Stout and bubbly
According to Brewer, a five-word phrase was used to describe a creature, but applies also to a three-word fictional character.…
2387: On the spot
Two unclued lights give the name of a location and another a means of arrival and -departure. Other unclued lights…
2381: Step changes
1 Across and 45 Across form a phrase, and the other unclued entries form a word ladder linking them, by…
2363: Case ending
Four of the unclued entries make up a ten-word Shakespearean quotation, including an apostrophe. The other three (two of two…
2352: Upright Characters
Of the unclued entries, three combine to form a phrase (five words) describing three more (four foreign-language words). The remaining…
2346: The name of the game
The unclued entries (two hyphened) are all synonyms. Each of five clues contains a word that must be removed to…
2340: Booboos
3 1A (eight words in total, one apostrophe) and 41 23 32 36 (seven words, including two accents) give two…
2330: Image
10 5/9/34/30D/7/35/4/1D is a poem quoted in full in ODQ. The author’s surname (and indeed first name) appears at 26.…
2315: Trunk call
Seven unclued entries are all examples of the other. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 11 Ginger wine and rose…
2291: Seriously?
In ten clues, the wordplay omits one of the letters of the solution. These letters in the grid, read row…
to 2289: I don’t believe it!
The unclued lights are expressions meaning NEVER (3A, 4D+43A, 21D+14D, 37A+1D and 37A+15D). First prize Hilary James, London W5Runners-up David…
2278: Will alterations
Across clues contain a definition and a jumble of the answer. In each row of the grid, a Shakespearean character…
to 2275: Frame of reference
Corrections of misprints in clues give CHAMBERS DICTIONARY, defining the items in the perimeter. First prize David Heath, Euston, NewarkRunners-up…
2267: Double-edged Swords
The unclued lights are anagrams of words meaning ‘blessing’, hence 43A MIXED BLESSINGS. The words are 11A AGREEMENT, 31A BENISON, 34A…
2267: Double-edged swords
One of the unclued entries (two words) defines the others (two of which are hyphened), which are all real words.…
To 2264: The A-Team
‘Harry the King, BEDFORD (19) and EXETER (18), WARWICK (1D) and TALBOT (25), SALISBURY (4A) and GLOSTER (12)’ (Henry V,…
2248: In the stars
In the clues, the 9 stars represent omitted words (one of which is a dialect variant of another). Those 9…
To 2245: Fair and square
Corrections of misprints give A GRECIAN URN. The POET (23) reporting its message (perimeter + 4 30) is KEATS (42). First…
2223: Clerihew
29 6 (4 words) is 1 24 (3 words). 24 11 10 (4 words), but 6 11 36 (4 words).…
To 2220: Poem II
The Poem was ‘Kubla Khan’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 3A, 23, 42, 43, 3D, 4, 10 and 16 are words…
2207: An unusual angle
In six answers the wordplay ignores an item. These items (two of them identical) are not listed as specific 27…
To 2204: Security
Five perimeter entries, and 29 and 30, are types of BODYGUARD. First prize Amanda Spielman, London SW4 Runners-up Dr S.M.…
2199: TV Comedy
Fourteen solutions begin with the same letter as their clues. These letters in order are the initial letters of the…
To 2196: Diverse
The quotation around the perimeter is from 25 — varieties of French cheese are highlighted. First prize Hugh Aplin, London…
2191: Bunk
The other unclued entries, in pairs around 3D, provide the key words in a definition of 11D. Across …