‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 808 – May 4, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   STRAPS   (flogs)
Straps;  ‘trap’ [gin] inside ‘ss’ [ship]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

4ac   OCTAVE   (series of eight notes)
Anagram of ‘covet a’       (anagram pointer being ‘sadly’)

8ac   GALLOPS   (moves very fast)
Gal = girl, lops = cuts it off            (a charade clue)

9ac   PO-FACED   (humourless-looking)
Pof = initials of ‘people of faith’, aced = served successfully       (a charade clue with initials)

11ac   WESTERLIES   (winds)
Wester = last letter removed from ‘western’ [movie genre], lies = doesn’t tell the truth          (a charade clue with a deletion)

12ac   IOTA   (a small amount)
Io = ten, ta = thanks          (a charade clue)

13ac   BOSUN   (seaman)
Anagram of ‘bonus’       (anagram pointer being ‘organised’)

14ac   LAS VEGAS   (American city)
Anagram of ‘salvages’       (anagram pointer being ‘dubiously’)

16ac   NEEDLING   (provoking)
Need = miss, ling = fish        (a charade clue)

18ac   OFTEN   (frequently)
Found within the words ‘waterproof tents’           (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘found in’)

20ac   SKUA   (bird)
S = last letter of ‘serious’, kua = first letters of ‘keep up appearances’         (a charade clue with a last letter & initial letters)

21ac   PENNY BLACK   (a stamp)
Penny = money, black = Cilla Black       (Cilla is after money)        (a charade clue)

23ac   LOGGING   (forestry work)
First letter removed from ‘flogging’ [stealing]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘don’t start’)

24ac   MINIMUM   (the smallest amount)
Mini = iconic car, mum = mother         (mother is after an iconic car)        (a charade clue)

25ac   NUTTER   (crazy person)
N = first letter of ‘nervously’, utter = speak           (a charade clue)

26ac   WEIGHT   (heaviness)
Anagram of ‘the wig’       (anagram pointer being ‘is adjusted’)

Down clues:

1d   STAGE   (carriage)
Anagram of ‘gates’       (anagram pointer being ‘repaired’)

2d   RELATES   (identifies with)
First letter removed from ‘prelates’ [churchmen]        (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘losing the opener’)

3d   PAPARANGI   (in Wellington)
Papa = father, rang = phoned, i = one         (a charade clue)

5d   CROSS  
Cross = get over & burden         (a double definition clue)

6d   AVARICE   (an extreme desire for wealth)
Ava = Ava Gardner, Rice = Sir Tim Rice       (a charade clue)

7d   EYESTRAIN   (complaint)
Eyes = watches, train = public transport          (a charade clue)

10d   PILLAGING   (plundering)
Pill = the bore, aging = getting older             (a charade clue)

13d   BREAK DOWN  
Break down = period of play in rugby & a mental health crisis      (a double definition clue)

15d   STORYLINE   (a plot)
S = first letter of ‘socially’, tory = conservative, line = rank         (a charade clue)

17d   DRAUGHT  
Draught = a measure of medicine & cold air        (a double definition clue)

19d   TELLING  
Telling = narration & convincing          (a double definition clue)

21d   PENCE   (small change)
Pen = writer, ce – first & last letters of ‘competitive’        (extremely competitive after the writer)           (a charade clue)

22d   COUNT  
Count on = to trust & count out = to exclude         (a same word, different adverb clue)

‘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 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 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)

‘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’)