Across
Tranquil hiding place for illegal substance (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{pl}ACID (tranquil) [hiding ‘place’]
People's way of speaking about English port (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
FOLK’S (people’s) + TONE (way of speaking) containing [about] E (English)
The audience's left with great playing in prospect (5,5)
Cycling around African country's capital city (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MALI (African country) when ‘cycling around’ becomes LIMA. There were some comments and doubts expressed about ‘cycling’ clues last week so it may be worth posting again the advice on how to approach them as suggested here by Shabbo earlier this year. I have found it very helpful: When you see “cycling”, write the letters of the word in a circle and then start from each letter in turn travelling clockwise until you find the solution. This illustrates how to get from MALI to LIMA in today’s simple 4-letter example. I’ve inserted a line to indicate the new starting point: There’s a somewhat trickier variation on the ‘cycling’ device in a clue in today’s QC by Izetti. My comment there refers. For the TfTT Glossary entry on Cycling clues click here.
Spelling expert loses face about unknown, archaic letter (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{w}IZARD (spelling expert) [loses face] containing [about] Z (unknown). ‘Izzard’ is an archaic term for the letter Z.
Grace needing tablet, say, breaking arm (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E (tablet), then EG (say) contained by [breaking] LANCE (arm – weapon)
Extremists in innermost Nicaragua backing Contra (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I{nnermos}T + N{icaragu}A [extremists] reversed [backing]
Doctor isn't admitting mislaying coat? (5,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GP (doctor) + AIN’T (isn’t) containing [admitting] LOSS (mislaying). I wondered about parts of speech here but Collins has: loss – the act or an instance of losing, which I guess could also be the act or an instance of mislaying.
Desire unity, eschewing European lack of morals (10)
Note right back is in good shape (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MI (note) + RT (right) reversed [back]
Navigator in five ice-bound vessels heading west (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
V (five), then CUPS (vessels) contained by ICE [ice-bound] reversed [heading west]. Wiki: Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer, assistant of Christopher Columbus and after whom the American continent was named.
Partly explain a rule about astronomers' inspiration (6)
Return of one shut in cooler, an innocent person (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I (one) contained by [shut in] FAN (cooler) reversed [return of…]
Discipline husband, as well as fool to start with (4,2,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TAKE IN (fool), H (husband), AND (as well as)
Daydreamer in novel relates holding out nuts (5-5)
Runner over a long distance has zero energy (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
NIL (zero), E (energy). A devious definition made for a lot of brainwork here where very little should have been necessary.
Down
One captured by Cezanne with kit off in famous picture (7,4)
Stubborn so-and-so admits to last of drug running (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [running] of ADMITS TO {dru}G [last of…]
One holding wood let go of rebounding golf ball (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
FIRED (let go of – sacked), then O (ball) + G (golf – NATO alphabet) reversed [rebounding]. Firedogs are decorative metal stands used to support logs in an open fire.
Set up bank, receiving warning over mostly bad grounds for dismissal (3,6,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GEL (set) reversed [up], BET (bank) containing [receiving) FORE (warning – golf), + WICKE{d} (bad) [mostly]. One of the means by which a batsman can be ‘out’ or ‘dismissed’ in cricket. I’m not entirely convinced that ‘bet’ and ‘bank’ are synonymous but I suppose if you bet on something happening you are banking on it although that may be foolish.
Poles clutching box, say, after English courses (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E (English), N + S (poles) containing [clutching] TREE (box, say)
New moon's seen first, under gold stars (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
OR (gold), IO (moon of Jupiter), N (new). The juxtaposition indicators ‘seen first’ and ‘under’ took some working through to arrive at the constellation.
Fabled sinner hiding diamonds beneath a skirt (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EVE (fabled sinner) containing [hiding] A + D (diamonds)
Mood in state capitals of Alabama and Louisiana (11)
Cut stellar Muslim ruler woolly fabric (9)
From Nike etc., fancy clothing accessory (7)
Comparatively spicy dish tucked into by this person (7)
Grasping an indefinite number of meat sandwiches (5)
Satirist succeeded, loudly welcomed by Wilde? (5)
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