No puzzle today (though you may like the Indy's first Christmas puzzle courtesy of MP).
The sign off in today's clue comes in at 3:10 in this track (include an exclamation mark, for good luck).
You'll now be able to fill in the entire advent calendar!
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Advent 2022: #25
Now sign off! (3, 9, !)
Advent 2022: #24
Advent 2022: #24
By Elgel
Cubs quit night, indicting goo (5)
Each clue requires a letter inserted into one of the words before solving (as appropriate for today's present).
For today's clue, similar needs applying.
Across
| 1 | Thick lipped archer in inn gets cover (11) |
| 7 | Salvo pays for sports grounds, perhaps (5) |
| 8 | Tall maze imprisons Peruvian (5) |
| 9 | Focuses in luring dog using fish (3) |
| 10 | Sever ring out of gold radio (7) |
| 12 | Swear off taking our forfeits (7) |
| 13 | Line up; Tod's suggestion (3) |
| 15 | Best getting called in forest (5) |
| 17 | Tease announcer sipping tea in the beginning (5) |
| 18 | From time to time, order supply; Edna dying to get striking (11) |
Down
| 1 | Lower piece supporting bishop (5) |
| 2 | Earner with current skills and problems (11) |
| 3 | Bout following Anne's perverted trap (7) |
| 4 | Paul's sin, taking a companion (3) |
| 5 | Clone paces out, finding play of light (11) |
| 6 | Git to be unexpectedly absent (5) |
| 11 | Keep up with American climbing bot (7) |
| 12 | Overly essential ingredient in biscuit with model drink (5) |
| 14 | Good sewers, terrible type for country (5) |
| 16 | Very thing in autumn after the start (3) |
Advent 2022: #23
Advent 2022: #23
By Elgel
Dad sees how to make onanist redder; and how to find that deed from sound, ere Auntie Hannah sits? (12)
For each across clue, only part of the word is given by wordplay. Down clues are normal.
For today's clue, ignore all words like the across answers.
Across
| 1 | Put back container with alternative tiller (9) |
| 6 | Learner in gold part of wing (5) |
| 7 | Short blue soldiers (3) |
| 8 | A boy band (4) |
| 9 | Partially gnawed bread (4) |
| 11 | Programmer analyzed core dumps (3) |
| 12 | Chairman's gift (5) |
| 14 | Similar in setter's language (9) |
Down
| 1 | Give voice over drowned valley (3) |
| 2 | Album hint, possibly! (5,4) |
| 3 | Dropping ring in fiddle for a bottle (4) |
| 4 | Castle develops fuel for something to make sparks fly (5,4) |
| 5 | Largely, price for staying around is up (5) |
| 8 | Perhaps bell with many low frequencies has tungsten replaced with aluminium (5) |
| 10 | Picked up setter's spelling trophy (4) |
| 13 | Relative quiet (3) |
Friday, December 23, 2022
Advent 2022: #22
Advent 2022: #22
By Elgel
Dead cuckoo bearer is focus for dog in Africa, upset with row about Noel (8,7)
But now we should be more general.
In each clue, one word needs converting to a more general form before solving (e.g., DOG might become ANIMAL).
The more general forms needed are:
A_____ (6), C________ (9), F_____ (6), N___ (4), P____ (5), P___ (4), S_____ (6), S____ (5)
For today's clue, apply the same; you'll find the more general versions elsewhere.
Across
| 3 | Eats cashews; swap with aunty, no longer new (4,4) |
| 5 | Returned map lacking source for spring (4) |
| 6 | Arrest Michelangelo interrupting good bishop (4) |
| 7 | Spotted around river by Notre Dame city in cool fashion (8) |
Down
| 1 | Figure that's astute in Hamlet (6) |
| 2 | Labour on axes for today's present (6) |
| 3 | Texas prairies for those flying over (6) |
| 4 | Rays of light essentially covering king in joints (6) |
Advent 2022: #21
Advent 2022: #21
By Elgel
Flier/quadruped trots, avoiding sea caves associated with comedian (7)
We want to be specific today.
Each clue has one word that needs to be turned into a more specific version before solving (e.g.: ANIMAL could become DOG).
The more specific words needed are:
A__ (3), D_____ (6), H________ (9), H_____ (6), M______ (7), N__ D____ (3,5), P____(5), W______ (7)
Apply the same for today's clue; you'll find the more specific versions elsewhere.
Across
| 3 | Will o' the wisps's source destroys while overwhelming planet (5,3) |
| 6 | Healthcare worker airs covering (4) |
| 7 | Emperor taken by peppers (4) |
| 8 | Today's gift is setter's drinking kind; alcohol (and a yard!) (5,3) |
Down
| 1 | Something used to turn into tree; sleep on limb, changing sides (6) |
| 2 | Get old suit of denim, forcing dye to get firm (6) |
| 4 | Protection from society and capital (6) |
| 5 | Small instrument seen all over the place (6) |
Advent 2022: #20
Advent 2022: #20
By Elgel
Holiday place boxmen sat, old to us (3)
Wordplay ignores 5 specific letters wherever they appear; these 5 can be rearranged into something described by today's present.
This something needs removing from today's clue for it to make sense.
Across
| 5 | Capital riot clip is fuzzy; can't see Charlie (7) |
| 7 | One's leaving pen for relative (3) |
| 8 | Surrounds roast in grease initially (5) |
| 9 | Nothing interrupts Turk, not even tempest (5) |
| 10 | Regularly cleared out puerile graffiti, perhaps (5) |
| 12 | Cook's goddess (5) |
| 13 | One's counterpart to 7 (3) |
| 14 | Predict putting 2 and 2 together on radio (7) |
Down
| 1 | Furthest behind time to decay (9) |
| 2 | Cuts down garden, avoiding tail of nighttime predator (4) |
| 3 | Helps rising detective (4) |
| 4 | With love overriding you, scare off those putting up with you (9) |
| 6 | Leaves out vigorous section (7) |
| 7 | Bad smell precedes soldiers' cohort (7) |
| 11 | Poor foil, with unnecessary pops, perhaps (2-2) |
| 12 | Classical element of tree (4) |
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Advent 2022: #19
Advent 2022: #19
By Elgel
Art work: Mist Lakes (8)
In 9 cells, across and down clues disagree. The down clues give the letters for today's gift (2 words), while across clues give one of the two letters that must be replaced in today's clue to make it make sense.
Across
| 1 | Fawn over our Rachel from time to time (4) |
| 4 | Handle zebra losing head and going mad (4) |
| 7 | Do solver's job and exercise (4,3) |
| 9 | Go downhill, risking in part (3) |
| 10 | Finally thank the nice bishop for castle (4) |
| 11 | Shelters birds after the start (4) |
| 12 | Green expanse of water where 1st and 3rd change over (4) |
| 14 | Hunt for outspoken theist (4) |
| 16 | Short potato underground (4) |
| 17 | Essentially needs gear first for flier (4) |
| 19 | Explosive belief, dropping drugs (3) |
| 22 | Church by Edward had a yak (7) |
| 23 | Looked at duke overhead and coloured (4) |
| 24 | Lots of mucus; recoiled (4) |
Down
| 1 | Cycling small female (3) |
| 2 | Casually giving reason for function (3) |
| 3 | Places to learn naked discipline (4) |
| 4 | Main part of Times admitting opinionated in fringe parts (4) |
| 5 | Had parties regularly (3) |
| 6 | Russia to pass water and Indian bread (5) |
| 8 | Disgusting Conservative replaces new storage unit (4) |
| 11 | Sought answers from damaged Daleks left out (5) |
| 13 | Relative of fish, with inverted skin (4) |
| 15 | Chief of game company inspired by high quality (4) |
| 16 | Staff with terrible acne (4) |
| 18 | Aloof setter understands, you hear (3) |
| 20 | X-rays somehow dropped in as entry wound (3) |
| 21 | Notices trouble with sister taking last place (3) |
Advent 2022: #18
Advent 2022: #18
By Elgel
Endanger presenters in gin stable gal Tate's case; note and rescind power (too 'Dell') (5,7)
Down clues need to be adjusted before they can be properly parsed (the words they clue are entered as normal).
Today's clue needs similar adjustment.
Across
| 1 | Thumb is turned into metal (7) |
| 6 | Started, dropping wings, after reading back second-last letter (5) |
| 7 | Chief of staff arresting individual (4) |
| 9 | Drop inedible bit of fruit (3) |
| 10 | Today's present (7) |
| 11 | Mature haggler avoids odd parts (3) |
| 12 | Enjoying short opener after Romeo leaves (4) |
| 13 | Drug took 14, perhaps, in break down (5) |
| 14 | Passage of returning craft isn't unusual (7) |
Down
| 1 | Hot air spoiled malt oats with breadcrumb covering (7) |
| 2 | Madeline takes it in after second hit (5) |
| 3 | Lame scent; I only took in brief reference (7) |
| 4 | Damage coat; time for carpenter, finally (5) |
| 5 | Reins acts strongly to this, cryptically (4,3) |
| 8 | Boring equipment given by fortune-teller to endear (5) |
| 9 | Cases describing potable water locations (5) |
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Advent 2022: #17
Advent 2022: #17
By Elgel
Gold fir cask (new 1999); afire, decided bank tap for yen (5,3)
Down clues need modification before entering in the grid, in the manner of today's present.
All words in today's clue need similar modification.
Across
| 2 | Small hunters drawing in cold, angry looks (6) |
| 7 | Example of some initially big personalities (4) |
| 9 | Previously, traffic barrier delayed start (4) |
| 10 | Heartless B----'s reward (4) |
| 11 | Nick's worse for habit, essentially (3) |
| 12 | Jumpers turned inside out thereabouts (2,2) |
| 13 | Disturbed, tailed on your bike (4) |
| 14 | Far-flung cloud of dust finally settles behind castle river (4) |
| 15 | Naked rear is Bismarck, perhaps (4) |
| 17 | Left-over hydrogen in hoard's fuel (3) |
| 18 | Expresses opinion of drink; loudly (4) |
| 19 | Parrot's green, husband admitted (4) |
| 20, 21 | 20, 21Today's sweet (4,6) |
| 21 | See 20a |
Down
| 1 | Put the end back on and sold? (8) |
| 3 | Adult pass exhausted; under one hundred, tops (4) |
| 4 | Pale headless bird (3) |
| 5 | Detects coins by sound (6) |
| 6 | Somehow, 'true' debt shown false (8) |
| 8 | Must change blue material (4) |
| 10 | Fork bit of bread onto sauce (6) |
| 13 | Set up fake name, covering face, for travel by sea (4) |
| 16 | Try to make up some appropriate stories (4) |
| 18 | Brother accepted support (3) |
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Advent 2022: #16
Advent 2022: #16
By Elgel
Breaking in without a light, where he (and St.) finds activity in the pale (9)
Wordplay in across clues misses out an interpretation of today's sweet. Down clues are normal.
To understand today's clue, four words in the clue must be restored a la the across clues (though here, updates are only made to the start or end of words).
Across
| 1 | Topping failure; is cold at head (7) |
| 5 | At first, won't grass after Sun's exposure (5) |
| 8 | Annoying kids in second grade (5) |
| 9 | At home with a princess (7) |
| 10 | Owl's call transfixing rat; occasion to make a wish (8,4) |
| 12 | Today's gift is Romeo, packed in chest (9) |
| 16 | Into tossing with disc for pastimes (12) |
| 20 | Staff's concentration aids (7) |
| 22 | Religious person essential to Judaism (5) |
| 23 | Game day (5) |
| 24 | Had lead role about duke (7) |
Down
| 1 | Before entrance of maid, one's overwhelmed by child's movement (6) |
| 2 | Regular intervals of laces (7) |
| 3 | Dog without lead shows useful ability (5) |
| 4 | Party guest finally gets E, given in code (3) |
| 5 | Break down in shower; exhausted and extra scattered (7) |
| 6 | Dropping water; brown, without any new side (5) |
| 7 | Sport question for audience (4) |
| 11 | Horribly banal and derivative symbol (5) |
| 13 | Scorpius's brightest aren't as dreadful (7) |
| 14 | Girl's time for one complaining about pocket (7) |
| 15 | Pulls a flipped wondrous home (6) |
| 17 | Being 19, Mr Bean antic regularly upset (5) |
| 18 | Hold up; there's no second world (5) |
| 19 | Dream ideal's kept inside (4) |
| 21 | Call for help in finishing off puzzles; too large! (3) |
Monday, December 19, 2022
Advent 2022: #15
Advent 2022: #15
By Elgel
Russia admits terrible first crime growth before (7,3)
In 9 squares, across clues disagree with the down clues. The down clues show one of two letters, which in alphabetic order give an instruction to help understand today's clue. The across clues give today's sweet; or, what you'll become.
(nb., nothing ever appears in the right place.)
Across
| 1 | Spoken of Head lacking in teaching (4) |
| 4 | Physicist, cut off, turns dry (4) |
| 8 | Rushing; that is in orbit of Mercury? (6) |
| 11 | Wine's stench often lacking (3) |
| 12 | Problem with University library being in prosperity (5) |
| 13 | Tear around with speed (4) |
| 14 | Act smug about English turning round after tin (5) |
| 15 | Lazy-sounding singer (4) |
| 18 | Certain right's in legal action (4) |
| 19 | Predictors of wife abandoning seamstresses (5) |
| 21 | Wins son over; girl goes cold and hard (4) |
| 24 | Support that man; they're a scientist! (5) |
| 27 | Bluff caught out, leading to scrap (3) |
| 28 | Parallel counterpart in VC separately leaving Army and Navy? (6) |
| 29 | Saucy, base; offer to you sex, ultimately (4) |
| 30 | Get rid of 1st and 3rd; changed in being popular (4) |
Down
| 1 | Old king showed some resistance (3) |
| 2 | Life in Rome starts to vary in the adequacy (4) |
| 3 | Following lady, setter's ready to shock (4) |
| 4 | Collection of author's works bound in almanac (3) |
| 5 | Land in water as poor Adam drops from terrible maladies (4) |
| 6 | Put off, decide to avoid pit (5) |
| 7 | Quickly takes down wrappings (6) |
| 9 | Extra money paid for container (3) |
| 10 | Over-tight muscles (4) |
| 13 | Turning 21, taking on 4 notes (6) |
| 14 | South American is considered dubious (3) |
| 16 | Ban moldy bread (5) |
| 17 | Times square finally overshadows gods (4) |
| 20 | So much of Roget's trashed (4) |
| 21 | Worker to handle board over Zoom? (4) |
| 22 | Priest uncovered artifact (3) |
| 23 | Attack over loud argument (4) |
| 25 | Fire up very old flame (3) |
| 26 | Trick's missing original purpose (3) |
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Advent 2022: #14
Advent 2022: #14
By Elgel
So country, lacking win, meets day's end; winter covers island empire (7)
This looks familiar.
Across
| 1 | European takes to water with French man as son (5) |
| 4 | Afterthought added to short prayer: some smoke? (5) |
| 7 | Appraisals held back land mass (4) |
| 8 | Pathetically feel at old man and wife (3) |
| 9 | New divorcing spawns snarling pests (5) |
Down
| 1 | Exchange backhands (4) |
| 2 | Quiet sound announced today's gift (5) |
| 3 | Retreat from copper in sauna on vacation (3) |
| 5 | Has a bit and slid past oddly (4) |
| 6 | Cuts flies in the air (4) |
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Advent 2022: #13
Advent 2022: #13
By Elgel
Loop on; no site to bolt (3)
This looks familiar.
Across
| 1 | Trouble cycling round broken piece with joint (8) |
| 6 | Go around alternative performance (5) |
| 9 | Knife stuck in spare ribs (5) |
| 11 | Repeats wrap up, withdrawing (5) |
| 13, 18 | 13, 18Today's gift (6) |
| 15 | Santa's naked worker (3) |
| 16 | Rejected expectation about carbon age (5) |
| 17 | Birds in crescent shapes called out (5) |
| 19 | Suitable for compact flat (3) |
| 20 | Prophet retracted cardinal chapter (5) |
| 21 | Smart and mean; ultimately, soft at heart (5) |
| 24 | Europeans with noisy watering holes (5) |
| 25 | Extremely calm terns see bats (8) |
Down
| 1 | Christmas plant cut short alongside country |
| 2 | Terrible groan; producing gas |
| 3 | Princess gets on prince to go down |
| 4 | Pooh ran off, getting weapon |
| 5 | Rage that is consuming king |
| 7 | Ben's first look at Queen under dry pad |
| 8 | Most knowing revolutionary and son get put in painting |
| 10 | Fool lowers head for poisoner |
| 12 | No longer small, annoying thing is one loved |
| 14 | Setter covers problems with symbols |
| 22 | Took in 9's predecessor, out on one's ear? |
| 23 | Female counterpart of regular hygiene |
Friday, December 16, 2022
Advent 2022: #12
Advent 2022: #12
By Elgel
Graham, with a habit of a mare hat, to thaw ice halo on hay (4)
8 across clues need to be modified before entry into the grid; the modifications form today's gift.
For today's clue, you should make similar changes - though only deletions (since you'll have already eaten the sweets).
Across
| 3 | Nether regions broken by lithium salts (6) |
| 8 | Naked, come to moment of realisation for beach's code (4) |
| 10 | Seaside terror is grand boat's body with head torn off (4) |
| 11 | Passes out after fit interrupts excited sex (6) |
| 12 | Mate's peak fell short (3) |
| 13 | Kind of cuisine for everyone inspires loathing (4) |
| 15 | Hammered nail, nigh gasping (7) |
| 18 | Break out of trapdoor (4) |
| 21 | Atmosphere in American horse show turning out drug (4) |
| 22 | Owned enthralling French island, getting praised (5) |
| 23 | 2012 hit singer hard, and you left; too assertive (3) |
| 24 | Gathered grass troughs in rings (5) |
Down
| 1 | Get ready for 5 in response to hit (6,2) |
| 2 | Exploited true semi-honourable title (8) |
| 3 | Classic invader of small nervous section (5) |
| 4 | Poor Luigi deprived of one cool house (4) |
| 5 | 1 for 2 and right on time (4) |
| 6 | Enlisted regulars as an alternative (4) |
| 7 | With cunning, try starting as second instead (3) |
| 9 | Rob's cut (4) |
| 14 | Lesser goblins kept back larger beasts (5) |
| 16 | Lie around and chuckle over text learner (4) |
| 17 | Central point of exposed university is love (4) |
| 19 | Shout as unknown king takes lead (3) |
| 20 | That man's hoping it's safe, primarily (3) |
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Advent 2022: #11
Advent 2022: #11
By Elgel
Easter partying brings youths for picking? (11)
This grid represents a sphere; the top and bottom rows are all the same letter (representing the 'poles'), and across words wrap around.
Today's present comes in two words; the second is clued, but the first only appears from letters that are missing in wordplay of otherwise normal clues.
To apply this to today's main clue, replace an instance of the letter at the 'north pole' with the first word, and replace an instance of the 'south pole' letter with the second word (alongside re-punctuation).
Across
| 8 | Drawing attention to relative in affair (9) |
| 9 | Gathers together as Tesla crashes (8) |
| 12 | Greeting King's singers (5) |
| 13 | British and naked (4) |
| 16 | Locking parts of rig's rear extremities (5) |
| 17 | Have a go at rugby on vacation (3) |
| 18 | Husband and kid rejected making food (4) |
| 19 | Regret helps make them our Nulls (5) |
| 20 | Cake you found following stone when cycling (6) |
| 21 | Extremely restricted in tight corset; keeps quiet and sees film (3,6) |
Down
| 1 | Boy often called smart is like a man, but starting later (4) |
| 2 | Collector's item found in pub after gutless thug crashes atmosphere (9) |
| 3 | 9; as in, ten for Romans perhaps? (8) |
| 4 | Go downhill with current hot source of art (3) |
| 5 | Jelly's loose; Jack's good now (4) |
| 6 | Outcome of foot being introduced to limb at hospital (9) |
| 7 | Smashed; has leftovers (3) |
| 10 | How far one can go for second half of gift (6) |
| 11 | Regularly lusts for girl (4) |
| 13 | Break ornament for ears (6) |
| 14 | Setter abandons drug for solver's kid (5) |
| 15 | Boss perhaps sees university as primary part of self (4) |
| 17 | Pay attention to daughter; dropped old pronoun (4) |
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Advent 2022: #10
Advent 2022: #10
By Elgel
Shock by Po; Jethro w/out q-tips. Ask Atari, perhaps (4)
Ah, you got one of these sorts of calendars.
3 clues have been suitably modified; their definitions refer to the original word, but the wordplay refers to the string that is entered into the grid.
You'll need to adjust today's clue similarly (with some re-punctuating).
Across
| 1 | Came to time after half time (3) |
| 3 | Support British computer company (6) |
| 7 | Like Titanium White (4) |
| 8 | Witch turned tail to answer roughly (5) |
| 9 | Poor guards take drug made tempting (7) |
| 10 | Poor sod's role (3) |
| 12 | Nice water, with a cracking association (3) |
| 14, 8d | 14, 8dToday's present (7,5) |
| 15 | Heartlessly mop up small families (5) |
| 16 | Cool record changes hands (4) |
| 17 | Relatives acquire clothing (6) |
| 18 | Cross the gap after the first insult (3) |
Down
| 1 | Parade leader Jay sadly arrested by the Knife? (3,4) |
| 2 | Partner is told where to get fuel (4) |
| 3 | Beginning to stop breaking horse going both ways? (3,4) |
| 4 | Remotely rescue, if trial goes to pot (7) |
| 5 | Canadians regularly scarpered (4) |
| 6 | Gardening work in Spain that's boring; close to returning (7) |
| 8 | See 14a |
| 11 | Strength without roughage (4) |
| 13 | Diagram surrounding city (4) |
Monday, December 12, 2022
Advent 2022: #9
Advent 2022: #9
By Elgel
Sign of mail flier enough to sea's succour (5, 5)
Wordplay is normal, but definitions refer to a different, appropriate, word (except for the sweet clue, which has two definitions; one referring to what used to be an appropriate word, and one for the more modern times.)
For today's clue, act appropriately.
Across
| 1 | Newly arrived, with new spreading tire (5) |
| 4 | Stately woman in coin (4) |
| 6 | Correct uniquely fashioned Twitter (5) |
| 8 | Seal off and relax (4) |
| 9 | Small road around room (5) |
Down
| 1 | Leave one's wife round object (4) |
| 2 | Sometimes I arrive back in sun's light (5) |
| 3 | Make clothing with mounted metal (3) |
| 5 | Join setter close by (4) |
| 7 | Shout and fight naked (3) |
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Advent 2022: #8
Advent 2022: #8
By Elgel
B-bully put flab flat on cat; flip hard! (10)
Look one way for the sweets; another for how to modify the clue (in the manner of those sweets).
Across
| 1 | Small bit of code left behind (6) |
| 5 | Group lies about sin's counterpart (3) |
| 7 | Naked woman's hand (4) |
| 8 | Key greeting in city (5) |
| 9 | Behead wrong-un under protection perhaps (5) |
| 11 | Lacking time, Mark is not for casual conversation (4) |
| 13 | Fares poorly with more protection (5) |
| 15 | Back part of sopranino tore, supposedly source of happiness (9) |
| 18 | Put off by leaving race with iron supplement (5) |
| 21 | A fan of king leaving welcoming speech (4) |
| 22 | Audience's influenced to get leather (5) |
| 23 | Seen without Edward? (5) |
| 24 | Liberal assuming evil is undisguised (4) |
| 25 | Yell when Charlie gets on tracks (3) |
| 26 | Show appreciation in less bad manners (6) |
Down
| 1 | Parent checks age for servants (5) |
| 2 | Acted like a pig; in a relationship, length is nothing (6) |
| 3 | Notices and points - again, backwards (4) |
| 4 | Paper sheet with circus performer cycling (4) |
| 5 | Employer's hint towards books; I took over for you (6) |
| 6 | Saint who regularly lost one seeking power (4) |
| 10 | Judges, aggravated, stare (5) |
| 12 | Fairly fair (6) |
| 14 | Problem as lake dried out (6) |
| 16 | On stage, makes dough; forms demands (5) |
| 17 | Brass component of unknown company (4) |
| 19 | Loudly leaves, avoiding introduction with enemies (4) |
| 20 | Red Russia, close (4) |
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Advent 2022: #7
Advent 2022: #7
By Elgel
Poor lab, emoting for chicken that surrounds you folk (7)
Apologies for the delay; I've been badly ill for a while and have just recovered.
Another odd choice to go in the calendar; maybe it's an intruder.
For today's clue, move what the present is indicating to somewhere else in the clue (possibly with respacing).
Across
| 7 | Place of contention where a gun group goes over drug backing (5) |
| 8 | Talk slow and move slow, with Democrat for leader (5) |
| 9 | Could be straightforward, perhaps (11) |
| 10 | Cut through ear with this? (5) |
| 11 | How to show writing in ritual baths (5) |
| 13 | Things wheeled out as broken phone accepted (11) |
| 15 | A spin on protective gear (5) |
| 16 | Problem children (5) |
Down
| 1 | Well known loud American controls a second (6) |
| 2 | Time I toppled evil first order (11) |
| 3 | Showed tiredness with misdirected study method (6) |
| 4 | Thought of a naked president on top (4) |
| 5 | Italians, with one, managed to bring control to the government (11) |
| 6 | Gorge on meal; egg thrown up and regularly dropped (4) |
| 11 | Material of a brick edging removed (6) |
| 12 | Setter is delirious, lacking paracetomols: completely stripped, one finds them in church (6) |
| 13 | Regretfully put final cut under article (4) |
| 14 | Choice of multiple of the same team? (4) |
Monday, December 5, 2022
Advent 2022: #6
Advent 2022: #6
By Elgel
Moment to go off, mentoring son on model lament (7)
It's an odd choice for an advent calendar, which is probably why they've spilled out over the whole thing.
For this clue, take the gifts (plural) as a three-part instruction to apply to the clue.
Across
| 1 | Lonely leader lost :( (5) |
| 5 | Rude thought one's hiding (3,2) |
| 8 | Mark with gloomy note (4) |
| 9 | See 12a |
| 11 | Reminders appear around to carry one of today's gifts (9) |
| 12, 9 | 12, 9None of them, zero, entertained by shaping tenon (3,3) |
| 14 | School teaching how to make beech bench? (4) |
| 16 | Short lived particle comes in 4 sets (5) |
| 17 | Working group found as it's time event starts (5) |
Down
| 2 | Second male parent (3) |
| 3 | Plus one, and another picked up (3) |
| 4 | Round loo signs (5) |
| 5 | Resident of anemone (4) |
| 6 | Regularly seeing out perverted characters (5) |
| 7 | Fresh generation of birds run to Spain (5) |
| 10 | New heavenly body; maiden sacrificed when hands are all raised (4) |
| 13 | X-box plan gets rejected (3) |
| 15 | Piggy, put on a rope, squealed (3) |
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Advent 2022: #5
Advent 2022: #5
By Elgel
Tolstoy hero, an EU nat under his tin bits (7)
Today's grid comes in two parts, and needs reassembling. Down clues refer to individual parts; across clues refer to the fixed grid, and don't get enumeration.
For today's clue, apply what you've learnt here about joining things together. You may need respacing.
Across
| 1 | Setter's date goes first, reaching dodgy bar |
| 6 | Racer regularly appearing in retired star ranks |
| 9 | Evil weapon, infused with Belial's essence |
| 10 | Second thoughts about being on drugs bust |
| 11 | Vote for unknown game company |
| 13 | A deadly kind of wound, losing leader of major vessel |
| 16 | Shelves record book, after incrementing last entry |
| 17 | Call stand for meal |
| 18 | Note; zero spice |
| 20 | Moustache begins smothering author |
| 21 | Bird has toilet troubles in the back half |
| 22 | Tore up river; not the first time |
Down
| 1 | Hell flower causes terrible event (8) |
| 2 | Sad poems written with self insert (6) |
| 3 | Turn over English hat, finding crack (5) |
| 4, 6 | 04, 6Today's present (6) |
| 5 | Make happy story, told with no beginning or end (5) |
| 7 | Kind of chemical formed from modelling clay (4) |
| 8 | Go across stern with cat, going for a wander (8) |
| 12 | Still in Spain the first number for team (6) |
| 14 | One outsmarting Holmes, using student to cover snake's heart (5) |
| 15 | Lazy person is badly riled (5) |
| 16 | Add a dash to tie things together (4) |
| 18 | Starts off choosing home at 17 (3) |
| 19 | Short in energy (3) |
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Advent 2022: #4
Advent 2022: #4
By Elgel
Response's pat; use snare (overt) w/ sheet, rent, closing (7)
Definitions refer to one word, wordplay refers to a different one. The grid entry will be one of them; though it could be either.
To read today's clue properly, use what's happening here. This may cause re-spacing of words.
Across
| 1 | Barely enough tin cans about (5) |
| 5 | What's needed for tears in orbiter with revised use (6) |
| 7 | Surprise! Male is an ass (6) |
| 8 | Silk, maybe from old island by the sound? (5) |
| 9 | Green stuff appearing in peep show every now and then (5) |
| 10 | Run out month without Juliett's lying manner (6) |
| 11 | Supremely lazy creep goes cycling (6) |
Down
| 1 | Froze, very quietly; surrounded by angry does (7) |
| 2 | Brought up desirable components for performer (7) |
| 3 | Today's advent present |
| 4 | Gave new hands true welcomes; first impressions to drive expectations (6) |
| 6 | Poor kisser, but moves quickly (6) |
Advent 2022: #3
Advent 2022: #3
By Elgel
Oh, our time for crier (5)
For today, our present will be replacing two letters in the clue.
In two sections in the grid, the across and down clues disagree.
In one direction, you will get the candy. In the other direction, you will get the letter that is being replaced.
Swap out two letters from the clue with the appropriate word from the candy to be able to solve it. E.g., one of the R's might become CANDY.
Across
| 1 | Gap caused by setter partying at ceilidh evening, primarily (5) |
| 6 | Landowners up north left push back start of attacks (6) |
| 8 | Those praised hesitate to break tools (6) |
| 10 | A daughter with love in trouble (3) |
| 11 | In the clear perhaps: Romeo leaves student to tango (5) |
| 12 | What subs look for, with too much love and inevitable results (5) |
| 14 | Steal devil's name (4) |
| 16 | Domino's inevitably held back meat choice (7) |
| 20 | Friend, fairly quiet, taking to handheld device (7) |
| 21 | Give up source for Listener (4) |
| 22 | Alcohol and cigarettes perhaps competing with sweets (5) |
| 24 | Frenzied mass hysteria after the start (5) |
| 25 | One fleeing truants regularly (3) |
| 26 | Catch, say, skin condition being perverted (6) |
| 28 | Publically call out temptress stripping down, finally, from foot to head (6) |
| 29 | Setter and French setter's creating viruses in culture? (5) |
Down
| 1 | On vacation, Samuel and Eddy's partners took to the slopes (7) |
| 2 | Normal issues for clergyman (7) |
| 3 | I am holding target (3) |
| 4 | Drinks made across brewing (10) |
| 5 | Get sore with old fruit... (4) |
| 7 | ...as nine turned brown (6) |
| 9 | Engineered relic in lab shows intelligence (10) |
| 13 | Common gun left stripped (4) |
| 15 | Search male in bread case (4) |
| 17 | Key chat-up line (6) |
| 18 | Repeat; that is, going over time, time and time again (7) |
| 19 | Question for wise men, on how they take their meds (7) |
| 23 | Soaks up food (4) |
| 27 | Naked offence, with lip (3) |
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Advent 2022: #2
Advent 2022: #2
By Elgel
N., 1st up Niagara; er, no resub? Ew (6)
To understand the clue this time, you'll want to follow the example set by the candy in the grid.
Across
| 1 | Strongly worded note talked about {kind of paradox} (5) |
| 5 | Article about Lady In White (5) |
| 7 | Mind both companies leaving public space (5) |
| 8 | Blame cheers king (3) |
| 10 | Today's candy (5) |
| 11 | Ragdoll perhaps used in identification (3) |
| 13 | Rejected one wearing a singer's headdress (5) |
| 15 | Glossy finish of lock, after rest cut short (5) |
| 16 | President attended by regulars (5) |
Down
| 1 | Subtle trick for the audience (5) |
| 2 | Mouth 'true' and say 'false' (7) |
| 3 | 11 calls stablehouses (4) |
| 4 | Back wearing underclothes? (6) |
| 6 | Unusually raunchier sort of Twister (9) |
| 9 | Inferior duke incited fighting previously (7) |
| 10 | Only just released a time, in case overwhelmed (6) |
| 12 | Gaudy and tough; but cold at heart (5) |
| 14 | One's left England and Ireland maybe (4) |
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