Tortoise

Contests started: DESPERATE (9), THE NEW GROVE DICTIONARY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS (3 3 5 10 2 5 3 9), BASS TROMBONE (4 8)

Contests won: BUFFALO (7), ENCHANTMENT (11), ONE (3), THEN TWO (3), THEN THREE (5), THEN FOUR (4), ETC., CLERIHEW (8), OISEAU, EMACS (5), HELLO THERE (5,5), CIRCLE (6), TARNISHED (9), DUMPSTER (8), HAYWIRE (7), MOTHER (6), GREEN TEA OR BLACK TEA (5, 3 OR 5, 3), SPRING (6), INDICATOR (9), ONIGIRI (7), CODA (4), CREAM CHEESE (5, 6), GARBAGE (7), COME ACROSS (4, 6), CHARLIE PARKER (7, 6), DESSERT SPOONS (7,6), VAMP (4), FISHING (7), TURIN (5), BLESS (5), CHTHONIC (8), DIDACTIC (8), PERFIDY (7), REDEEM (6), TÜRKIYE, COASTER (7), PENCILS (7), CHEESE GRATER (6, 6), TREASURES, STEALTH (7), MAUDLIN (7), ANY RENAISSANCE ARTIST (?), COMPARE (7), REYKJAVIK (9), HEXADECIMAL (11), VIVACE (6), GROK (4), VICTUALS (8), YAMMER (6), [144 As] (144), HAUNT (5), LICENSE (7), MUSSORGSKY (10), WAS (3), FLAGRANT (8), HEART (5), ASTERISK (8), CHIN UP (4 2), QUATERNION (10), COMFORT (7), SHUFFLE (7), STATUE PARK (6 4), CONCH (5), MACGYVER (8), PERSIMMON (9), MATRIX (6), ARMORY (6) OR ARMOURY (7), PENICILLIN (10), BASS TROMBONE (4 8), COPIUM (6), RATIONAL (8), COBWEB (6), GRAPEVINE (9), QUEUEING (8), CAVY (4)

All Submissions

Clue ID Contest Clue Explanation (hover) Submitted By Likes
8595 ONE (3), THEN TWO (3), THEN THREE (5), THEN FOUR (4), ETC. One factor of 18 is 9 (3) is = s ('s)
9 = IX
One factor of 18 = def
Tortoise 5
9108 MOTHER (6) Family member in the middle of chemotherapy (6) Family member = def
in the middle of chemotherapy = hidden in cheMOTHERapy
Tortoise 5
9109 GREEN TEA OR BLACK TEA (5, 3 OR 5, 3) Teenager mixed a drink (5 3) Teenager mixed = anagram of TEENAGER
a drink = def
Tortoise 5
12058 SOFA (4) Most of GF flour ingredient beginning to fall on a couch (4) SO(y)+F+A Tortoise 5
12207 HEART (5) Less than three-fifths of aesthetes appreciate beauty (5) fifth letters of aestHetes apprEciate + ART Tortoise 5
8506 BUFFALO (7) Partly rebuff a loud word notably uttered eight times in a row (7) Wordplay: Hidden in reBUFF A LOud
Def: refers to the sentence "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."
Tortoise 4
8980 CLERIHEW (8) Charlie Sheen / Leaves American township unseen / And with one cut / Makes four lines which, when you might expect them to be of similar length, are anything but (8) Charlie = C
Sheen = LUSTER
Leaves American township unseen = remove US + T
and with = positional indicator
one = I
cut = HEW
makes = link
four line, which ... anything but = definition of CLERIHEW
Tortoise 4
9033 CIRCLE (6) Michael Crichton returned, penning prequel to "Sphere"? (6) Michael Crichton returned, penning = hidden reversed in michaEL CRIChton
prequel to Sphere? = definition
Tortoise 4
9076 DUMPSTER (8) Waste site identified by member of Parliament wearing long coat (8) Waste site = def
identified by = link
member of parliament = MP
wearing = inside
long coat = DUSTER
Tortoise 4
9145 CODA (4) Fish with a tail end (4) Fish = COD
with = juxtaposition
a = A
tail end = definition
Tortoise 4
9284 DESSERT SPOONS (7,6) "Gin and Juice" rapper emphasized revolutionary silverware (7, 6) "Gin and Juice" rapper = SNOOP (Dogg)
emphasized = STRESSED
revolutionary = reversal
silverware = def
Tortoise 4
9352 FISHING (7) Character from Genesis hiding in tree, trying to catch dinner? (7) Character from Genesis = SHIN (Hebrew letter)
hiding in = contained in
tree = fig
trying to catch dinner = def
Tortoise 4
9463 PERFIDY (7) Fried salad served inside pastry shell? Vile deception! (7) Fried salad = anagram of FRIED
served inside = contained in
pastry shell = PY
vile deception = def
Tortoise 4
10450 GROK (4) Get $1000 (or... $1000) back (4) Get = def
$1000 = K
or = OR
$1000 = G
back = reversal
Tortoise 4
10712 LICENSE (7) Permit awkward silence (7) permit = def
awkward silence = anagram of SILENCE
Tortoise 4
12074 MITMH (5) GF staying away from uncontrolled fight involving 2,000 -- make that 4,000+ -- solvers competing over a weekend (5) Anagram of FIGHT+MM - GF Tortoise 4
12146 ADHERE (6) Cleave and behead heretical prisoners (6) hidden in beheAD HEREtical
(note cleave is a contronym, with opposite meanings in surface and reading)
Tortoise 4
12580 SHUFFLE (7) Mix up egg dish containing bit of ham instead of egg (7) H replaces O in SOUFFLE Tortoise 4
12695 PERSIMMON (9) Individual eating one M&M with fruit (9) PERS(I+MM)ON Tortoise 4
8979 OISEAU Tortoise authorizes hiding French hen, say (6) hidden in tortOISE AUthorizes
French hen, say = def
Tortoise 3
9019 HELLO THERE (5,5) Introduction to Sartre's "other people" – other people at the end (5, 5) Introduction = def
Sartre's "other people" = HELL (from No Exit)
other = OTHER
people at the end = E
Tortoise 3
9104 SPRING (6) Group of covert agents spent years to get source of water (6) Group of covert agents = SPY RING
spent = delete
years = Y
to get = link
source of water = def
Tortoise 3
9134 ONIGIRI (7) Rice ball's mysterious origin: India? (7) Rice ball = def
's = link ([i]s)
mysterious origin = anagram of ORIGIN
India = I (NATO alphabet)
Tortoise 3
9148 CREAM CHEESE (5, 6) Schmear spread all over the place! (5, 6) schmear spread all over the place = letter bank of SCHMEAR
&lit
Tortoise 3
9239 GARBAGE (7) Essentially, rubbish in part of the house! (7) essentially, rubbish = B (middle letter of RUBBISH)
in = insertion
part of the house = GARAGE
def: &lit
Tortoise 3
9365 BLESS (5) Estow a enediction, like this? (5) "B-less" version of def "bestow a benediction" Tortoise 3
9654 COASTER (7) Theme park attraction's price: about one euro, oddly (7) Theme park attraction = def
's = link
price = COST
about one = containing A
euro, oddly = EuRo
Tortoise 3
10156 ANY RENAISSANCE ARTIST (?) Italian who painted the ceilings artfully (11) Italian who painted = def for [Artemisia] GENTILESCHI
the ceilings artfully = anagram of THECEILINGS
Tortoise 3
10157 COMPARE (7) Equate close friend with missing daughter (7) equate = def
close friend = COMPADRE
with missing daughter = delete D
Tortoise 3
10900 WAS (3) In Germany, what is in the past? (3) double def: "what" in German and "is in the past"
Question mark is for surface and not indicative of funny buseniess
Tortoise 3
10988 COCA-COLA (4-4) Bits of coal, repeatedly processed, produce brown liquid (4-4) Bits of...repeatedly processed = letter bank
coal=letter bank fodder
produce = link
brown liquid=def
Tortoise 3
11145 FLAGRANT (8) Obvious complaint about the Stars and Stripes? (8) Obvious = def
FLAG RANT heteronym
Tortoise 3
12305 CHIN UP (4 2) In their initial appearances in Theogony, Chaos and Nyx quietly exercise (4-2) CHI+NU (first letters of CHAOS and NYX in Greek) + P Tortoise 3
12607 CONCH (5) Bacon cheeseburger secretly contains shellfish (5) hidden in baCON CHeeseburger Tortoise 3
12615 MACGYVER (8) Jury-rig air conditioning in British sports car, very crudely (8) Jury-rig = def
AC in MG + anagram of VERY
Tortoise 3
12739 MATRIX (6) Alternate reality in a sci-fi movie for mature audiences? It's for kids! (6) MA=for mature audiences (TV-MA rating)
TRIX=it's for kids
Tortoise 3
12786 BASS TROMBONE (4 8) Second-rate rump steak conceals rejected bit of mandible or horn (4 8) B+ASS+T(RO+M)BONE Tortoise 3
8435 REJOIN (6) Come back to March sister kept in check (6) March sister = JO, kept in = insertion, check = REIN
Come back to = definition
Tortoise 2
8529 LOVERS (6) Tristan and Iseult, say, caught up in Peasants' Revolt (6, assumes down clue) caught up in = found backwards (assuming down clue) in peasantS REVOLt
definition = Tristan and Iseult, say
Tortoise 2
8739 (0) (ε, δ) deduction applied to ∇·â(t) (0) DELTA (δ) deleted from (deduction applied to) DEL (∇) A T
ε represents the empty string in formal language
Tortoise 2
9012 EMACS (5) Apple product embedded in everyone's text editor (5) Apple product = MAC
embedded in = inside
everyone = E (video game rating)
's = S
text editor = def
Tortoise 2
9050 EARLY (5) Ahead of schedule, but almost coming in late (5) Ahead of schedule = def
but = linking
almost = NEARLY
coming in late = ignore first letter
Tortoise 2
9091 HAYWIRE (7) New employee concealing wrong way to be out of control (7) new employee = HIRE
concealing = containing
wrong way = anagram of WAY
to be = link
out of control = def
Tortoise 2
9121 INDICATOR (9) Tad ironic, using any old thing to mean an anagram?! (9) tad ironic = fodder
using any old thing to mean an anagram = anagram
(ironic) &lit
Tortoise 2
9165 LIAISON (7) Sloths interrupting apex predator's meeting (7) sloths = AIS
interrupting = inside
apex predator = LION
's = link
meeting = def
Tortoise 2
9240 SEA LION (3, 4) Bad-faith debater's guarantee: something charged (3, 4) Bad-faith debater = def
guarantee = SEAL
something charged = ION
Tortoise 2
9293 VAMP (4) Repeatedly play section with dominant chord on speaker (4) Repeatedly play section = def
with = link
dominant chord = V*
on = juxtaposition
speaker = AMP
*In music theory, chords are frequently labelled with Roman numerals, and the dominant chord is built on the fifth note of the scale.
Tortoise 2
9442 DIDACTIC (8) Performed the first part of a play, with characters's introduction providing a moral lesson (8) Performed = DID
the first part of a play = ACT I
with = juxaposition
character's introduction = C
providing a moral lesson = def
Tortoise 2
9494 SPATCHCOCK (10) To prepare poultry, fix up chicken's head dunked in punch (10) To prepare poultry = def
fix up = PATCH
chicken's head = C
dunked in = contained in
punch = SOCK
Tortoise 2
9520 REDEEM (6) Fulfill Wiccan moral code expressed by central themes (6) Fulfill = def
Wiccan motto = REDE
expressed by = juxtaposition
central themes = EM
Tortoise 2
9533 MANTISSA (8) Insect's on one part of a table made of logs? (8) Insect's = MANTIS[']S
on = juxtaposition
one = A
part of a table made of logs = def
Tortoise 2
9594 SATISFIED (9) It is a curse to be enthralled by depressing content (9) it is = TIS
a curse = FIE ("Fie upon thee...")
to be enthralled by = containment
depressing = SAD
content = def
Tortoise 2
9596 TÜRKIYE Dilapidated yurt sheltering one thousand and one Egyptians at the entrance to Middle Eastern nation (7) Dilapidated yurt = TURY*
sheltering = containing
one thousand = K
and = juxta
one = I
Egyptians at the entrance = E
to = link
Middle Eastern nation = def
Tortoise 2
9597 GREEN EGGS (5, 4) UK bakery stocking English muffin bottom with cream filling -- a sketchy accompaniment to ham at breakfast (5, 4) UK bakery = GREGGS
stocking = container
English = E
muffin bottom = N
with = juxta
cream filling = E
a sketchy accompaniment to ham at breakfast = def
Tortoise 2
10090 BARNS (5) Outlaws gathered around one side of neighbor's (!) farm buildings (5) Outlaws = BARS or BANS
gathered around = containing
one side of neighbor = N or R
's = linking (is)
farm buildings = def
Tortoise 2
10099 CHEESE GRATER (6, 6) Swindler makes off with bits of everyone's stuff – for example, Romeo's kitchen gadget (6, 6) Swindler = CHEATER
makes off with = contains
bits of everyone's stuff = first letters of Everyone's Stuff
for example = EG
Romeo = R
's = linking
kitchen gadget = def
Tortoise 2
10123 TREASURES Team leader provides comfort after losing the first of several valuable items (8) Team leader = T
provides comfort = REASSURES
after losing = deletion
the first of several S
valuable items = def
Tortoise 2
10146 STEALTH (7) Ordered "The Last Ninja" feature (7) ordered the last = anagram of THELAST
ninja feature = def
Tortoise 2
10196 REYKJAVIK (9) With king interrupting contingent of Freyja, Vikings established seat of power in Iceland (9) With king interrupting = insert K
contingent of Freyja, Vikings = fREYJA VIKings
established = link
seat of power in Iceland = def
Tortoise 2
10449 VICTUALS (8) Food provided by Connecticut university, served in small containers (8) Food = def
provided by = link
Connecticut = CT
university = U
served in = contained in
small containers = VIALS
Tortoise 2
10482 YAMMER (6) British PM retired *months* before the late Queen? Go on (6) British PM retired = YAM (MAY reversed)
months = M
the late Queen = ER
Go on = def
Tortoise 2
10711 B-SIDE (1-4) Remain in place, covering short, deep cut (1-4) Remain in place = BIDE
covering = containing
short = S
deep cut = def (lesser known song by an artist)
Tortoise 2
10864 HOLST (5) Composer, if better, would carry a gun? (5) composer = def
if better, would carry a gun = "comparative" would be HOLSTER
Tortoise 2
10893 MUSSORGSKY (10) Blatant send-up penned by strongly perfumed composer (10) GROSS reversed inside MUSKY Tortoise 2
11027 FINNISH (7) Nordic lodgings covered in herring, say (7) INN inside FISH Tortoise 2
12123 NATICK (6) Santa or Satan laying claim to @RexParker's ornery crossing (6) NICK (Saint Nick or Old Nick) around AT Tortoise 2
12232 APPROACH (8) Begin to tackle a hunt with good publicity (8) Begin to tackle = def
A+POACH containing PR
Tortoise 2
12289 YOUR FAVORITE COLOR (?) New method of producing unlimited energy is good for the environment (5) Anagram of ENERG(-y) Tortoise 2
12300 ASTERISK (8) Character in M*A*S*H essentially experienced danger (8) [-t]ASTE[-d]+RISK Tortoise 2
12361 FUCK (4) Two layers of protection for a football player to have sex (4) outer bigrams of FUllbaCK (a position in most forms of football) Tortoise 2
12569 QUATERNION (10) Complex equation involving real number and extension of a complex number (10) R+N inside anagram of EQUATION Tortoise 2
12570 COMFORT (7) Show up mostly for tea and sympathy (7) COM[-e]+FOR+T Tortoise 2
12763 ARMORY (6) OR ARMOURY (7) Romance lover hanging around red and yellow room with weapons? (6 or 7) R inside AMOR (Spanish) or AMOUR (French) + Y
("Romance lover" = "lover" in a Romance language, hence "?")
Tortoise 2
12787 COPIUM (6) Nuclear decay of element 112 yields mood-elevating drug, purportedly (6) COP[ernic]IUM Tortoise 2
12792 RATIONAL (8) Like some fraction of robbers, initially I entered without a key (8) R+AT(I)ONAL Tortoise 2
12806 LOTUS (5) Jill Biden briefly trashed failing electric vehicle brand (5) FLOTUS (abbr. for First Lady of the US) - F Tortoise 2
12833 GRAPEVINE (9) Secret source of Grand Canyon found outside park entrance at either end (9) G+RA(P+E)VINE Tortoise 2
12847 CAVY (4) Rodent that comes out of a hole (4) CAVITY - IT Tortoise 2
8462 ID CARD (2, 4) Rapper does a bit of cycling after dropping half of "surname" on official document (2, 4) Rapper = CARDI B, does a bit of cycling = cyclic permutation, dropping half of "surname" = cutting B in half graphically to make D, official document = definition Tortoise 1
8536 ENCHANTMENT (11) Delight in restructuring MachTen with some redundancies (11) Delight = definition
restructuring MachTen with some redundancies = letter bank of MachTen (use only the letters of the shorter word with repetitions to make a longer word)
Tortoise 1
8752 OWL (3) Scrabble reference includes acknowledgements? Just the opposite! (3, abbr.) "includes... just the opposite!" indicates that the answer is contained in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (and not vice versa)
Scrabble reference = definition (abbreviation for Official Word List)
Tortoise 1
8870 ANY CLUE FEATURING BOTH A SONG AND ITS ARTIST (?) Amy Winehouse hit – one after her "Back to Black" (5) REHAB: Amy Winehouse hit (def) = A (one) after REH (her, back), + (to) B (black) Tortoise 1
9059 TARNISHED (9) Broken-down train by storage structure lost its shine (9) broken-down train = TAERNI (anagram of TRAIN)
by = juxtaposition
storage structure = SHED
lost its shine = def.
Tortoise 1
9075 BOLD (4) Brave fantasy creature avoids knockout (4) Brave = def
fantasy creature = KOBOLD
avoids = deletion
knockout = KO
Tortoise 1
9135 HELICOPTER (10) Aircraft unit transporting police officer in pursuit of some guy (10) Aircraft = def
unit = LITER
transporting = containing
police officer = COP
in pursuit of = following
some guy = HE
Tortoise 1
9137 SOAP (4) Prime excerpts from a solarpunk opera on TV? (4) Prime excerpts from a solarpunk = letters 2, 3, 5, and 7 from "a SOlArPunk"
opera on TV = def
Tortoise 1
9171 OSTRICH (7) Christo artfully presented a bird (7) Christo artfully presented = anagram of CHRISTO
a bird = def
Tortoise 1
9242 COME ACROSS (4, 6) Encounter some Oscar mix-up following introduction of CODA (4, 6) Encounter = def
some Oscar mix-up = anagram of SOME OSCAR
following = after
introduction of CODA = C
Tortoise 1
9261 CHARLIE PARKER (7, 6) Saxophonist in Burns' short fictional account -- one involved in a cutting session including head from "Ko-Ko" (7, 6) Saxophonist = def
Burns' short = CHAR(s)
fictional account = LIE
one involved in a cutting session = PARER
including = containing
head from "Ko-Ko" = K
N.B.: Parker is included in Ken Burns' documentary series "Jazz". A "cutting session" is a competitive jam session. "Ko-Ko" is a Charlie Parker composition; the "head" refers to the composed melody of a jazz tune.
Tortoise 1
9278 CARBON (6) Sort of emissions from second automobile in operation (6) Sort of emissions = def
from = link
second automobile = CAR B
in operation = ON
Tortoise 1
9353 TURIN (5) Alan stops short, finding shroud site (5) Alan = TURING
stops short = curtailed
shroud site = def
Tortoise 1
9429 CHTHONIC (8) In the underworld, a certain section has extremes of heat and humidity, primarily (8) In the underworld = def
a certain section = CONIC
has = container
extremes of heart = HT
humidity, primarily = H
Tortoise 1
9437 ANTHEM (6) Article leading up to the Move's first song (6) Article = AN
leading up to = preceding
the = THE
Move's first = M
song = def
Tortoise 1
9451 EA-NASIR (2-5) Recipient of a noted complaint letter to start off rude to a gentleman (2-5) Recipient of a noted complaint letter = def
to = link
start off rude = (m)EAN
to = juxtaposition
a = A
gentleman = SIR
Tortoise 1
9462 UMAMI (5) South Florida institution briefly ignoring current taste (5) South Florida institution[,] briefly = U(niversity of )MIAMI
ignoring current = remove I
taste = def
Tortoise 1
9464 COAX (4) Cable broadcast of the frogs' refrain (4) Cable = def
broadcast of = homophone
[T]he [F]rogs refrain = KOAX (from Aristophanes)
Tortoise 1
9861 OXEYE (5) OR OXEYE DAISY (5, 5) Chemical bonded to first and last elements said to make a flower (5, 5) Chemical = OXIDE
bonded to = juxtaposition
first and last elements = A Z (elements in a sequence, not to do with chemistry)
said = homophone
to make = link
a flower = def
Tortoise 1
10076 PENCILS (7) Writing implements containing, effectively, graphite centrally affixed with latex on one end! (7) Writing implements = PENS
containing
effectively, graphite = C (graphite is a form of carbon)
centrally affixed = central letter of AFFIXED
with = juxtaposition
latex on one end = L
& lit.
Tortoise 1
10199 RAMBUNCTIOUS (12) Playful sheep and rabbit confused scout around 1 (12) Playful = def
sheep and rabbit = RAM BUN
confused scout = CTOUS*
around 1 = containing I
Tortoise 1
10227 EMBERS Doesn't forget to give back REM's "Hot Stuff" (6) Doesn't forget = REMEMBERS
to give back REM = delete REM
's = link
Hot Stuff = def
Tortoise 1
10310 HEXADECIMAL (11) Malice developed after mind comprehended unknown base (11) malice developed = ECIMAL*
after = juxtaposition
mind = HEAD
comprehended unknown = containing X
base = def
Tortoise 1
10325 VIVACE (6) Sinful behavior captivates Virginia quickly (6) Sinful behavior = VICE
captivates = containing
Virginia = VA
quickly = def
Tortoise 1
10506 [144 As] (144) Screaming "Black hearts! Gross!" (144) Screaming = def
Black heart[] = A
[s] gross = x144
Tortoise 1
10512 HAUNT (5) Puzzle event taking place around a familiar location (5) Puzzle event = HUNT
taking place around = container
a = A
familiar location = def
Tortoise 1
10645 GONCHAROV (9) Lost Scorsese film produced by lead actress, who married Xavier Cugat in Nevada (9) Lost Scorsese film = def
produced by = link
lead = GO ("The stairs go to the basement")
actress who married Xavier Cugat = CHARO
in = container
Nevada = NV
Tortoise 1
11028 LITERALLY (9) Truly drunk, really messed up (9) truly = def
drunk = lit
really messed up = anagram of REALLY
Tortoise 1
11720 PARSE (5) Try to understand astronomical measurement that ignores the speed of light (5) Try to understand = def
astronomical measurement = PARSEC
that ignores the speed of light = delete C
Tortoise 1
12591 STATUE PARK (6 4) Taupe pattern breaking up sparsely decorated puzzle in black and white (6 4) anagram of TAUPE in STARK Tortoise 1
12629 ONE ON ONE (3 2 3) Neo and two clones dance around, losing a bit of energy in climactic fight scenario (3 2 3) Anagram of NEONEONEO - E Tortoise 1
12653 MATCH (5) Bottomless green tea with Equal (5) MATCH[-a] Tortoise 1
12767 PENICILLIN (10) Antibiotic made from reused pencil shavings (10) Letter bank of PENCIL Tortoise 1
12793 COBWEB (6) Something made by Charlotte in a book by E.B. White coming first, after introductions to Charlotte and Orville's brother? (6) inits of Charlotte + Orville's Brother + W + EB Tortoise 1
12835 QUEUEING (8) Lining up in the 17th section of a hospital, per announcement? (8) "Q wing" homophone Tortoise 1
8436 FETCH (5) Go and get laptop stolen from Chevy Chase's reporter (5) lap[ ]top = L, stolen from = deletion, Chevy Chase's reporter = FLETCH
Go and get = definition
Tortoise 0
8441 AUSTRALIAN OPEN (10, 4) Arnold Schwarzenegger, for one, getting Albert and Oscar to confine a major in January (10, 4) Arnold Schwarzenegger, for one = AUSTRIAN
getting Albert = inserting AL
Oscar = O
confine = PEN
a major in January = definition
Tortoise 0
8791 ANY GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE (?) SoCal city of note (2, abbr.) L.A. (heteronym of LA) Tortoise 0
8846 SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?) Latvian backing second-rate work like a still life with pear (8) Latvian = LETT
backing = following
second-rate = B
work like a still life = ART
pear = BARTLETT (POTUS from The West Wing)
Tortoise 0
9058 ROTOM (5) Tuned drum loses to a Pokémon (5) Tuned drum = ROTOTOM
loses to = loses TO
a Pokémon = definition
Tortoise 0
9074 WES CRAVEN (3, 6) Horror director's beginning to characterize horror author's bird, following directions (3, 6) Horror director = def
's = link
beginning to characterize = C
horror author's bird = RAVEN (Poe' The Raven)
following = after
directions = W, E, S
Tortoise 0
9088 TORRENT (7) Deluge of rotten mixture swamped river (7) Deluge = def
of = link
rotten mixture = anagram of ROTTEN
swamped = around
river = R
Tortoise 0
9094 FORWARD (7) At the front of combat in river crossing (7) At the front = def
of = link
combat = WAR
in = in
river crossing = FORD
Tortoise 0
9120 FINALE (6) Alexander briefly appearing in good ending (6) Alexander briefly = AL
appearing in = insertion
good = FINE
ending = def
Tortoise 0
9166 TICONDEROGA (11) One criminal initially departed with beheaded Roman emperor wearing a toga somewhere about 100 miles east of Rome (11) One = I
criminal = CON
initially departed = D
beheaded Roman emperor = (n)ERO
wearing a toga = inside TOGA
somewhere about 100 miles east of Rome = def (That is, the town of Rome in central New York)
Tortoise 0
9243 A CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER DEPENDING ON WHETHER AMERICAN OR BRITISH ENGLISH IS USED (?) Upon reflection, "p" initially used current databank on the side to make a little bit of dough (4) US:
Upon reflection, "p" = b (reflected across a horizontal line)
initially used current = UC
databank on the side = K
to make = link
a little bit of dough = def of BUCK
UK:
Upon reflection, "p" = q (reflected across a vertical axis)
initially used = U
current = I
databank on the side = D
to make = link
a little bit of dough = def of QUID
Tortoise 0
9289 LYDIAN (6) Dylan remix incorporates one Greek mode (6) Dylan remix = anagram of DYLAN
incorporates = contains
one = I
Greem mode = def
Tortoise 0
9746 AUTONOMY (8) Gold trophy for a director perhaps bearing a mantra for self-direction (8) gold = AU
trophy for a director perhaps = TONY
bearing = contains
a mantra = OM
for = link
self-direction = def
Tortoise 0
10074 CURRY (5) Tear up while eating original spicy dish (5) Tear up = CRY
while eating = containing
original = UR- (prefix, e.g. urtext)
spicy dish = def
Tortoise 0
10147 COCONUT (7) Old criminal concealed by sliced fruit (7) Old = O
criminal = CON
concealed by = contained in
sliced = CUT
fruit = def
Tortoise 0
10148 MAUDLIN (7) Overly emotional principal holds up bad test result at the end of school (7) overly emotional = def
principal = MAIN
holds = container
up = U
bad test result = D
at = juxtaposition
the end of school = L
Tortoise 0
10158 BISCUIT (7) Boron appears next to copper -- this makes a tasty treat (7) Boron = B
appears = IS (as in, "Michelle Yeoh appears in Everything Everywhere All At Once")
next to = juxtaposition
copper = CU
this = IT
makes = link
a tasty treat = def
Tortoise 0
10160 SANDSTORM (9) Nine characters among thousands tormented by trance recording (9) Nine characters among thousands tormented = 9 letters hidden in thouSANDS TORMented
by = link
trance recording = def
Tortoise 0
10309 DESPERATE (9) Distressed ruminant grazed, feeding on margins of stonecrop (9) Distressed = def
ruminant grazed = DEER ATE
feeding on on = containing
margins of stonecrop = S_P
Tortoise 0
10322 BILLOWY (7) Loosely draped ribbon that's tied around sick lady's foot (7) Loosely draped = def
ribbon that's tied = BOW
around = containing
sick = ILL
lady's foot = Y
Tortoise 0
10446 BJORK (5) Icelandic musician singing excerpt from "Grab Your Coat" (5) phonetically hidden in graB YOUR Coat Tortoise 0
10721 PARTICIPANTS (12) People helping out to cast repetitive cantrips (12) People helping out = def
cast repetitive = letter bank indicator
CANTRIPS = letter bank base
Tortoise 0
10971 ON MAIN (2, 4) It's a bad idea to be horny here in Lewiston, Maine (2, 4) It's a bad idea to be horny here = def
in Lewiston, Maine = hidden in lewistON MAINe
Tortoise 0
11267 CHANNEL (7) English queen replaces primate in church passage (7) ANNE (English queen) replaces ape (primate) in CHAPEL (church) = CHANNEL (passage) Tortoise 0
12117 LIED (4) UN Secretary-General would compose German art song (4) (Trygve) LIE'D Tortoise 0
12297 CEMENT (6) He, for one, is excluded from declaration to produce binder (6) [-pronoun]CEMENT Tortoise 0
12577 ANY CLUE USING “PRIDE MONTH” (?) After Pride Month, write fanfic in a different setting -- somewhere in Alaska (6) JUNE + AU Tortoise 0
12608 CAPSIZE (7) Aces zip around wildly snd flip over (7) anagram of ACES ZIP Tortoise 0
12612 STAIRCASE (9) I got pushed back in Indian instrument's protective covering for several steps (9) Moving the I back in S(I)TAR CASE Tortoise 0
12647 FOLLY (5) Ridiculous behavior of old lady who swallowed a fly? Quite the opposite! (5) O+L inside FLY Tortoise 0
12696 PEAR (4) Fruit to come into view a second time (not counting the first time we see its pieces) (4) Second instance of all unique letters in REAPPEAR Tortoise 0
12727 GALACTIC (8) Puzzle hunt with weird quirk following celebration with cake at kickoff (8) GALA+C+TIC Tortoise 0
12732 STANDOUT (8) One who’s exceptional and covered in beer (8) ST(AND)OUT Tortoise 0

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