‘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’)