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You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Intriguing group in California, not well after a ruin (9) | ### Answer: CAMARILLA
### Explanation: Definition: Intriguing group
A MAR (ruin) ILL in CA |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Mail carrier landed up for it in place (9) | ### Answer: POSTILION
### Explanation: Definition: Mail carrier
POSITION (place) with reverse of LIT replacing IT |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Rag-and-bone man, last to get central position, plunging straight down (7) | ### Answer: STEEP-TO
### Explanation: Definition: plunging straight down
STEPTOE with the last E moved to the middle |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Whence silk producers emerge, embroidering REGINA (6) | ### Answer: GRAINE
### Explanation: Definition: Whence silk producers emerge
REGINA |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: English propeller e.g. on the Broads, device for gauging planetary movement (6) | ### Answer: EQUANT
### Explanation: Definition: device for gauging planetary movement
E + QUANT (punting pole) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Mater's mantle round Spain, producing archetypal local dish? (6) | ### Answer: PAELLA
### Explanation: Definition: archetypal local dish
E (Spain) in PALLA (a Roman woman's mantle – hence the "mater") |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Seamen's clothes and bedding yielding old coppers (5) | ### Answer: SLOPS
### Explanation: Definition: Seamen's clothes and bedding
Double definition: "clothes and bedding issued to sailors", and old slang for policemen (coppers). My mistake at 29a made me nearly give up on this when I couldn't make anything reasonable out of S?APS |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: In love, X scratched, mark in red (4) | ### Answer: SMIT
### Explanation: Definition: mark in red
SMITTEN (in love) less TEN (X) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Relic I discovered in a rooftop crater (8) | ### Answer: ARCHAISM
### Explanation: Definition: Relic
I in A + R[oof] + CHASM |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Camp site oddly in the style of golf (6) | ### Answer: STALAG
### Explanation: Definition: Camp
Odd letters of SiTe + A LA G |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Weapon caused the sad end of Robert the Bruce (9) | ### Answer: TREBUCHET
### Explanation: Definition: Weapon
Anagram of [Rober]T THE BRUCE |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Little time lost amongst all that apprehension (5) | ### Answer: ANGST
### Explanation: Definition: apprehension
AMONGST less MO (moment) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Green art evolved first sort of nursery (12) | ### Answer: KINDERGARTEN
### Explanation: Definition: nursery
KIND (sort) + (GREEN ART) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Solo flight from German city is completed (4) | ### Answer: OVER
### Explanation: Definition: completed
HANOVER (German City) less HAN (Han Solo, character in the *Star Wars* films) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: 'e by gum, camping? Having covered skin (10) | ### Answer: INTEGUMENT
### Explanation: Definition: skin
E by (beside) GUM in (covered by) IN TENT (camping) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: A ruse deployed by Ottoman retreat round a pickle (10) | ### Answer: SAUERKRAUT
### Explanation: Definition: pickle
(A RUSE)* + A in reverse of TURK (Ottoman) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Break item? (4,4) | ### Answer: FREE TIME
### Explanation: Definition: Break
A "reverse anagram": TIME "freed" gives you ITEM |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Angry with contemporary conflicting tendency (12) | ### Answer: CROSSCURRENT
### Explanation: Definition: conflicting tendency
CROSS (angry) + CURRENT (contemporary) – Chambers only gives this as hyphenated cross-current, but other online sources have it as a single word |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Appearing shocked by deficit in part of hospital (5) | ### Answer: AGAPE
### Explanation: Definition: Appearing shocked
GAP (deficit) in A[ccident and] E[mergency] |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Wild flower from the Guardian is spotted in Leeds, perhaps (9) | ### Answer: EDELWEISS
### Explanation: Definition: Wild flower
WE (The Guardian) IS in LEEDS |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Substitute for 'taser' may be 'tazer', essentially (6) | ### Answer: ERSATZ
### Explanation: Definition: Substitute
TASER* + [ta]Z[er]. "Taser" is actually an acronym: from "Thomas A. Swift Electronic Rifle" |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Greedily eating suet pudding? Nothing French in that! (8) | ### Answer: ESURIENT
### Explanation: Definition: Greedily eating
RIEN (French "nothing") in SUET |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Fat cello playing? This is for viola! (4,4) | ### Answer: ALTO CLEF
### Explanation: Definition: This is for viola
(FAT CELLO)* – music for viola normally uses the alto clef |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Mummy's God transformed Nubia's black dog (6) | ### Answer: ANUBIS
### Explanation: Definition: Mummy's God
NUBIAS* – Anubis is an ancient Egyptian god (hence "Mummy's"), depicted as a man with with a black canine head |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Perverse pleasure in South African country having a dodgy referendum after scrapping borders (13) | ### Answer: SCHADENFREUDE
### Explanation: Definition: Perverse pleasure
S + CHAD (African country) + anagram of [r]EFERENDU[m] |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: The Alamo, USA, most of all a vital relay station (8) | ### Answer: THALAMUS
### Explanation: Definition: vital relay station
TH[e] ALAM[o] US[a} – the Thalamus is an area in the brain "allowing hub-like exchanges of information." |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Girl has yet to travel a very long way (5,5) | ### Answer: LIGHT YEARS
### Explanation: Definition: a very long way
(GIRL HAS YET)* – I would hyphenate this: Chambers and other sources agree with me |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Ravel, go away (3,7) | ### Answer: GET KNOTTED
### Explanation: Definition: Ravel
Double definition |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Next clue needs this for a diarist's age (5,8) | ### Answer: THREE QUARTERS
### Explanation: Definition: Next clue needs this for a diarist's age
A reference to Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, the next clue being 13 |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Devote one's car etc for recycling (10) | ### Answer: CONSECRATE
### Explanation: Definition: Devote
(ONE'S CAR ETC) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Bordeaux's appealing twice about a sweet top wine (10) | ### Answer: BEAUJOLAIS
### Explanation: Definition: wine
A in BEAU JOLI (two French words describing attractiveness) + S[weet] |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Future is mine (8) | ### Answer: PROSPECT
### Explanation: Definition: Future
Double definition – a noun and a verb |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: We rang about a rodent (6) | ### Answer: GNAWER
### Explanation: Definition: a rodent
(WE RANG) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Look here's ship entering port empty (4) | ### Answer: PSST
### Explanation: Definition: Look here
SS (Steam Ship) in P[or]T |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Old queen's honest with diarist (4,5) | ### Answer: ANNE FRANK
### Explanation: Definition: diarist
ANNE (old queen) + FRANK (honest) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Core of world back to front (5) | ### Answer: HEART
### Explanation: Definition: Core
EARTH with the last letter moved to the front |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Poet recounts fifth item found on beach (7) | ### Answer: SHELLEY
### Explanation: Definition: Poet
Homophone (..ish) of SHELL E, which would be found after shell A, shell B, … |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Rolling Stone caught by Mr Big? Very! (7) | ### Answer: MONSTER
### Explanation: Definition: Big? Very!
STONE* in MR |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Reportedly, get lost pastry (5) | ### Answer: CHOUX
### Explanation: Definition: pastry
Homophone of "shoo!" (get lost!) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: They're involved in father's Star Trek battle — once timeless (9) | ### Answer: PARTAKERS
### Explanation: Definition: They're involved
PA (father) + anagram of STAR TREK less one T ("once timeless") |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Choose over Charlie or Michael involving a branch of science (15) | ### Answer: ELECTROCHEMICAL
### Explanation: Definition: involving a branch of science
ELECT (choose) + anagram of (C OR MICHAEL) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Director left at the end holding hard part of shoe (5,4) | ### Answer: SPIKE HEEL
### Explanation: Definition: part of shoe
H[ard] in SPIKE LEE (director) with the L moved to the end – another name for a stiletto heel |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Encounters aliens on Earth following Martian leader (5) | ### Answer: MEETS
### Explanation: Definition: Encounters
M + E[arth] + ETS (extra-terrestrials) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Revolutionary recalls loathing for large cat (7) | ### Answer: CHEETAH
### Explanation: Definition: large cat
CHE (Guevara) + reverse of HATE |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Starts to smoke, eventually saw someone tranquillised (7) | ### Answer: SEDATED
### Explanation: Definition: tranquillised
First letters of S[moke] E[ventually] + DATED (saw someone) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Doubles taken from physicist's mug (5) | ### Answer: STEIN
### Explanation: Definition: mug
EINSTEIN less the first EIN, which is duplicated at the end |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: To ensure sufficient funds remain below interest (9) | ### Answer: UNDERDRAW
### Explanation: Definition: To ensure sufficient funds remain
UNDER (below) + DRAW (something interesting). Chambers only gives the definitions "To draw or describe with moderation or reticence or short of the truth; To cover the underside of with boards or lath and plaster", but online sources also define it as a kind of opposite of the more familiar "overdraw" |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Pillagers back up to eat snack prepared by Saxon's chief (10) | ### Answer: RANSACKERS
### Explanation: Definition: Pillagers
SNACK* in reverse of REAR (back) + S[axon] |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Change 11p over old cover? (8) | ### Answer: ENVELOPE
### Explanation: Definition: cover
Anagram of ELEVEN P O[ver] |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Alternative fuel overwhelms fellow with unknown discharge (6) | ### Answer: EFFLUX
### Explanation: Definition: discharge
F in FUEL* + X(unknown) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Woman to wed right away (4) | ### Answer: MARY
### Explanation: Definition: Woman
MARRY less one R |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Heavens above! On another planet 2001 computer is law enforcer (3,7) | ### Answer: SKY MARSHAL
### Explanation: Definition: law enforcer
SKY (the heavens above) + MARS + HAL (computer in the film *2001: A Space Odyssey*) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Has tan spoiled in afternoon shadow? (8) | ### Answer: PHANTASM
### Explanation: Definition: shadow
(HAS TAN)* in P.M. |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Keep players on leg-side boundaries (6) | ### Answer: CASTLE
### Explanation: Definition: Keep
CAST (players) + the outer letters ("boundaries") of L[eg-sid]E |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Teacher admits time in prison (4) | ### Answer: STIR
### Explanation: Definition: prison
T in SIR (teacher) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Titan unearthed in built-up Rome? The usual! (10) | ### Answer: PROMETHEUS
### Explanation: Definition: Titan
Hidden in built-uP ROME THE USual |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Climbing mountains with quiet descent on landing (10) | ### Answer: SPLASHDOWN
### Explanation: Definition: landing
Reverse of ALPS + SH (quiet!) + DOWN (descent) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: During Great Revolt, we English can be using social media (8) | ### Answer: TWEETING
### Explanation: Definition: using social media
WE E TIN in reverse of GT |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Animal around and about, adult male's lost (8) | ### Answer: CREATURE
### Explanation: Definition: Animal
C (circa, around) + RE (about) + MATURE less M |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Every so often big cheat began to drink (3,3) | ### Answer: ICE TEA
### Explanation: Definition: drink
Alternate letters of bIg ChEaT bEgAn |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Up-to-date style worn by sailors (6) | ### Answer: MODERN
### Explanation: Definition: Up-to-date
MODE + RN (Royal Navy, sailors) |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: In court, large expense (4) | ### Answer: COST
### Explanation: Definition: expense
OS (outsize, large) in CT |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Rising troubles with this kind of bread (4) | ### Answer: SODA
### Explanation: Definition: kind of bread
Reverse of ADOS |
You are an expert level solver of cryptic crosswords. You are presented with a clue as input. Respond with the answer and explanation. | ### Clue: Charlotte races about in this? (7,7) | ### Answer: CHELSEA TRACTOR
### Explanation: Definition: Charlotte races about in this
(CHARLOTTE RACES)* &lit – Chelsea tractors are the oversized cars stereotypically driven in some affluent areas |