29 September - Solution for the last clue and a Notice

Earth perhaps flat? Theory, initially (6)

Solution – planet

The earth is a planet.

And a plane is flat (not the sort that flies but the sort that is a woodworking tool)

Theory initially = the first letter in "theory"

Plane + t = planet

Notice:  This series about cryptic crossword clues is taking a break.  

28 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Painter cooked vindaloo and rice (8,2,5)

Solution – Leonardo da Vinci

Obviously the solution is the name of a very famous painter indeed.  And if you "cook" (ie scramble) the letters in "vindaloo and rice" you get to his name.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Earth perhaps flat? Theory, initially (6)

Hint – the second letter is l

Reminder – there won't be a new clue tomorrow since this series is now on an indefinite hiatus

27 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Husband on board poorly lit boat (6)

Solution – dinghy

Husband = h

H is "on board" ie in the middle of a word meaning "poorly lit" ie dingy

That gets you to "dinghy" which is a little boat

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Painter cooked vindaloo and rice (8,2,5)

Hint – look for the anagram

26 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

A leader, inaccurate about western US state (8)

Solution – Delaware

So if you make the letters in "a leader" inaccurate ie scramble them and put them "about" w for western you get Delaware – one of the smaller US states on the East Coast.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Husband on board poorly lit boat (6)

Hint – this is a container clue

25 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Largest being wild animals (6,6)

Solution – Bengal tigers

If you mix up the letters in "largest being" ie make the letters wild – you can get to Bengal tigers which are also wild animals – I like the way the word "wild" is used in both parts of the clue.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

A leader, inaccurate about western US state (8)

Hint – the solution is the name of a US state

24 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

It's difficult, apparently, making one apprehensive (6)

Solution – uneasy

Uneasy = apprehensive

And, although it isn't a proper word "un + easy" could also be taken to mean not easy i.e. difficult.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Largest being wild animals (6,6)

Hint – look for the anagram

23 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Apron-like garment found in shop in a forecourt (8)

Solution – pinafore

Did you spot the word "pinafore" sitting right there in the last part of the clue?  And a pinafore is a sort of protective garment like an apron.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

It's difficult, apparently, making one apprehensive (6)

Hint – the last letter is y

22 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

A sharp pain produced by a needle (6)

Solution – stitch

If you are running and get a sharp pain in your side, you call that getting the stitch (not that I do much running!)

And a stitch in the sense of sewing is produced by a needle.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Apron-like garment found in shop in a forecourt (8)
Hint – this one's hidden in plain sight…

21 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue (and request for feedback)

She goes to bed to work (5)

Solution – nurse

If anyone was thinking smutty, shame on you!  A nurse does go to the bed of a patient to do his/her work!

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

A sharp pain produced by a needle (6)

Hint – you also find the solution as part of a common old adage

Request for feedback – I plan to take a break from posting about cryptic crosswords from the end of this month.  Whether I start them up again depends upon your feedback.  Please leave a comment or email me  (my email address is on my contact page) if you follow these posts and would like them to continue.

20 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

The fellow precedes the girl, we hear – that's not natural (3-4)

Solution – man-made

The fellow = man

"man" precedes, is before, "the girl we hear"

Girl = maid but we hear that if you put "made"

And "man-made" is not natural.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

She goes to bed to work (5)
Hint – no, it's nothing smutty!

19 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

A new suggestion concerning an hors d'oeuvre (9)

Solution – antipasto

A = a

New = n

Suggestion = tip

Concerning = as to

Put that all together and you get "antipasto" which is an Italian starter or hors d'oeuvre.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

The fellow precedes the girl, we hear – that's not natural (3-4)

Hint – this is a "sounds like" clue

18 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Take a mouthful from ragout (a stew) (5)

Solution – taste

Did you spot "taste" hiding in the second part of this clue.  It matches "take a mouthful".

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

A new suggestion concerning an hors d'oeuvre (9)

Hint – this is a charades clue

17 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Dam lake for religious head (6,8)

Solution – Mother Superior

Dam = mother (as in a ewe being the dam of a lamb)

Lake = Superior (one of the Great Lakes)

And of course a Mother Superior is the religious head of a convent.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Take a mouthful from ragout (a stew) (5)

Hint – the answer's right there staring at you….

16 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Feasts abroad, most free from risk (6)

Solution – safest

Safest means "most free from risk" and if you put the letters in "feasts" abroad ie mix them up you can also come up with "safest".

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Dam lake for religious head (6,8)
Hint – think about the different meanings of "dam"

15 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

 

Children's author's line seen in pit (5)

Solution – Milne

AA Milne is of course a famous children's author – think Winnie the Pooh (actually I think adults like his books and poems too)

If you put "l" for line into "mine" for pit, you also get to his name.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Feasts abroad, most free from risk (6)

Hint – the last letter is t

14 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Force when entering Tennessee port, leaderless (8)

Solution – emphasis

If you say something with force, you could be saying it with emphasis.

And if you put "as" for "when" into Memphis (but making it leaderless ie without its first or leading letter) you also get to "emphasis".

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Children's author's line seen in pit (5)

Hint – the last letter is e

13 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Condiment game colonel put underneath tongue (7,7)

Solution – English Mustard

Condiment = English Mustard

Game colonel is a reference to Colonel Mustard in the game Cluedo.

Tongue = English ie a language or "tongue"

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Force when entering Tennessee port, leaderless (8)

Hint – the name of a port in Tennessee is indeed part of the solution.

12 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Average speed on way (8)

Solution – moderate

Average = moderate

Put rate for "speed" onto mode for "way" and you also have moderate.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Condiment game colonel put underneath tongue (7,7)

Hint – you need to remember an old board game with a colonel in it.

11 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Bird pecked a dainty morsel (6)

Solution – titbit

Bird = tit

Pecked = bit

And a titbit is a dainty morsel

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Average speed on way (8)

Hint – the last letter is e

10 September - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

I am a nerd to be distracted, elsewhere (2,1,5)

Solution – in a dream

If you are in a dream you are distracted.  And you get to in a dream by scrambling the letters in "I am a nerd"

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Bird pecked a dainty morsel (6)

Hint – the last letter is t