade clue with initial letters and last letters)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 798 – February 24, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

9ac   TOUCHING  
Touching = making contact & poignant        (a double definition clue)

10ac   SCULLING  
Sculling = rowing & having a drink            (a double definition clue)

11ac   COWBOY   (wrangler)
Cow = frighten, boy = child           (a charade clue)

12ac   HINDER   (impede)
Found within the words ‘within Derby’             (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

13ac   NEEDLESS   (unnecessary)
Anagram of ‘sends Lee’          (anagram pointer being ‘anyway’)

15ac   UNCLEAR   (vague)
Uncle = pawnbroker, ar = first letters of ‘abuse rights’           (a charade clue with initial letters)

17ac   INANELY   (foolishly)
Anagram of ‘Yale inn’          (anagram pointer being ‘redesign’)

20ac   SWAYBACK   (horse’s deformity)
S = first letter of ‘suspected’, wayback = long ago        (a charade clue)

22ac   OBJECT   (protest)
‘Ive’ removed from the end of ‘objective’ [goal]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘dropped off’)

23ac   ASPIRE   (hanker)
Anagram of ‘praise’          (anagram pointer being ‘in a bad way’)

25ac   PICK-ME-UP   (a fillip)
Pick-me-up;  ‘pick-up’ [truck] around ‘me’          (a container clue, pointer being ‘carrying’)

26ac   RESETTLE   (move)
Re = engineers, settle = bench     (bench behind the engineers)          (a charade clue)

27ac   REEFER  
Reefer = a jacket & dope              (a double definition clue)

Down clues:

1d   FRICTION   (conflict)
Friction; ‘fiction’ [literary work] around ‘r’ [first letter of ‘Russian’] (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

2d   DILLY-DALLY   (dawdle)
Dill = fool, yd = yard, ally = friend        (fool a yard ahead of the friend)        (a charade clue)

3d   UGLIER   (less attractive)
Ugli = fruit, er = Queen Elizabeth          (Queen Elizabeth after fruit)         (a charade clue)

4d   STAGING   (arranging)
Staging;  ‘gin’ [alcohol] inside ‘stag’ [male event’]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

5d   PUNCHEON   (cask)
Punch = strike, eon = a long time        (a charade clue)

6d   CHOW  
Chow = food & a dog         (a double definition clue)

7d   ENVOYS   (messengers)
Anagram of ‘nosey’ & ‘v’ [five]          (anagram pointer being ‘incredibly’)

14d   LONG JUMPER   (athlete)
Long = prolonged, jumper = sweater           (a charade clue)

16d   AMARETTO   (liqueur)
Am = in the morning, a = a, retto = ‘otter’ [river mammal] backwards          (a charade clue with a reversal)

18d   LECTURES   (speeches)
Anagram of ‘cruelest’          (anagram pointer being ‘form of’)

19d   SKIPPER   (master)
S = first letter of ‘steam’, kipper = fish       (a charade clue) 

21d   WASHER  
Play on words/double definition;  washer = a home appliance & the nut is next to this [the washer]

22d   OCCURS   (happens)
Oc = ‘company’ upwards [a down clue], curs = dogs          (a charade clue with a reversal)

24d   IDEA   (concept)
Id = last letters of ‘Kapiti Island, ea = first letters of enquire about’          (a charade clue with last letters and initial letters)