‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 797 – February 17, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

7ac   TAPIR   (hoofed mammal)
Anagram of ‘prat’ & ‘i’ [one]             (anagram pointer being ‘spoiled’)

8ac   SUPER BOWL   (American championship)
Super = ‘p’ [quietly] removed form ‘supper’ [meal], bowl = dish       (a charade clue with a deletion)

10ac   PACKET  
Packet = a fortune & a boat           (a double definition clue)

11ac   LOTHARIO   (ladies’ man)
Anagram of ‘Horatio’ & ‘L’ [left]             (anagram pointer being ‘upset’)

12ac   NOWADAYS   (in these times)
Anagram of ‘Dons away’             (anagram pointer being ‘by arrangement’)

13ac   HIDE  
Hide = disguise & leather           (a double definition clue)

15ac   VILLAGE   (settlement)
Village;  ‘vile’ [despicable] around ‘lag’ [convict]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘imprisoning’)

16ac   ABALONE   (seafood)
Ab = sailor, alone = one one’s tod      (one one’s tod after the sailor)           (a charade clue)

19ac   SCAT  
Scat = quickly leave & droppings           (a double definition clue)

21ac   ESSAYIST   (a writer)
Essay = try, i = one, st = saint           (a charade clue)

23ac   LYING LOW   (keeping out of sight)
Lying = telling untruths, low = sad        (sad after telling untruths)         (a charade clue)

24ac   EMBERS   (evidence of fire)
Found within the words ‘December survey’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘found in’)

25ac   POPPY SHOW   (glimpse of the bloomers [knickers])
Play on word; a poppy show is at a flower exhibition)

26ac   TURNS   (spins)
Anagram of ‘runts’         (anagram pointer being ‘around’)

Down clues:

1d   CATATONIC   (in a stupor)
Cat = maybe Garfield, a = a, tonic = pick-me-up       (a charade clue)

2d   SICK CALL   (a doctor’s visit)
Sick = tasteless, call = phone conversation          (a charade clue)

3d   CUTLASS   (a blade)
Cut = nick, girl = lass          (a charade clue)

4d   BEAT THE BUSHES   (search everywhere)
Beat = assault, the = the, bushes = American president’s family          (a charade clue)

5d   ABOARD   (on the train)
Aboard;  ‘ad’ [advertisement] around ‘boar’ [swine]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘includes’)

6d   TWAIN  
Twain = Mark Twain & two     (a double definition clue)

9d   STRAIGHT FLUSH   (card hand)
Straight = neat, flush = go red       (go red following the neat …)        (a charade clue)

14d   ON A STRING   (under complete control)
Play on words/double definition;  on a string = where you’ll find the puppet

17d   LAYABOUT   (loafer)
Lay = song, about = concerning         (a charade clue)

18d   REDWOOD   (part of Christchurch)
Red = embarrassed, wood = deal      (embarrassed over the deal)      (a charade clue)

20d   CANOPY   (awning)
Anagram of ‘company’ without ‘m’ [Bond’s boss]        (anagram pointer being ‘distressed’)

22d   BYRON   (English poet)
Anagram of ‘born’ & ‘y’ [end of ‘July’]         (anagram pointer being ‘deformed’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 796 – February 10, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   WINTON   (in Southland)
‘S’ [first letter of ‘sprinkler’] removed from ‘winston’ [Winston Peters]        (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘dropped’)

4ac   ROASTS   
Roasts = criticises & joints        (a double definition clue)

8ac   UPRIGHT  
Upright = just & vertical            (a double definition clue)

9ac   DECAMPS   (absconds)
Anagram of ‘campbeds without ‘b’ [first letter of ‘bounce’]             (anagram pointer being ‘makeshift’)

11ac   SMEAR TEST   (medical check)
Smear test;  smartest [cleverest] around ‘e’ [eastern]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘getting round’)

12ac   DROP  
Drop in = to visit & drop off = to fall asleep           (a same word, different adverb clue)

13ac   MATAI   (conifer)
Ma = mother, ta = thanks, i = one           (a charade clue)

14ac   SINGLETS   (clothing items)
Singlets;  ‘sings’ [tells all] around ‘let’ [poor service]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

16ac   BASEMENT   (cellar)
Base = immoral, men = guys, t = first letter of ‘trash’       (a charade clue)

18ac   WIPED   (sponged)
Anagram of ‘pew I’d’              (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

20ac   TWEE   (quaint)
Last letter removed from ‘tweed’ [cloth]           (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘shortened’)

21ac   PREVALENT   (widespread)
Prevalent;  ‘prevent’ [avoid] around ‘al’ [aluminium]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘holding’)

23ac   WITHERS  
Withers = part of the horse & shrivels         (a double definition clue)

24ac   STAY PUT   (don’t move)
Stay = guy [guy rope], put = last letter removed from ‘putt’         (a charade clue with a deletion)

25ac   ERNEST   (Mr Rutherford)
Sounds like ‘earnest’ [serious]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘pronounced’)

26ac   PEDDLE   (flog)
Sounds like ‘pedal’ [part of the organ]           (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘audibly’)

Down clues:

1d   WIPES   (cleaning cloths)
Anagram of ‘spew I’d’         (anagram pointer being ‘scattered’)

2d   NAIVEST   (least sophisticated)
Anagram of ‘natives’         (anagram pointer being ‘could be’)

3d   OTHERWISE   (if not)
Otherwise;  ‘or’ [gold] around ‘the’, wise = sage            (a charade clue with a container)

5d   OVERT   (it’s not hidden)
Found within the word ‘hovertrain’              (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘in’)

6d   SCANDAL   (an outrage)
Scandal;  ‘c’ [carbon] inside ‘sandal’ [footwear]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘inside’)

7d   SUPPORTED   (endorsed)
Sup = dine, port = fortified wine, ed = editor          (a charade clue)

10d   BEDSITTER   (accommodation)
Bedsitter;  ‘bitter’ [sour] around ‘ed’ [journalist]            (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

13d   MEANWHILE   (at the same time)
Mean = stingy, while = sounds like wile [trick]        (a charade clue with a homophone)

15d   NEWCASTLE   (Australian port)
New = novel, castle = found on the board        (found on the board behind the novel …)     (a charade clue)

17d   EREWHON   (satirical novel)
Anagram of ‘nowhere’         (anagram pointer being ‘came from’)

19d   PIE-EYED   (drunk)
Pie = tart, eyed = looked         (looked after the tart)         (a charade clue)

21d   PARIS   (capital)
Par = par, is = is       (is below par, a down clue)           (a charade clue)

22d   TRUCE   (a cease-fire)
Anagram of curate’ without ‘a’        (anagram pointer being ‘troubled’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 795 – February 3, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   DECAMP   (abscond)
Dec = December, amp = small amplifier       (small amplifier after December)        (a charade clue)

4ac   LANCES   (weapons)
Anagram of ‘cleans’              (anagram pointer being ‘carelessly’)

9ac   GIBBONS   (apes)
Anagram of ‘sobbing’              (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

10ac   FLORIDA   (state)
Florid = flushed, a = a         (a charade clue)

11ac   TARPAULIN   (waterproof cloth)
Tar = jack, paul = a pope, in = at home            (a charade clue)

12ac   MOBS   (gangs)
M = first letter of ‘market’, obs = last letters of ‘to pub owners’        (a charade clue with initial letters & last letters)

13ac   TSETSE   (fly from Africa)

Found within the words ‘jet set seating’             (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

15ac   COBBLERS  
Cobblers = nonsense & they who work at a last         (a double definition clue)

17ac   SLAPDASH   (sloppy)
Slap = ‘pals’ [friends] backwards, dash = small amount         (a charade clue with a reversal)

19ac   LATEST   (most up-to-date)
Latest;  ‘last’ [endure] around ‘te’ [T.E. Lawrence]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘embracing’)

21ac   PEST   (nuisance)
Last letter removed from ‘pesto’ [sauce]         (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘unfinished’)

22ac   JELLYFISH   (feeble person)
Jelly = a dessert, fish = angle     (angle after a dessert)        (a charade clue)

24ac   WEARILY   (in a tired manner)
Anagram of ‘lawyer’ & ‘i’ [one]              (anagram pointer being ‘vacillates’)

25ac   OLD LADY   (a mother or wife)
Anagram of ‘odd ally’              (anagram pointer being ‘potentially’)

26ac   ESSAYS  
Essays = attempts & compositions         (a double definition clue)

27ac   SPATES   (floods)
Spates;  ‘spats’ [arguments] around ‘e’ [first letter of ‘English’]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

Down clues:

1d   DRIFT   (be carried along)
Dr = doctor, i = one, ft = foot     (one foot behind the doctor)         (a charade clue)

2d   CABARET   (floor show)
Cabaret;  ‘cat’ [Garfield perhaps] around ‘bare’ [nude]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘admits’)

3d   MANGAWEKA   (in the Manawatū-Whanganui region)
Man = guy, ga = half of ‘gaga’, weka = native bird        (a charade clue)

5d   ALL-IN   (exhausted)
All = everyone, in = not out          (a charade clue)

6d   CARAMEL   (a sweet)
Caramel;  ‘camel’ [desert traveller] around ‘ra’ [gunners]      (a container clue, pointer being ‘taking in’)

7d   SIDEBURNS   (mutton chops)
Side = team, burns = overcooks         (a charade clue)

10d   FLOCK HILL   (Canterbury high country station)
Flock = group of sheep, h = first letter of ‘head’, ill = unwell          (a charade clue)

14d   SILVEREYE   (bird)
Eye = look, silver = the Lone Ranger’s horse     (look after the Lone Ranger’s horse)       (a charade clue)

16d   BELLYFLOP   (it’ll cause a splash)
Belly = stomach, flop = failure          (a charade clue)

18d   PETARDS   (small bombs)
Anagram of ‘departs’              (anagram pointer being ‘in confusion’)

20d   TRIPLET   (one of the three)
Trip = tour, let = permit         (a charade clue)

22d   JOLLY  
Jolly = cheerful & a ship’s boat         (a double definition clue)

23d   HADES   (hell)
Found in the odd letters of ‘headdress’           (an alternate letters clue, pointer being ‘odd bits of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 794 – January 27, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   WHITBY   (skill)
W = first letter of ‘wildcat’, hit = strike, by = gutless boy     (gutless boy is behind the beginning of the wildcat)       (a charade clue)

4ac   WADERS   (waterproof garments)
Guards [warders] without ‘r’ [right]             (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘missing’)

9ac   TACK   (long stitch)
Last letter removed from ‘tacky’ [tawdry]          (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘almost’)

10ac   CRICKET BAT   (it can be used to drive [a cricket shot])
Play on words;  cricket & bat = two winged creatures      

11ac   NADIR   (lowest point)
Anagram of ‘drain’           (anagram pointer being ‘incorrectly’)

12ac   OINTMENT   (a cream)
Anagram of ‘mint tone’           (anagram pointer being ‘fresh’)

13ac   STALEMATE   (no-win situation)
Stale = old, mate = friend         (a charade clue)

15ac   ITCH   (irritation)
It = last letters of ‘Jedi knight, ch = first letters of ‘carefully heal’      (a charade clue with initial letters and last letters)

16ac   COVE  
Cove = chap & a small bay           (a double definition clue)

17ac   PETERSHAM   (ribbon)
Peters = Winston Peters, ham = over-actor          (a charade clue)

21ac   FLORENCE   (Italian city)
Florence;  ‘L or’ [L = left, or = gold] inside ‘fence’ [wall]        (a container clue with a charade)

22ac   HAITI   (Caribbean country)
Haiti;  ‘ait’ [island] inside ‘hi’ [informal greeting]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘griped by’)

24ac   DISPIRITED   (discouraged)
Dispirited;  ‘died’ [departed] around ‘spirit’ [hard stuff]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘concealing’)

25ac   DAHL   (author)
Dah = ‘had’ backwards, L = pound       (a charade clue with a reversal)

26ac   RETYPE   (enter again)
Found within the words ‘surety penalties’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

27ac   SALADS   (dishes)
Salads;  ‘lad’ [boy] inside ‘sas’ [Special Air Service]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

Down clues:

1d   WHATNOT   (piece of furniture)
What = eh, not = half of notice          (a charade clue)

2d   IRKED   (annoyed)
Found within the words ‘Dannevirke dairies’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

3d   BUCKRAM   (coarse fabric)
Buck & ram = two male animals          (play on words/a double definition clue)

5d   ASKING   (enquiring)
As = as, king = sovereign         (a charade clue)

6d   ESTIMATES   (calculates)
Estimates;  ‘im’ [one million] inside ‘estates’ [properties]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘getting into’)

7d   STAUNCH  
Staunch = very loyal & to stop the flow         (a double definition clue)

8d   SIX OF THE BEST   (a thrashing)
Play on words;  six of the best = a bowler’s great over [six balls in an over]

14d   LIVER SPOT   (a blemish)
Liver = organ, spot = notice     (notice after the organ)        (a charade clue)

16d   COLLIER   (underground worker)
Collie = dog, r = right        (right behind the dog)         (a charade clue)

18d   ECHIDNA   (anteater)
Anagram of ‘chained’           (anagram pointer being ‘wrongly’)

19d   ALIGHTS   (settles on)
Alights;  ‘light’ [match] inside ‘as’ [first and last letters of ‘Athens’]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

20d   ENTRAP   (snare)
Anagram of ‘parent’           (anagram pointer being ‘flighty’)

23d   INDIA   (country)
In = at home, dia = aid [assistance] upwards, a down clue         (a charade clue with a reversal)