rpl

Contests started: ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?), A CLUE THAT MUST SOLVE TO BOTH BENGALS AND RAMS, DEPENDING ON HOW WORDPLAY IS PARSED (7) AND (4), ANY CLUE THAT BEGINS "IN SOVIET RUSSIA..." (?), THYMINE (7), SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?), ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y), INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7), SIBELIUS (8), ANY CLUE IN THE STYLE OF SONG LYRICS TO “WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”, WHERE EACH ITEM REFERENCES A 21ST CENTURY EVENT. EXTRA CREDIT FOR RHYME SCHEME (?), KUEBIKO (7), ANY BATMAN SUPERVILLAIN (?), OISEAU, FOR ALL TIME (3,3,4), HELLO THERE (5,5), GET A LIFE (3,1,4), ET TU (2,2), ANY TITLE OF A SONG, WHEREIN THE CLUE MUST CONTAIN LYRICS FROM THAT SONG (?), CODA (4), CLOUDS (6), HÉLOÏSE (7), BLOOD PACT (5, 4), CONCERTO (8), A CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER DEPENDING ON WHETHER AMERICAN OR BRITISH ENGLISH IS USED (?), GENTOO (6), EGREGIOUS (9), A CLUE THAT ONLY WORKS IF ONE ASCRIBES TO A WIDELY DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY (?), DARKHOLD (8), ECCEDENTESIAST (14), A CLUE THAT WORKS WHEN READ BOTH LEFT-TO-RIGHT AND RIGHT-TO-LEFT (? OR ?), IOUEA (5), CHTHONIC (8), ZUGZWANG (8), A CLUE IN WHICH EVERY WORD IS (OR IS PART OF) A COMMONLY ACCEPTED ANAGRIND (?), SPLOOT (6), A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?), ELEVEN (6), OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5), SWIATEK (7), SATISFIED (9), ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?), A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?), IDIOCY (6), SUPERTEAM (9), A CLUE WHOSE SURFACE READS LIKE A TWITTER BIO. EXTRA CREDIT FOR EMOJIS (?), A CLUE THAT USES A PHONETIC ANAGRAM INDICATOR (?), PATERISSA (9), ANY CLUE THAT ENDS WITH "... THIS IS NOT A PUZZLE." (?), CUCKOO (6), SEVERANCE (9), POLITICAL (9), CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING), CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?), 11780 (5), A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?), CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED BEFORE OR AFTER THE YEAR 1868 (?), CLUE THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY SATISFIES AS MANY PREVIOUS PROMPTS AS POSSIBLE (?), H.G. WELLS, CRUDITÉ (7), BURSAR (6), PACER (5), GUITALELE (9), MÉNIÈRE (7), BIOCHEMISTRY (12), CROSIER (7), C MAJOR (1, 5), FEDERER (7), A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?), VIVACE (6), SCHERZO (7), CADENZA (7), CORONIAL (8), LOOKDOWN (8), FOR GOOD (3,4), MEMORY (6), ORACULAR (8), FAÇADE (6), VICTUALS (8), ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?), CALVARY (7), VERDIGRIS (9), INHOTIM (7), ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...), VUELIE (6), DRACARYS (8), WINNIE OR POOH (6/4), WHAT COMES NEXT? (4, 5, 4), MARICOPA (8), MULE (4), INDITE (6), CHORALE (7), EROICA (6), SYNE (4), SACRILEGE (9), SPEECHLESS (10), XENIAL (6), XEME (4), CARNIVOROUS (11), @ME (3), 爱 (1), ARCTURUS (8), HÁČEK (5), TRIQUETRA (9), STEVIA (6), SUDAFED (7), RICIN (5), COCOBOLO (8), WAKANDA (7), ARENDELLE (9), GOSSAMER (8), TACHYCARDIA (11), TULLE (5), MYCOLOGY (8), ANANASSA (8), TÁR (3), CZÁRDÁS (7), WAS (3), INSTEAD (7), YOUR (4), VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR (6, 8, 2, 1, 5), AN "ANTI-&LIT" IN WHICH THE WHOLE CLUE FUNCTIONS AS WORDPLAY AND IS ALSO A DEFINITION FOR AN ANTONYM OF THE ANSWER (?), HUMORESQUE (10), BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON (4-4, 5, 6), INDICATED (9), CHARLOTTE (9), BONGCLOUD (9), ESTIVAL (7), INCEPTION (9), ATARAXIA (8), BAYMAX (6), AUTUMNAL (8), AFORESAID (9), EIGENLETTER (11), HONJOK (6), OFFICER (7), CRÈME BRÛLÉE (5, 6), TIMEOUT (7), BLATANT (7), NATICK (6), MERCURIAL (9)

Contests won: CUPID (5), ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?), BLEEP (5), NOTA BENE (4, 4), ANY ANAGRAMLESS CLUE WITH AN ANSWER THAT IS 15+ LETTERS LONG (?), REIGN (5), ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y), NUMBER ONE (6, 3), INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7), ELDEN (5), SCRABBLE (8), MAESTRO (7), LIFETIME (8), INIMITABLE (10), MATCHLESS (9), CONSEQUENCE (11), ANY CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER BASED ON WHETHER IT'S AN ACROSS CLUE OR A DOWN CLUE (?), DEMAGOGUE (9), FAIL-DEADLY (4-6), WONT (4), A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?), ANY URL (?), OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5), SWIATEK (7), ASPHODEL (8), GREEN EGGS (5, 4), ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?), STANCHION (9), A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?), CLEANSE (7), GRANULAR (8), IDIOCY (6), ANY CLUE ENTIRELY MADE UP OF WORDS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTS' PROMPTS (?) , UNICODE (7), EQUIVALENCE (11), AWESOME (7), ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?), ANY CLUE WHICH IS ALSO A TRUE SENTENCE (?), ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A COMPLETE LIE (?), PODCAST (7), ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?), GRADUATION (10), SECRETARIAT (11), AUTONOMY (8), CAVE (4), CUCKOO (6), KEY CHANGE (3, 6), BOWSER (6), ROUND TRIP (5, 4), POLITICAL (9), ROSE (4), CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING), CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?), A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?), OXEYE (5) OR OXEYE DAISY (5, 5), TENNIS (6), SUSURRUS (8), ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?), ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN TWO OR MORE WAYS THAT ALL GIVE THE SAME ANSWER (?), JESUS (5), ANY TRIPLE-OR-MORE DEFINITION CLUE (?), SANDSTORM (9), CREME DE LA CREME (5, 2, 2, 5), SCRUMP (6), HAMILTON (8), JEFFERSON (9), BURSAR (6), TASTHING (8), LABOUR (6), MÉNIÈRE (7), LIBRARY (7), BIOCHEMISTRY (12), CANAL (5), LEVEE (5), GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (3, 4, 3, 5), CHARLES III (7, 3), POLYDACTYLY, CROSIER (7), TALKING HEADS (7, 5), FLOAT (5), BELLES-LETTRES (6-7), SKYSCRAPERS (11), ODD FUTURE (3, 6), A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?), BILLOWY (7), DAVID BOWIE (5, 5), BOOLEAN (7), SUCKY (5), CROP TOP (4, 3), FIG LEAF (3, 4), OLIVE BRANCH (5, 6), CORONIAL (8), DESCARTES (9), CORNCOB (7), SONG 2 (4, 1), STAND (6), LILLIPUTIAN (11), BOO (3), OVERWATCH (9), NIGHTHAWKS (10), BREAK (5), OUTLIER ()7(), DOOBLYDOO (9), FAÇADE (6), ADZE (4), CALVARY (7), DISCO (5), CAVALRY (7), VERDIGRIS (9), BOOST (5), SHORTEST (8), INHOTIM (7), PIKASHOCK (9), ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...), HYGGE (5), REAL TALK (4, 4), DRACARYS (8), MALAPHOR (8), AMALGAM (7), ARCTURUS (8), RÄT (3), BORODIN (7), GLINKA (6), BALAKIREV (9), CORELLI (7), INSTEAD (7), KHACHATURIAN (12), TRUISM (6), EDELWEISS (9), TOREADOR (8), Q (1), R (1), S (1), IMBROGLIO (9), V (1), ANACONDA (8), GUINEA PIG (6, 3), AUTUMNAL (8), ANY CLUE THAT USES A TONE TAG (?), CHARLATAN (9), BAR NONE (3, 4), MORTADELLA (10), VERMOUTH (8), LIED (4), TELEGRAM (8), MIHOYO (6), ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A METAPUZZLE (?)

All Submissions

Clue ID Contest Clue Explanation (hover) Submitted By Likes
9857 A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?) “Senator, I invaded in Capitol riot” (10) INCA(I)PITOL* = POLITICIAN rpl 7
12145 ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A METAPUZZLE (?) META: Platitude (3rd); Forever (1st); Eternity (penultimate); Remembrance (last); Haunter (last) [5] (Cryptic clue)
def: meta
wordplay: plA_ F_ ..Ty _E _R = AFTER [5] (a meaning for the Greek root "meta-")

(Meta puzzle)
Word-indexing into the winning clues for PLATITUDE, FOREVER, ETERNITY, REMEMBRANCE, and HAUNTER yields:
"First endlessly topless barrier Pokémon [5]"
This is another cryptic clue that solves to EEVEE. (def: Pokémon; wordplay: E_ lEVEE)

Notice that EEVEE is also a previous contest word on this site.
The word that comes "AFTER EEVEE" in the contest archives is KAHAU [5], which is the final answer.
rpl 7
9816 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) Un caballero loco... ¡Quite jodón! (3,7) Surface reading: "Silly knight... f*** off, ass!"

def: "Un caballero" (a knight) = DON QUIJOTE (native spelling)
wp: [QUITE JODON]* ("loco")
rpl 5
11230 TRUISM (6) A moral politician leaves right-wing movement (6) def = A moral // TRU(-mp)ISM rpl 5
8897 NUMBER ONE (6, 3) Disheartened and upset Espeon hugs Umbreon cheerfully as a best friend (6,3) N__E< around ("hugs") [UMBER ON]* ("cheerfully")

def. "a best friend"
rpl 4
9544 GHOTI (5) Search for unspoken letters from benignly charismatic Catholic Apostle on quiet business (5) def = "Search for", fish (verb)

GHOT = (unspoken letters from) beniGnly cHarismatic cathOlic aposTle
on = juxtaposition
I = (quiet) busIness
rpl 4
9677 EQUIVALENCE (11) Agreement with corrupt evil Queen having a heart of ice (11) Agreement - def
with - link
corrupt - anagrind
[EVIL QUEEN + (having) + A + iCe]* = EQUIVALENCE
rpl 4
9757 CUCKOO (6) Crazy dictator's attempt to overthrow government twice (6) homophone (dictator's) of "coup"x2 rpl 4
9797 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) 在美国, 我听说她是总统 (1) 在美国, - "In the United States", English indicator
我听说 - "I heard", homophone indicator
她 - feminine 3rd person pronoun
homophone of "she" = XI

是 - "is", link
总统 - def "president" = 习 (XI)
rpl 4
9856 OXEYE (5) OR OXEYE DAISY (5, 5) Margeurite’s ex-love refused to see Gatsby’s ex-love (5,5) def - Margeurite/OXEYE DAISY
XO< (ex-love refused) + EYE (to see) + DAISY (Gatsby’s ex-love)
rpl 4
10253 CANAL (5) Firth and de Armas wearing Chanel clothes (5) def - firth
wordplay - ANA ("de Armas") in ("wearing") C__L ("clothes")
rpl 4
10479 BOOST (5) Surge in disapproval ends in Truss retiring (5) Surge {in} // BOO S__T< rpl 4
11231 TRUISM (6) It's rum mixed with bromide (6) (ITS RUM)* // def = bromide rpl 4
11426 TOREADOR (8) Man facing charges in Oregon after broke lawyer retired (8) Man facing charges = def; in = link
TORE = broke (v.)
AD< = lawyer retired
OR = Oregon
rpl 4
8702 MINISTER (8) Magical Fudge, for one bite-sized British pound? (8) def. "Magical Fudge, for one"
i.e. Cornelius "Fudge", the MINISTER of Magic

MINI = bite-sized
STER. = British pound (abbrev.)
rpl 3
8704 ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?) ___, originally a book by the French, follows the French man losing Javert’s trail! (3 10) "originally A B(ook)": AB
"by": connector
"the French": LES
"follows"...
"the French": LES
“Man losing javerT’s trail”: MIS(t)ER

&lit. the central plot of LES MISERABLES
rpl 3
9495 DEMAGOGUE (9) Divisive leader primarily espousing “Make America Great Again” without end, and criminal who cancels Republicans, say (9) Divisive leader = D_
primarily espousing = E_
“Make America Great Again” without end = MAG(-a)
Criminal who cancels Republicans, say = (-r)OGUE

&lit.
rpl 3
9496 FAIL-DEADLY (4-6) Disfigured and deformed, I fled with a lady from mutually-assured nuclear destruction (4-6) Disfigured and deformed - anagrind
[I FLED + A LADY]* = FAIL-DEADLY
def. mutually-assured nuclear destruction
rpl 3
9501 WONT (4) Habit of putting weight on over time (4) def. Habit

W. = weight abbrev
ON
"over" = vertical juxtaposition
T. = time abbrev

rpl 3
9508 AREPA (5) In Caracas, she opens revolutionary cuisine (5) "In Caracas, she opens" = APERA (3rd person sg. conjugation for "open" in Spanish)

def cuisine = APERA<
rpl 3
9575 SWIATEK (7) French Open champion is Nadal in Catalonia, in Warsaw? (7) def. French Open champion

NADAL is the Catalan word for “Christmas”
ŚWIĄTEK is the Polish word for “Christmas”
“Nadal in Catalonia, in Warsaw” => translate NADAL from Catalan to Polish => ŚWIĄTEK
rpl 3
9582 ASPHODEL (8) Lily hopes to dance with lad (8) Lily - def
to dance with - anagrind
[HOPES + LAD]* = ASPHODEL
rpl 3
9629 ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) ||Dumbledore's killer, gutted after rejection, has crush on Harry's dead parent (5)|| Dumbledore's killer - SNAPE
gutted after rejection - E(-pan)S< = ES
... has ... on - vertical juxtaposition (in the sense of wearing a hat)
crush - JAM (verb)

JAM+E(-pan)S< = JAMES = def. Harry's dead parent
rpl 3
9644 A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) Machine to steal old books with drugs enclosed, // Back east to tour, and famous question posed? (2,2,2,3,2,2) BOT+TO ROB+OT - Machine, to steal, old books [OT = Old Testament]
BOTTORO(E)BOT - with drugs [E. = Ecstasy] enclosed
(TOBEOROTTOB)<+E - Back [reversal] + E(ast)
TOBEOR(N)OTTOBE - to tour [contains] [and = 'N]

def - famous question posed?
rpl 3
9705 PODCAST (7) Radio show announcement about Capital One (7) Radio show - def
announcement - POST
about - containment
Capital One - DC+A

PO(DC+A)ST

rpl 3
9747 AUTONOMY (8) With Alito's fringe, disheartening opinion, SCOTUS disregarded precedent, peeled away, and overturned my constitutional right. (8) With - juxtaposition
Alito's fringe - A_
disheartening opinion - O__N
SCOTUS, disregarded precedent [delete lead], peeled away [delete ends] - _cOTUs
and overturned - reversal
my - MY

A_+(O__N+_cOTUs)< + MY = AUTONOMY
rpl 3
9754 CAVE (4) Fall in love after California bans partying LOL (4) def. Fall in = CAL+LOVE-LLO* = CAVE rpl 3
9761 VIEW (4) I’ve changed wife’s opinion (4) IVE*+W. = def. opinion rpl 3
9774 BOWSER (6) King sent down in search for tank (6) R. (king) sent down in BROWSE: B(r)OWSE -> BOWSE(r)
def - tank
rpl 3
9788 ROSE (4) Jack’s partner didn’t sink? (4) ddef Jack’s partner = didn’t sink rpl 3
9801 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) Zhormen dalen ma som akkelenak, yer mel Khaleesi (8) Translation (Dothraki): "Heartless thousand with no leader, you evil Queen"

zhormen DALEN - DA_EN
ma - juxtaposition
SOM akkelenak - S_ (akkelenak = "leader")
yer mel - YER* (mel = "evil" anagrind)

DA_EN+(S__YER)* = DAENERYS = def. Khaleesi
rpl 3
9957 JESUS (5) I’m in Notre Dame without a savior (5) I’m - JE SUIS
in Notre Dame - French indicator
without a - delete I ("one")

JE SU(-i)S
rpl 3
10125 ANY TRIPLE-OR-MORE DEFINITION CLUE (?) Scarlet is a Stanford athlete and ecclesiastic major who plays football for Arizona? (8) quintuple def. CARDINAL

Scarlet (red)
a Stanford athlete (university team)
ecclesiastic (noun, priest)
major (adj, important)
who plays football for Arizona? (NFL team)
rpl 3
10260 LEVEE (5) During `____` apocalypse, Evelyn returned `____` ... when the `____` breaks, originating from Kansas and Memphis (5) wordplay: "During ____ apocalyps(E, EVEL)yn returned ____" (extraneous punctuation ignored)

def: "... when the ____ breaks, originating from Kansas and Memphis"
("When the Levee Breaks" is a lyric and original song by blues duo Memphis Minnie & Kansas McCoy -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Levee_Breaks; a more popular version of that original work was later covered by Led Zeppelin)
rpl 3
10749 ARCTURUS (8) Alpha Boötes' Curve Donut Expressed (8) def: Alpha Boötes (Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer_designation)

wp: Curve Donut Expressed => "arc torus" homophone
rpl 3
10868 RÄT (3) Viral song upset conductor with wrong accent (3) viral song = def
upset = reversal
conductor = TÁR
with wrong accent = change Á to Ä
rpl 3
10896 BORODIN (7) Composer for Berlin orchestra leads finale of *Thor: Love and Thunder* (7) def = Composer, for = link
B_O_ (leads)
(finale of) _R
O (love)
DIN (thunder)
rpl 3
10914 INSTEAD (7) Rather than being "woke", DeSantis cancels "The Last of Us" (7) Rather than = def
being = link
"woke" DeSantis = anagram *DESANTIS (the meaning of "woke" is arbitrary, so it's perfectly valid as an anagram indicator!)
cancels "the last of uS" = delete _S

*INSTEAD(-_S)
rpl 3
10950 KHACHATURIAN (12) Russian emperor receives a bad haircut (12) KH(A *CHATURI)AN rpl 3
11681 AUTUMNAL (8) Abdomen broke, ulna fractured after a concerning fall (8) Abdomen = TUM
broke = contained in
Ulna fractured = UNAL*

A U(TUM)NAL*
rpl 3
12133 TELEGRAM (8) PM to inform a BBC talk show host on air (8) def = PM (i.e. a private message sent/encrypted using the app - noun or verb both work)
TELL A GRAHAM (Norton) = "to inform a BBC talk show host"
homophone = "on air"
rpl 3
8691 ANY CLUE WITH A WORD USED MULTIPLE TIMES (?) Catch-22's Major Major Major is under East cover, over (7) Definition = "Catch-22"

M = Major major
MA = Major
DILE = ELID< (East + "cover", over)

DILE + MMA ("under")
rpl 2
8694 ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?) Play with themes of betrayal, corrupting ambition, envy, and madness leading to tragic hour (7) (“themes of”)[B_ C_A_ E_ M_]* (“play with”) + (“leading to”) T_H_ = MACBETH, &lit. Shakespeare's tragic play rpl 2
8754 BLEEP (5) Cover-up of terrible epidemic is censored in media (5) cover-up of "terriBLE EPidemic"

def. is censored in media
rpl 2
8769 ANY CLUE THAT IS FORMATTED LIKE A "YO MAMA" JOKE (?) Yo mama ____, she.. can be stuffed in the walls of Athens (2 3) def.: "Yo mama ____, she.."

wordplay: can be stuffed in "the wallS OF AThens"
rpl 2
8829 MODEL (5) It can lead to joy when used in machine learning?! (5) ODE = "It can lead to joy", as in _Ode to Joy_
ML = "Machine learning"
M(ODE)L
rpl 2
8856 ANY ANAGRAMLESS CLUE WITH AN ANSWER THAT IS 15+ LETTERS LONG (?) Wonderful song title, for one! (34) ddef. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS rpl 2
8857 REIGN (5) "Empire's fall!" - they sang (5) homophone of RAIN ("fall")
def. "Empire"
rpl 2
8869 NUMBER ONE (6, 3) Wee are the champion (6,3) ddef. Wee = the champion rpl 2
8885 ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y) That is principal tragedy which follows central characters in Verona, with love cutting between feuding name, two juvenile delinquent leads’ rebellion, and cruel heart loss!! (5,3,6) IE = “That is”
T = “principal T_”
connector: “which follows”
RO = “central characters in veROna”
“with”: connector
ME(O)AN = “love” (O, as in tennis) “cutting between” [NAME]* (“feuding”)
DJ< = two “Juvenile Delinquent” leads’ rebellion
“and”: connector
U = “crUel heart”
L = “loss” abbrev.

&lit. Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET (double ! just for funs)
rpl 2
8902 INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7) Trading American puzzles is something banned for many UK cryptic writers (8,7) [TRADING AMERICAN]* (“puzzles”) = INDIRECT ANAGRAM
def. something banned for many UK cryptic writers
rpl 2
8908 ELDEN (5) Ring that’s destroyed in the Netherlands leads to the French Revolution (5) def. "Ring that’s destroyed"
“the Netherlands” = NED; “leads to” = concat. indicator; “the French” = LE; “Revolution” = reversal
(NED + LE)< = ELDEN
rpl 2
8975 MAESTRO (7) Is French king captured by revolutionary leader? MA(EST+R.)O = def. "leader" rpl 2
9038 LIFETIME (8) Transmit corrupted file back for days (8) (EMIT + EFIL*)< = def. "days" rpl 2
9041 INIMITABLE (10) Unique and stylish, I'm willing to collect it (10) IN (stylish) + IM(IT)ABLE = def. "unique" rpl 2
9045 MATCHLESS (9) Best in class meth chemistry (9) CLASS METH* = def. "Best" rpl 2
9368 ANY CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER BASED ON WHETHER IT'S AN ACROSS CLUE OR A DOWN CLUE (?) Orientation of chiefly anti-conservative party to orange leader over with Nazis, primarily (4 or 6) Orientation of chiefly anti-conservative party to orange leader over with Nazis, primarily (4 or 7)

def. = “Orientation” for both ACROSS and DOWN

DOWN clue
D(emocratic) = “Chiefly anti-conservative party”
“to” = concat. indicator
O_ = “orange leader”
“over” = vertical/down clue concat. indicator
W/ = “with” abbrev
N_ = “Nazis, primarily”

ACROSS clue
A_C_ = “Chiefly anti-conservative”
R(epublican) = “party to orange leader” i.e. Donald T****
O. = “over” (cricket abbrev)
SS = “Nazis, primarily”
rpl 2
9518 A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?) Rogue interjection or volume engagés Europe? (2,6) def = Rogue interjection = AU VOLEUR

or = gold = AU
volume = VOL (abbrev)
engages = juxtaposition indicator
Europe = EUR (abbrev)

rogue = French for rogue
interjection = French for interjection
or = French for gold
volume = French for volume
engagés = French conjugation for engaged
Europe = French for Europe
rpl 2
9539 ANY URL (?) in.cia.gov/traitor (4) def traitor = cIAGOv rpl 2
9550 OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5) After heart to heart in Paris, break up over loveless work (5) After = juxtaposition
heart to heart in Paris = cŒUr (French word for “heart”) break up = anagrind
over loveless = (-o)VER (O, as in tennis)

_ŒU_ + VRE* = "work" = def
rpl 2
9585 YANK (4) "I'm for Russia and North Korea!" - an American (4) YA = I'm for Russia ("I am" in Russian)
NK = North Korea

def - an American
rpl 2
9588 GREEN EGGS (5, 4) Regularly aggrieved man endlessly refusing to sample goods at first, comes around to Sam’s offering? (5,4) _G_R_E_E_ + GENt< + S_G_< = def. Sam’s offering? rpl 2
9632 STANCHION (9) No! I refused to wear hat of heartlessly loyal supporter (9) NO+I< (“to wear hat of”) STAuNCH
STA_NCH+(I+ON)< = def. supporter
rpl 2
9657 IDIOCY (6) Supported with certainty on both sides, man is banned from saying stupid things (6) Supported with - vertical juxtaposition
certainty on both sides - C__Y
man (M) is banned from saying (n. IDIOM) - IDIO(-m)

IDIO(-m)+C___Y = def. stupid things
rpl 2
9666 ANY CLUE ENTIRELY MADE UP OF WORDS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTS' PROMPTS (?) Hunt for cashew, abandon with puzzles (5) CASHE*-w = CHASE = def. Hunt rpl 2
9669 UNICODE (7) French article that's about sham tech standard (7) UN (French article) + IE (that is) around (about) COD (sham) = def. tech standard rpl 2
9676 AWESOME (7) Boss’s first letter: “Sadly, woe is me − yours truly” (7) def - Boss (slang)
A (first letter) + [WOE IS ME]* (sadly) − I (yours truly) = AWESOME
rpl 2
9690 ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?) Hexes and talking trees guard Middle-Earth and close off the entrances of Camelot and Earthsea Hexes - def
and - connector
talking trees - ENTS
guard - containment
middle eaRth - _R_
AND, close off [delete ending] - AN_
the entrances of Camelot and Earthsea - C_+E_

ENT(_R_+AN_+C_+E_)S = ENTRANCES = def. Hexes (verb)
rpl 2
9714 ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A COMPLETE LIE (?) "A truth is, to admit it, I love you..." say (10) A truth is - FACT + 'S
to admit - containment
it, I love - IT+I+O (as in tennis)
you... say - U (say = homophone)

FACTITIOUS = FACT(IT+I+O+U)S

def./&lit. - The quoted statement is indeed FACTITIOUS (meaning fake/false), because I don't actually love you (sorry)
rpl 2
9722 ANY CLUE THAT IS A WINNING CLUE YOU'VE STOLEN OFF A PAST CONTEST, BUT INTERPRETTED TO SOMEHOW SOLVE INTO A DIFFERENT ANSWER (?) Kill; behead; chop up (4) kill = SMASH (e.g. smashing a rebellion)
sMASH = def. chop up

original: https://cryptics.jackbrounstein.com/contest/56-ice-3
rpl 2
9724 ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?) Football player Beckham in action: dove a lil’ regularly in front of defense (5) Football player Beckham - def
in action:... - anagrind
in front of Defense - D_

UK: *[D_V_A_I_ + D_] = DAVID (Beckham), famous soccer player

US: *[_O_E_L_L + D_] = ODELL (Beckham), famous American football player
rpl 2
9730 SECRETARIAT (11) Big _Red Scare_ threat I fabricated to kick out top horse (11) def - "Big Red"
[SCARE THREAT I]* (fabricated) - (to kick out) H_ (top horse) = SECRETARIAT
rpl 2
9789 POLITICAL (9) Almost everything behind a form of art, including love and literature, relates to government. (9) ALl - almost everything
behind...
P(O+LIT)IC - a form of art (PIC), including love (O) and literature (LIT)
rpl 2
9809 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) вітання! смілива лідерка Ава що ріже цибулю в Москві – жахлива а́їр, ні? (5,7) (Ukrainian) Greetings! Brave leader Ava cutting onions in Moscow – terrible plant, isn't it?

def - вітання! (salute) = СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ

смілива лідерка - С_ (лідерка = "leader")
Ава - АВА ("Ava", female name)
що ріже - containment
цибулю в Москві - ЛУК ("onions in Moscow", Russian)
жахлива А́ЇР - РАЇ*
ні - НІ

С_+Л(АВА)УК+РАЇ*+НІ = СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ
rpl 2
9815 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) Θα αποκεφαλίσω γάιδαρο! Παληάνθρωπος! (5) (Greek) "I will behead donkey! Villain!"

def - Παληάνθρωπος (villain, specifically someone who hates humankind) = Θανος (THANOS, English transliteration)

Θα + _νος (όνος = γάιδαρο, donkey synonym) = Θανος
rpl 2
9894 SUSURRUS (8) Murmurs of US-USSR war ending badly over uranium (8) def Murmurs = US-USSR _R* ("badly") contains ("over") U(ranium) rpl 2
10190 JEFFERSON (9) He chastised England's King in France: "I very strongly doubt US in Spain's Revolution" (9) def: He chastised England's King (Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence)

JE - in France: "I"
FF - very strongly (music abbrev.)
ER - doubt
SON< - "us" in Spain = NOS; 's Revolution = reversal indicator
rpl 2
10192 HAMILTON (8) Hit Lin-Manuel original composition about America's beginning, embraced greatly by the audience! (8) H - Hit (baseball abbrev)
H+MILN* - LIN-M_ ("-Manuel original") anagram ("composition")
H(A_)MILN - contains ("about") A_ ("America's beginning")
HAMIL("TO")N - contains ("embraced") "TOO" ("greatly" i.e. excessively) homophone ("by the audience")

def/&lit: Hamilton is a widely-acclaimed popular musical show , composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, about America's founding
rpl 2
10194 BURSAR (6) A. Burr first to shoot, murdered treasurer (6) A BURR S_* (murdered = anagrind)
def - treasurer
rpl 2
10264 CHARLES III (7, 3) He reacted with Sicilian opening in response, losing knight to king (7,3) ("reacted with" = anagrind) *[HE + SICILIAN + R_ ("opening in response")] - N ("losing knight") = CHARLES III
link - {to}
def - "king"
rpl 2
10281 FLOAT (5) Propose love inside condo (5) def - propose (i.e. to "float" an idea)
FL(O)AT
rpl 2
10329 BOOLEAN (7) True or false: Luke is evacuated, sheltered in Naboo by arrangement (7) L__E - Luke is evacuated
{container} - sheltered in
BOO AN* - Naboo, by arrangement

BOO(L__E)AN*
rpl 2
10333 BOOLEAN (7) True or false: Bail Organa leads a clone rebellion, abandoning Coruscant's capital (7) B_O_ - Bail Organa leads
A(-c_)LONE* - A CLONE ("rebellion" = anagrind), delete C(oruscant)'s capital

B_O_+OLEAN*(-c)
rpl 2
10338 SUCKY (5) Shitty Senate leader neglecting half of Kentucky (5) S_ = Senate leader
_____UCKY = neglecting half of (-kent)ucky
rpl 2
10427 BREAK (5) Dark switching sides to dawn (5) B(L->R)EAK = def "to dawn" (sense: "to break" a new day) rpl 2
10438 OUTLIER ()7() US traitor heard amongst fringe element on the extreme right? (7) LI ("lee" homophone) inside OUT()ER (fringe) // def = element on the extreme right? rpl 2
10442 FAÇADE (6) "Masquerade" note sung with top four characters in cadence (6) def = Masquerade // FA ("note sung", from solfege) + (top four characters in) CADE__ rpl 2
10500 ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...) *Vogue* feature once put out odds of candied lye (5) *Vogue* feature once = def
put out = indicator for deletion (like "extinguished"), or anagram (like "spread out")
odds of ... = letter selection

1. ADELE (Adkins) = _A_D_E_ L_E (delete odds)
2. CINDY (Crawford) = C_N_I_D _Y_* (anagram odds)
3. CYNDI (Lauper) = C_N_I_D _Y_* (anagram odds)
rpl 2
10513 REAL TALK (4, 4) Republican lunatic Lake embraces alternative "facts" (4, 4) R(epublican) E(ALT.)ALK*
def = "facts"
rpl 2
10912 CORELLI (7) He bowed to men in orchestra section (7) def = He bowed (as in "bowing a violin", Corelli was a violinist)
men = OR ("original regiment", military men)
in = container
orchestra section = CELLI
rpl 2
11550 S (1) Second letter of the alphabet (1) Second (unit of time) = S
def = letter of the alphabet
rpl 2
11677 GUINEA PIG (6, 3) Lab test with a tailless penguin doctored on Instagram (6, 3) def = Lab test (subject)
link = with
GUINEA P* = (A PENGUI_)* doctored
[on]
IG = Instagram
rpl 2
11690 LEFTIST (7) "Nancy's the fearless leader. It is time to follow." -- Biden to Republicans LE = Nancy's the ("the" in French // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy,_France)
F_ = fearless leader
TIS = it is
T. = time (to follow)
def = Biden, to Republicans
rpl 2
11951 ANY CLUE THAT USES A TONE TAG (?) Sierra: Um... I love you! /s (sincere) [7] S = Sierra (NATO)
ER = um
I O (love) U /s
def = sincere
rpl 2
12013 CHARLATAN (9) White spider spoke and many heard a quack (9) White spider = "charlotte" (from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White), spoke = homophone
many = "ton", heard = homophone

a quack = def // homophone of "charlotte ton"
rpl 2
12091 BAR NONE (3, 4) GF entertains nurse, is not turned off to a man (3, 4) GF = BAE; nurse = RN; is not turned off = ON
BA(RN ON)E
def: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/to-a-man
rpl 2
12116 VERMOUTH (8) Must product of roots have half the real numbers, say? (8) __VE = haVE half
ℝ = the real numbers
MOUTH (v.) = say

def: vermouth is a product made from "must" (i.e. grape juice) and herbal "roots"
rpl 2
8692 CUPID (5) Matchmaker fool having a change of heart of love for you, embodies a transcendental Greek character (5) def. Matchmaker

C(o->U)D: COD (“fool”), change center letter from O (“love” i.e. in tennis) to U (“you”)

CU(PI)D: embodies PI (“a transcendental Greek character")
rpl 1
8699 SOULMATE (8) Ideal paramour’s French assistant exchanges final letter with first lover, friend in London (8) Def. Ideal paramour

SOUS = “French assistant”
SOU(s -> L): “exchanges final letter with L_”
MATE = "friend in London" (UK def.)
rpl 1
8708 CUPID (5) Dense street taken over by Charlie’s Angel of love (5) (st->C)UPID: STUPID (“dense”), ST (“street”) replaced by C (“Charlie”)

def. “Angel of love”
rpl 1
8719 COBALT (6) Colts give up safety, trading loss for Baltimore's vital B-12 center? (6) COLTS - S: "give up S(afety)"
CO(l->BAL)T: "trade L(oss) for BAL(timore)"
(all are accepted Am. football abbreviations)

def. "vital B-12 center?"
i.e. COBALT is the central component of vitamin B12
rpl 1
8732 TE AMO (2, 3) Make love with mate in Spain to say "I love you" (2 3) [O (love, as in tennis) + MATE]* ("make")

def = in Spain to say "I love you"
rpl 1
8743 SUPERB (6) The Reverend A. A. Milne wrote about him: "perhaps Djokovic can't be beat" (6) "A.A. Milne wrote about him" = POOH
"perhaps Djokovic" = SERB

def. can't be beat

Spoonerism of POOH SERB = SUPERB
rpl 1
8798 ANY CLUE THAT BEGINS "IN SOVIET RUSSIA..." (?) In Soviet Russia, a rebellion disposes of Putin perhaps (0) Wordplay: [IN + USSR + A]* (“rebellion”) - RUSSIAN (“Putin perhaps”) = (0)

Def: “”
rpl 1
8822 ANY GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE (?) In short, what brought about world peace after the war? Hearing lyrics by Gangnam Style artist (10) wordplay: sounds like (“hearing”) VERSE (“lyrics”) + PSY (“Gangnam Style artist”)

def: “In short, what brought about world peace after the war?”,
as in: (The Treaty of) VERSAILLES, to end World War I
rpl 1
8927 SIBELIUS (8) If Spanish and Han dynasty emperors seized British Empire for Finland’s greatest composer? (8) SI = "If Spanish"; LIUS = "Han dynasty emperors"; BE = "British Empire" abbrev.; containment = "seized"

SI(BE)LIUS = def. "Finland's great composer"
rpl 1
8940 SCRABBLE (8) First man is born in anagram tile game (8) "First man" = m; "born" abbrev. = B; "anagram" = SCRAMBLE
SCRA(m_->B)BLE = def. "tile game"
rpl 1
8959 SPRIGATITO (10) Doctor, got a spirit Pokémon? (10) SPRIGATITO = [GOT A SPIRIT]* ("doctor") rpl 1
8988 ANY CLUE THAT USES A MATHEMATICAL SEQUENCE OTHER THAN EVENS/ODDS TO INDEX (?) Perfect "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" recording (2) 6, 28 into superCalifragilisticexpialiDocious = CD = def. "recording"
rpl 1
9072 CONSEQUENCE (11) Meaning with I know what, Eleven needs no introduction in Spain (11) def: "Meaning"

wordplay: CON + SE + QUE + (-o)NCE (everything in Spanish)
rpl 1
9477 PERPETUITY (10) In Paris, you and I first talked. Why? After wearing face masks around emergency room at all times. (10) Def = at all times
TU (In Paris, you) + I + T_ + Y, after P(ER)PE (wearing face masks around ER)
rpl 1
9487 THANOS (6) Universe balancer who asked for a drop of your blood without medical drama? (6) def = “Universe balancer”
THERANOS = “Who asked for a drop of your blood”
(-ER) = “Without medical drama”
rpl 1
9499 DEMAGOGUE (9) Incendiary US lib who heads Justice Department initially orders assault rifle ban in fight (9) def. Incendiary [noun]

DEM (US lib) + AG (who heads Justice Department) + O_ (initially orders) + (-AR)GUE (assault rifle ban in fight)
rpl 1
9517 REDEEM (6) “Save some ecstasy…” I’d beg, even in that sleep where dreams may come? (6) def = Save

some ecstasy = E. (abbrev)
I’d beg, even = _D _E_
in = containment
that sleep where dreams may come? = REM (stage of sleep where dreaming occurs)
rpl 1
9552 EPEE (4) Rousseau’s philosophical system lacks the principal of Montesquieu’s and Kant’s… is a deadly weapon? (4) "Rousseau’s" - French indicator
"philosophical system" - ÉPISTÉME, properly diacriticized French cognate for “episteme” meaning philosophical system
"lacks" - deletion indicator
"the principal of Montesquieu’s" - M_
"Kant’s is" - IST (German indicator)

ÉPÉE = ÉP(-ist)É(-m)E = def. a deadly weapon?
rpl 1
9590 SATISFIED (9) Broadway show hit with low-grade bomb after bit of teasing by Schuyler lead about Alexander's "heart and eyes" in song (9) Broadway show hit - def
with - link

F+IED = low-grade + bomb
after - juxtaposition
SAT = S_+T_ around _A_ - bit of T(easing), by S(chuyler) lead, about alexAnder's heart
and - juxtaposition
I'S = “eyes” in song (homophone)
rpl 1
9615 BOX (3) Strike out first baseman over strike (3) def: Strike, or strike
wordplay: (O.+B_)< over X, or (X+O.+B_)<

O. for out is baseball abbrev
X for strike is bowling abbrev
rpl 1
9620 ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) _Tragedy of Hamlet_ essentially spoiled for the audience: ||in last Act, final Scene, everyone dies|| (6) "Tragedy" - def
"of" - link
"Hamlet essentially, spoiled" = _LAME*_
"for the audience: in" = N (homophone)
"last Act, final scene" = N + _T + _E
"everyone dies" - delete E. (video game rating abbrev)

_LAME*_+N+_T+_E-E. = LAMENT = def. Tragedy
rpl 1
9625 ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) (Stranger Things, S1): ||Will’s trapped in the “Upside Down” of Hawkins without any trace, missing family (4)|| "Will" - def
"'s" - IS
"trapped in" - containment
"the “Upside Down” of" - reversal
"HAWKINS without [A(ny) trace]", "missing [family (KINS)]" => H(-a)W(-kins)

IS in H(-a_)W(-kins)< = W(IS)H = def. Will
rpl 1
9638 ABANDON (7) Flee from Mafia boss crowned by an outlaw (7) Mafia boss - DON
crowned by - vertical juxt.
an outlaw - A BAN

A BAN+DON = def. Flee
rpl 1
9640 A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) A trite proposal’s endless wish with time // Though brief, short Virgin sung last pair in rhyme. (4,4,5,2) A trite proposal = WIL(l)+T. + THOUgh (brief, short) + MARRY (homophone Mary) + (last pair in) rhyME rpl 1
9643 CLEANSE (7) Wash tips to bathe in after Christ's birth (7) def. Wash = LEANS (tips) contained by (to bathe in) CE (after Christ's birth) rpl 1
9645 ANY CLUE THAT STARTS WITH "ANY CLUE THAT" (?) ANY CLUE THAT STARTS WITH ONE ENDLESSLY LONG ANAGRIND, SAY (6) ACTION = A_C_T_ + I + _ON_= def. ANAGRIND, SAY rpl 1
9652 A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) My foot perhaps for ears the source of Greek // Beginning only words a tree could speak. (8, 3 wds.) wp: I AM (IAMB homophone / "my foot, perhaps, for ears") + ("the source of") G_ + ROOT ("beginning" syn.)
def: only words a tree could speak (i.e. the only words in Groot's vocab)
rpl 1
9674 ANY CLUE THAT HAS NO LETTERS IN COMMON WITH ITS ANSWER (?) Surprised Pikachu // Possesses neither this nor // Puzzlers Club cipher? PIKACHU* - HAIKU - PC = "" = def. cipher? (0) rpl 1
9698 A CLUE WHOSE SURFACE READS LIKE A TWITTER BIO. EXTRA CREDIT FOR EMOJIS (?) Outsider. ❤️ MIT '00. Instagram research lead. @AcceptingKnight (9) Outsider - def
❤️ MIT - heart mIt = _I_
'00 - 2000 = MM
Instagram (abbrev) - IG
Research lead - R_
@AcceptingKnight - A(N)T = AT (accepting) N (knight, chess abbrev)

IMMIGRANT = def. outsider
rpl 1
9704 ANY CLUE WHICH IS ALSO A TRUE SENTENCE (?) Corruptly installed conservative jurists focus on overturning _Roe_ before end of period. (6) def. Corruptly installed = RIGGED

R - conservative (noun), i.e. Republican
_I_ - jurIsts focus
juxtaposition - on
GGE< - overturning roe (EGG)
juxtaposition - before
_D - end of perioD

(pretty much taken from the headlines)
rpl 1
9717 ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?) Train’s under first with bottom-side direction (6 or 11) def - Train

US: ’S + U_ (under first) + (with) + B_ (bottom-side) + WAY (direction)

UK: {’s - link}; UNDER (bottom-side direction) + (with) + GROUND (under first [floor])
rpl 1
9723 GRADUATION (10) Commencement video ends with guardian rambling for promotion (10) [_T + _O + GUARDIAN]* (rambling) = GRADUATION = {link - for} def. promotion rpl 1
9735 SECRETARIAT (11) Crown champion in private _La donna è mobile_ concert finale (11) def. Crown champion = SECRET (private) + ARIA ("La donna è mobile") + _T (concerT finale) rpl 1
9762 KEY CHANGE (3, 6) Instrumental adjustment?! (3,6) KEY (syn. instrumental) + CHANGE (syn. adjustment)

def/&lit - some instruments can be adjusted (e.g. guitar/horn/sax etc.) to produce the effect of a key change
rpl 1
9763 VIEW (4) Judge's conviction (4) ddef - judge (i.e. perceive) = conviction (i.e. belief) rpl 1
9772 SEVERANCE (9) Mind technology in _Stranger Things_ finale reveals origin to Vecna and beginnings of evil empire (9) def - Mind technology
("Stranger") *[_S (finale) + R_ (origin) + VECNA + (beginnings of) E_E_] = SEVERANCE
rpl 1
9780 ROUND TRIP (5, 4) Earth loses gravity with rupture outside of time loop (5,4) Earth loses gravity - (-g)ROUND
with rupture - ROUND+RIP
outside of time - ROUND(T.)RIP

def - loop
rpl 1
9794 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) Un país está tranquilo, escuchando a la actriz de "Gambito de dama". (6) Translation: A country is quiet, hearing "The Queen's Gambit" actress.

def - Un país = ESPAÑA

ES - está (synonym)
P - tranquilo ("piano", music abbrev.)
AÑA - escuchando a la actriz de "Gambito de dama" / ("ANYA" homophone)
rpl 1
9818 CONVEX (6) Wasting no time, a group of nuns kiss a mirror, maybe (6) delete NT (wasting no time) from CONVE(-nt)+X (a group of nuns + kiss)
def - a mirror, maybe
rpl 1
9822 CREEK (5) Tributary believes Spanish king (5) CREE (3rd person conjugation for "believe" in Spanish) + K rpl 1
9835 RESIGN (6) Take leave, end post (6) R.("take", Latin abbrev) + _E ("leave end") + SIGN ("post") rpl 1
9836 COMPASS (7) See with representative tool (7) def see = CO+MP+ASS rpl 1
9867 A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?) Take off his head! Decapitate Putin violently in a cell? (2,4) _IS _UTIN* = IN SITU (def - in a cell?) rpl 1
9871 TENNIS (6) Game of returning 1st serve in net (6) def Game = S_+IN+NET< rpl 1
9874 ANY CLUE CONSISTING OF LETTERS FROM A SINGLE ROW OF YOUR KEYBOARD (?) Gas gal’s flask (5) G(as) + LASS = def flask rpl 1
9876 ANY CLUE CONSISTING OF LETTERS FROM A SINGLE ROW OF YOUR KEYBOARD (?) Rout pouty twitterer (5) ddef trump rpl 1
9905 ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN TWO OR MORE WAYS THAT ALL GIVE THE SAME ANSWER (?) Inhabit vile evil (4) VILE* = EVIL* = LIVE rpl 1
9908 ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) Evil, vile settle (6) not LIVE*
def Evil = BAD+DIE
rpl 1
10170 CREME DE LA CREME (5, 2, 2, 5) Clarè and I, in possession of cocaine, took medicine from French boss (5,2,2,5) CLARÈ+ME - Clarè and I
CLA(C)RÈME - in possession of [containment] C(ocaine)
C(REMÈDE)LACRÈME - took [containment], medicine from French [REMÈDE, "medicine" in French]

def - boss (informal, i.e. "the best")
rpl 1
10175 SANDSTORM (9) Random rioting on street following top secret investigation of financial crimes (9) Random rioting - ANDORM*
on street - AND(ST)ORM*
following top secret - S_+AND(ST)ORM*

def - investigation of financial crimes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstorm_report)
rpl 1
10178 SCRUMP (6) Second Circuit chief judge holds right to contract (6) S - Second
C_ - Circuit chief
UMP - judge
contains R - holds R(ight)

def = to contract (verb, "to shrink")
rpl 1
10213 TASTHING (8) Enigmatic sign that puzzler created on Aug 26? (8) SIGN THAT* anagram

Aug 26 is TASTHING's birthday (according to PC discord)
rpl 1
10230 LABOUR (6) Disheartened lover goes on about timeless Shakespearean work? (6) Disheartened lover - L__R
goes on - contains (i.e. putting clothes "on")
about timeless - ABOU(-t)

def - Shakespearean work = LABOUR (British spelling)
rpl 1
10236 LIBRARY (7) Study of literature ends in the swapping for a book (7) Study - def
of literature - LITERARY
ends in the - T_E
swapping for a B(ook) - LI(te->B)RARY
rpl 1
10238 MÉNIÈRE (7) French doc and I entered gate two at Tiananmen East (7) French doctor - def
I entered - I contained in...
"gate" - MÉN (pinyin)
"two" - ÈR (pinyin)
at Tiananmen - Chinese indicator
East - E

MÉN(I)ÈR+E
rpl 1
10242 TRUSS (5) 🇬🇧🏛️👩‍💼⛓️🤝🇷🇺 (5) UK government woman 🇬🇧🏛️👩‍💼
imprisoned by/in ⛓️
communisT RUSSia 🤝🇷🇺
rpl 1
10249 BIOCHEMISTRY (12) ⚤❤️😭🤗⌛🕛🕐🤪🔬🧬(12) ⚤❤️ BI+O(love)
😭🤗 C()RY
⌛🕛🕐🤪 H(our)+TIMES*

BI+O+C(H.+EMIST*)RY
rpl 1
10258 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (3, 4, 3, 5) The Spanish Inquisition interrupts the Father's prayer to English national anthem (3, 4, 3, 5) the "Spanish Inquisition" - THE "QUE"
interrupts - contained in...

the Father's - GOD'S
prayer - AVE (i.e. "Ave Maria")
{to} English - EN (abbrev.)

GOD'S+AVE(THE QUE)EN = def. "national anthem"
rpl 1
10262 VAGUE (5) Cryptic from _Enigmatic Variations_: `In short binding opal's turn? (5)` def = "Cryptic"
EV = "Enigmatic Variations: In short", i.e. as abbreviated by the crossword community
{container} = "binding"
UGA = "opal" (RNA stop codon)
{reversal} = "'s turn"

E(UGA)V<
rpl 1
10269 POLYDACTYLY Written as so to condition for monkey possessing more thumbs than me? (11) double def

"condition for monkey possessing more thumbs than me?" (standard definition for POLYDACTYLY i.e. having more fingers than expected)

"written as so"
The clue is written in dactylic hexameter ("POLY-DACTYL-Y"), consisting of 6 long-short-short syllabic feet:
WRIT-ten as//SO to con-//DI-tion for//MON-key pos-//ESS-ing more// THUMBS than me?
rpl 1
10275 CROSIER (7) Fern is disheartened over Charlotte's case--||butchered Wilbur at last|| (7) def. Fern (type of plant)
[IS+O__R+C__E]* ("butchered") + _R ("Wilbur at last")
rpl 1
10317 SKYSCRAPERS (11) Walter White's wife is wrapping waste without last of Saul's lofty properties (11) SKYLER'S - Walter White's wife is
SKYL(SCRAP)ERS - wrapping waste
SKY(-L)SCRAPERS - without last of sauL

def - lofty properties
rpl 1
10330 DAVID BOWIE (5, 5) Iconic English actor playing Obi-wan nearly died holding Vader's helmet (5,5) Iconic English actor - def
playing - anagrind
OBIWA_ DIED* containing V_ ("Vader's helmet")

DA(V_)IDBOWIE*
rpl 1
10375 DESCARTES (9) "No, I aserted [_sic_]" - miswrote a French philosopher (9) wp: ASERTED S(-i)C* ("miswrote" = anagrind) = DESCARTES(-i)*
def: a French philosopher
rpl 1
10388 CORNCOB (7) Crop ear off big heads after CEO sides with RNC (7) Crop ear = O_B_ after C_O+RNC rpl 1
10398 SONG 2 (4, 1) "Blur" number so no big governments ban cipher (4, 1) "Blur" number = SO N(o) G2(-0) ("big governments" = G20; "cipher" means 0)
rpl 1
10406 STAND (6) Super tiny animal faces North Dakota bear (5) S_T_A_ ("faces" = 1st letter indicator) + ND = bear (verb) rpl 1
10411 LILLIPUTIAN (11) I'll put in a revision after the lead in line⁠–one minute (11) I'll put in a revision = (ILL PUT IN A)*
the lead in L(ine) = L_
one = I
L_ I + LLIPUTIAN*

def = minute (adj. tiny)
rpl 1
10413 BOO (3) Display offense in something that stinks (3) display Offense in = O (sports abbrev for offense) contained in...
something that stinks = BO (body odor)

B(O)O - &lit. whole clue is the definition
rpl 1
10424 NIGHTHAWKS (10) The Reverend's top hits are a piece of art (10) Spoonerism of HEIGHT (top) KNOCKS (hits) // def = a piece of art (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(Hopper)) rpl 1
10426 BREAK (5) Stop, stop, I said! (5) Stop def = "brake" homophone rpl 1
10437 DOOBLYDOO (9) Bully frequently surrounded by poop down below? (9) DOO(B_L_Y)DOO rpl 1
10462 ADZE (4) Hear commercials for knife (4) "ads" homophone rpl 1
10469 DISCO (5) Is company supporting Democratic party? (5) D(emoratic) IS CO.
supporting = vertical juxt.
rpl 1
10476 CALVARY (7) Suffering soldiers moving left-left-left (7) CAVA(<-L)RY (= soldiers)
CAV(<-L)ARY
CA(L)VARY (= suffering)
rpl 1
10477 CAVALRY (7) Nancy's greeting every other of Larry's men with big arms? (7) (greeting in Nancy, [France]) "ÇA VA" (every other of) L_R_Y rpl 1
10490 INHOTIM (7) "Museum of Interesting Things" (MIT) :coin: Hunt is oddly over... (7) "Museum of Interesting Things" = def
(MIT) :coin: = MIT O (looks like a circle)
HuNt Is, oddly = H_N_I_
over = reversal
_I_N_H O TIM<
rpl 1
10521 MALAPHOR (8) Mike crushed AlphaZero with rook blunder of sorts (8) M = Mike (nato)
*ALAPH = crushed Alpha
O = Zero
R = rook
def = blunder of sorts
rpl 1
10534 MAO (3) Authoritarian is partial to American insurrection (3) t]O AM[erican <
(insurrection = vertical reversal)
rpl 1
10659 SNOOZE (6) Sleep with conman wearing one’s disguise (6) Sleep = def
conman = OZ (the literary character or the doctor)
wearing = containing
one's disguise = SNO()E*
rpl 1
10691 YAKITORI (8) Skewer independent conservative for Speaker supporting Gab (8) def = (a chicken) skewer

I = independent
TORI = conservative for Speaker ("Tory" homophone)
supporting = vertical juxtaposition
YAK = Gab
rpl 1
10741 爱 (1) 喜欢勃朗特的女主角 (1) Translation: To be fond of Brontë's heroine

ddef
喜欢 (to be fond of) = 爱
勃朗特 (Brontë) 的 ('s) 女主角 (heroine) = 爱 ("Eyre" is transliterated as "爱" in the Chinese translation Brontë's novel)
rpl 1
10748 爱 (1) 听说伦敦眼激发激情 (1) Surface: It's said that the London Eye inspires passion

听说 - It's said (homophone indicator)
伦敦 眼 - London['s] (English indicator) "eye"
激发 - inspires / {link}
激情 - passion (def)

wp: homophone of 眼 (translated to English "eye") = "ai"
rpl 1
10848 POTOOOOOOOO (11) MJ loves horse (11) MJ = POT (marijuana)
"love"s = "O"s (x8)
horse = def
rpl 1
10902 BALAKIREV (9) Musician composed a live bar to capture Tchaikovsky's heart (9) def musician = *(A LIVE BAR) {contains} __K__ rpl 1
10903 GLINKA (6) Polish Hamlet's ring in reflective silver (6) Polish hamlet = def (village in Poland)
ring = LINK
reflective silver = GA< (element abbrev)
rpl 1
11406 EDELWEISS (9) Daisy Ridley taking no sides after Star Wars opening scene oddly rewritten (9) Daisy = def
RIDLEY, taking no sides = _IDLE_
Star Wars opening = S_W_
SCENE, oddly = S_E_E
rewritten = anagrind

(S_W_ S_E_E _IDLE_)*
rpl 1
11498 BORK (4) Controversial judge to back case involving curtailment and reversal of *Roe* (4) def - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bork_Supreme_Court_nomination (semi-&lit)
link - to
B(_OR<)K = BacK case contains (involving) ROe< (curtailed and reversed)
rpl 1
11536 Q (1) Conspiracy in *Succession* revealed to audience (1) Conspiracy = def; in = link
Succession, revealed to audience = "queue" homophone
rpl 1
11573 IMBROGLIO (9) Microbiologist spilled liquid CO - it's leaving a mess (9) MICROBIOLOGIST spilled = IMBROGLIOcoist*
liquid CO ITS leaving = IMBROGLIO(-*coist)
a mess = def
rpl 1
11579 V (1) The origin of Valjean as a revolutionary (1) the origin of Valjean = V_
as = link; a revolutionary = def (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(character)
rpl 1
11656 ANACONDA (8) Video game company invested in first programmer of Python (8) Video game company = NACON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacon
invested in = containment
first programmer = ADA (Lovelace)
of = link

A(NACON)DA
rpl 1
11730 PAISLEY (7) Fabric from Spanish country land (7) Spanish country = PAÍS
land = LEY
rpl 1
12115 MORTADELLA (10) La carne di la donna non è mobile sopra (10) Surface: The woman's complexion is not changing on top (cheeky ref to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_donna_e_mobile)

def: la carne ("meat" or "complexion")

MORTA ("dead") = non è mobile ("is not moving/changing")
[sopra = "on top"]
D' = di (contraction)
ELLA = la donna ("the woman")
rpl 1
12118 LIED (4) Delivered PM to Carol (4) homophone ("delivered") of LEAD ("PM" / project manager) = def carol (a song) rpl 1
8701 WATER (5) Legendary bird fires last breath of air: "molecular splash" (5) Def. splash (verb)

HO-OH ("legendary bird") loses ("fires") last O ("breath of air") = HO-H

HO-H molecular = structure of WATER
rpl 0
8703 CARDIOLOGY (10) B. singer? O yes! Replaces finale of MIT's very first acapella band work with lovely organ? (10) def: work (n.) with lovely organ?

CARDI + O = "B. singer? O!"
LOG(s->Y) = "MIT's very first acapella band" (LOGS), "Y(es) replaces finale"
rpl 0
8711 SOULMATE (8) O you! Sam plays with Lea endlessly, t'is a true love... (8) [O + U + SAM + LE(a) + T']* ("plays with")

connector: "is"
def: "a true love"
rpl 0
8714 ABSCOND (7) Make off with 6-pack case on date (7) def. make off
ABS = 6-pack
C = abbrev. case
D = abbrev. date
rpl 0
8715 CARDIOLOGY (10) You nearly go crazy with love at first sight after endless endurance exercise of a broken heart? (10) def. “of a broken heart?”

[YO(u) + GO + L(ove) “at first sight”]* (“crazy”) after CARDI(o) (“endurance exercise”)
rpl 0
8718 CHURRO (6) Tail-less bird eats Ben, for one fried dough (6) HUR = Ben, for one
CRO = Tail-less bird

C(HUR)RO

def. fired dough
rpl 0
8727 (0) Machine to steal rigged election: Trump in the lead, claiming "a sham!", is rejected on court appeal, maybe? (0) [MACHINE TO STEAL]* - [ELECTION + T**** + A SHAM] = (nothing)

def. "on court appeal, maybe?" = "love" / 0, as in tennis
rpl 0
8751 HALFTIME OR HALF TIME (8 OR 4,4) Essentially, the meter in finale to Beethoven’s 9th symphony (ignore all notes)! (4-4) [tHe + M_ + FINALE + T + (beethove)N]* (“symphony”) - (ignore all N(ote)'s) = HALF-TIME (4-4)

& lit. most of the finale of Beethoven’s 9th symphony is composed in half-time
rpl 0
8784 INTERROBANG (11) Exclamation after blundering a rook loss in opening!? (11) “Exclamation” = BANG
“blundering (n.) a rook loss” = ER(r)
“opening” = INTRO

INT(ER)RO + BANG

def: "!?" (since "!" is a questionable definition for interrobang)

* not &lit since "?" is used to denote blunders in chess :P
rpl 0
8796 ANY GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE (?) 1st place to visit? Bulgaria, then travel secondly to Afrika’s North (7 4) BU + [("secondly") tO + AFRIKAS + N]* ("travel") = BURKINA FASO

def. "1st place to visit?" https://puzzles.mit.edu/2019/puzzle/first_you_visit_burkina_faso.html
rpl 0
8809 THYMINE (7) It's in genetic material of femur and acidic, they say (7) def "It's in genetic material"

Sounds like ("they say"): THIGH ("femur") + MEAN ("acidic", as in "an acidic comment")
rpl 0
8816 THYMINE (7) This essential component of DNA (my chemistry cap ensures) lacks sulfur! (7) [THIS + dNa + MY]* (“chemistry”) + (“cap”) E_ - S = THYMINE

&lit. chemical composition of Thymine doesn't have Sulfur :P
rpl 0
8817 NOTA BENE (4, 4) Pay attention to a lying American president?? Not in France. (4 4) def. Pay attention to

"a lying American president??" = NOT ABE
"Not in France" = NE
rpl 0
8835 EUNICE (6) European storm the focus of day before increases 20-fold and engulfs British college (6) EVE ("day before") with "the focus increased 20-fold" = E(v->C)E (i.e. Roman numerals)
"engulfs" = containment
UNI = "British college" (UK term)

def. European storm = E(UNI)CE
rpl 0
8849 CARING (6) Kind of around circle (6) CA = around
RING = circle
def. kind
rpl 0
8850 SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?) Perhaps Pope Paul II abutting on Senator tricky Dick (7) JOHN = "Perhaps Pope Paul II"
"abutting" = concat. connector
SON = [ON + S(enator)]* "tricky"
rpl 0
8862 SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?) Overrule judge supporting heartless traitor (5) T(raito)R + (supported by) + UMP (judge)

def = overrule
rpl 0
8867 RETROGRADE (10) Road to regret travels backwards (10) [ROAD + REGRET]* = RETROGRADE = def. backwards rpl 0
8871 ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y) Sisters crushed Carlsen with a losing chess opening; rook sacrifice surprised Anand. (4,3,4) [CARLSEN + A]* (“crushed”) - C_ - R(ook) = ELSA AN
[ANAND]* (“surprised”) = D ANNA

def. Sisters = ELSA AND ANNA
rpl 0
8874 ANY CLUE FEATURING BOTH A SONG AND ITS ARTIST (?) "Wildest Dreams" (cut edition), by T. Swift (5) [(-ed)SMAR]* + T. = SMART = def. "Swift" rpl 0
8894 SPRAY (5) Shower of USA's last leader in Russia turns up, then seized by agent (5) SP(R_ _A)<Y
"turns up" = rev. indicator
"seized by" = containment indicator

def. Shower ("of" = connector)
rpl 0
8906 INDIANA (7) Wicked Idina tours an American state (7) [IDINA]* = INDI A ("tours"/around) AN
def. American state
rpl 0
8910 INDIANA (7) Mike Pence’s state of mind (avoiding the hint of marriage) is on a topless man and a naked man (7) (-m_)IND + I ("a") + mAN (“topless”) + mAn (“naked”)
def. Mike Pence’s state = INDIANA
rpl 0
8973 ANY BATMAN SUPERVILLAIN (?) "Little blue is one in misery" - Ms. Stefani sings (7) Sounds like ("sings") PAIN ("misery") + GWEN ("Ms. Stefani")
def. "Little blue is one" = PENGUIN
rpl 0
9046 ET TU (2,2) Declare revolutionary beheaded in statement after betrayal (2,2) Declare = UTTER; revolutionary = reversal; beheaded = delete 1st letter
(r)ETTU< = ET TU
def. "statement after betrayal"
rpl 0
9491 THANOS (6) Originally a character from Titan, gauntlet wearer that sacrifices first daughter to acquire soul stone and finish Avengers! (6) T_ = “Originally a character from Titan”
HAN(-d_) = “gauntlet wearer that sacrifices first daughter”
“to acquire” = juxtaposition indicator
O = “soul stOne”
_S = “finish avengerS”
rpl 0
9513 A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?) Vice president plus zero assembles animal (5) BURRO (Spanish)
wordplay: BURR (Vice president) + O (zero)
assembles = connector
def: animal

vice = French for vice
president = French for president
plus = French for plus/more
zero = French for zero
assembles = French conjugation for assemble
animal = French for animal
rpl 0
9524 EXPONENT (8) Operand of e^(1+Nt) (8) def = operand
connector = of
e^(1+nt) = EXP(ONE+Nt)
rpl 0
9528 ELEVEN (6) A telekinetic knight who is the infatuation of an enigmatic Villanelle joins the French Revolution (6) def = A telekinetic (Eleven, main character from Netflix’s Stranger Things)

N = "knight" (chess abbrev)
EVE = "who is the infatuation of an enigmatic Villanelle" - from the TV show “Killing Eve”, Villanelle and Eve are two spies who become infatuated with each other
LE = "the French"
reversal indicator = "Revolution"

ELEVEN = (N + EVE + LE)<
rpl 0
9577 LECHONK (7) The French king eats donut in China and becomes a Japanese hog (7) wordplay - LE+K. around CH(O)N
link - and becomes
def - a Japanese hog
rpl 0
9591 TÜRKIYE Identity assumed by Turkey, roughly! (7) Identity - I. (math abbrev)
assumed by - containment indicator
roughly - anagrind

TURKYE* contains I.

&lit - “roughly”, because the umlaut Ü is not properly clued
rpl 0
9607 ASPHODEL (8) Snape, lost man with no heart? Holds crush for Lily. (8) “man with no heart?” = Tin (ala The Wizard of Oz) = Sn
(-sn)APE = “Snape, lost man with no heart?”

(-sn)[APE + HOLDS]* (“crush”) = ASPHODEL = def. Lily
rpl 0
9613 TANGIBLE (8) Clear-cut Disney film features the return of Evan Rachel Wood, maybe (8) cut Disney film - TANGLE(d)
featuring - containment
the return of - reversal
Evan Rachel Wood, maybe - BI(sexual)

TANG(IB<)LE = def. Clear
rpl 0
9633 ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) ||(Star Wars, Episode IX)|| Somehow, Sideous… he returned??? (7) ODISEUS* (alt. spelling, Odysseus https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Odiseus)

def - he returned??
refers to Odiseus finally returning home after decades long journey in "The Odyssey"
rpl 0
9642 COASTER (7) Barge in over Republican and AOC assuming office (7) def. Barge = (R+AOC)<(over) containing(assuming) STE.(suite/office) rpl 0
9651 GRANULAR (8) Sandy is odd girl, one to run around and about LA (8) def Sandy = G_R_ + A (one) + NU(LA)R< rpl 0
9682 ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?) No, it was rejected by Germany half-finished. What’s missing? (10) DE (Germany) + (half-) FINIshed + TI,ON< (was rejected) = DEFINITION (i.e. What’s missing?)

The answer, indeed, is one of the words in “THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION)”
rpl 0
9820 CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) A Sith lord? Mesa? Dis nutsen. Yousa takin' off clothes! (7) def - A Sith lord
[I (mesa) + DIS]* (nutsen) + _OUS_ (yOUSa, taking off clothes) = SIDI*_OUS_
rpl 0
9829 CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?) Tofu kamikaze azimuth sofa (5) chinese, japanese, arabic, arabic
FUTO*+N(orth)
rpl 0
9830 BELIES (6) The Reverend of excuses, spills "ash", misleads (6) spoonerism of ælə,baɪz ("alibis") - æ (spills "ash") = bə,laɪz (BELIES) rpl 0
9915 ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) Do team gathering (5) def Do = MATE*
ddef PARTY
rpl 0
9916 ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) JKR, essentially gas blow? (4) not _K_ + O(xygen) = def blow

ddef FART (see: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=FART%20%28Acronym%29)
rpl 0
9931 CONTACT (7) Reach out to visual aid (7) ddef rpl 0
9943 CORN (4) Protuberance of horn for conservative at the fringe (4) def: protuberance (i.e. callous on the foot: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16896-corns-and-calluses)
wp: (h->C)ORN
rpl 0
9944 CORNER (6) Protuberance of horn for conservative at the fringe (6) def: protuberance
wp: CORNE(t->R) (R = "conservative")
rpl 0
10177 DOGMA (5) ꓔꓰꓠꓱꓕ rewind: a film ending with the beginning? (5) Tenet - def
rewind... - reversal
A filM ending - A+_M
with - juxtaposition
the beginning? - GOD

(A+_M+GOD)< = DOGMA
rpl 0
10209 GAP (3) Regulatory binder for opening of Galactic test (3) triple def. "Regulatory binder" (GaP = GTPase-activating protein, which binds G protein to regulate their activity) = "opening" (gap) = "Galactic test" (GAP)

OR

def. "Regulatory binder" = G_ ("opening of Galactic") + AP ("test")
rpl 0
10231 BALANCE (7) Disco party left Democrat wanting tension (7) BAL(-L + D)ANCE ("wanting" = subtraction indicator)

def - tension i.e. hanging in the balance
rpl 0
10280 TALKING HEADS (7, 5) Elsa and heartless knight forged some anchors (7,5) (ELSA + A_N + KNIGHT)*
def - some anchors (as in TV show hosts)
rpl 0
10291 C MAJOR (1, 5) Simple scale theater rejected _Romeo & Juliet_ leads over, over, and over... (1,5) def - "Simple scale"

CMA< = AMC ("theater") reversal ("rejected")
R_J_ = "Romeo & Juliet leads"
J_(O.)R_< = over {container} O(ver) {cricket abbrev}, and over {reversal}

CMA< + J_(O.)R_<
rpl 0
10294 PRISM (5) Returned car's sticker price on a window (5) MSRP ("car's sticker price") contains I ("a") reversed ("returned")

MS(I)RP<
rpl 0
10295 NEW ORDER (3, 5) Newordle − #50 ||LATIN QUEEN|| :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: → :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: (3,5) NEWORDE = Neword(−L)e ("− #50")
R = LATIN QUEEN (abbrev for "regina")

def: 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 (yellow squares) → 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 (green squares)
rpl 0
10300 BELLES-LETTRES (6-7) Bestseller novel covering Latin and French literary genre (6-7) BESTSELLER novel - BELLES TRES*
covering - {container}
Latin - L. (abbrev)
and French - ET
literary genre - def

BELLES(L.+ET)TRES*
rpl 0
10303 FEDERER (7) Queen Serena ❤️ retired under-served tennis GOAT (7) ER = Queen (short for "Elizabeth Regina")
_ER<_ = seREna ("heart"), reversed ("retired")
{vertical juxtaposition} = under-
FED - served

FED+ER+_ER<_
rpl 0
10305 TERRITORY (9) "_Go_, aim for panic," E.G. Thatcher declared (9) def - "Go" aim (i.e. the goal of Go, the strategy game, is to acquire "territory")
TERROR - "panic"
TORY - "e.g. Thatcher" (i.e. UK Conservative PM Margaret Thatcher)
{homophone} - "declared"
rpl 0
10316 A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) `____` & `____`' _Communist Manifesto_ (10) straight: MARXENGELS (10)
cryptic: ____ & ____ = RED ACTIONS (10)
rpl 0
10318 ODD FUTURE (3, 6) Band of Martians and Veggies riot on Tudor feud (3,6) Band of (Matt) Martians and (Casey) Veggies = TUDOR FEUD* (riot on = anagrind) rpl 0
10320 A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) Property of Vivaldi's "Summer"? (6) standard: PRESTO - the concerto (its most iconic movement) is played very rapidly, officially at a musical tempo marking of "presto"
cryptic (ddef): ESTATE = property; "estate" is also Italian for "summer" (Vivaldi = Italian ind.)
ref - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL_K5Z1DeCc
rpl 0
10321 BILLOWY (7) Characteristic of a big Blue Wave at last, Barrasso (WY) supports S.4204, for one (7) Characteristic of a big blue wave - def
at last, Barrasso (WY) - _O WY
supports - vertical juxtaposition
S.4204, for one - BILL (i.e. a Senate resolution)

BILL+_O WY
rpl 0
10324 A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) For example: tern, tailless cuckoo, and heron (5) (standard) BIRDS
(cryptic) EG+RET*_ = "heron" (shh close enough to be a def)

EGRET matches BIRDS at one position, so we extract the letter R!
rpl 0
10327 VIVACE (6) https://postimg.cc/LYNGxycz def = "con brio" (a musical direction to play lively/briskly, similar to vivace)

V|IV = 5|4 time signature
A-C-E = chord notes
(juxtapose as a vertical clue)
rpl 0
10339 SCHERZO (7) A musical "dance" [sic] lacking heart, Oz refused to accommodate her (7) A musical "dance" = S_C|(HER)|ZO< rpl 0
10343 FIG LEAF (3, 4) Finnish girlfriend covers plain wear for modesty? (3,4) Finnish = FI (ISO lang abbrev)
girlfriend covers plain = GF contains LEA (as a meadow)
wear (n.) for modesty = FI+G(LEA)F
rpl 0
10344 CROP TOP (4, 3) British king to vacation in work wear that's risqué? (4,3) British king = CR (charles rex)
vacation in work = PTO (paid time-off) in OP (opus)
wear that's risqué? = CR+O(PTO)P
rpl 0
10359 CADENZA (7) Solo passage around Germany set back Asian (7) Solo passage = CA. (circa/around) + DE (Germany) + NZA< (Asian = AZN, set back) rpl 0
10368 OLIVE BRANCH (5, 6) Symbol of peace & love to endure and grow (5,6) Symbol of peace = O (love) + LIVE (to endure) + BRANCH (grow) rpl 0
10369 CORONIAL (8) Villain or occultist's turn to hold a quarantine baby (8) Villain or occultist = fodder; 's turn = reversal; to hold = hidden word indicator

(vil]LAIN OR OC[cultist)< = def. a quarantine baby

rpl 0
10374 LOOKDOWN (8) John King, CNN anchor, eats industrial grade fish (8) John King - LOO+K.
CNN anchor - _N
eats industrial grade - contains DOW (stock index)

LOO+K(DOW)_N = def "fish"
rpl 0
10380 PAGODA (6) Previously had some uncomfortable kisses on temple (6) Previously = AGO
Some uncomfortable kisses = PDA (public displays of affection)
{X} "had" {Y} "on" = X contains Y (in the sense of putting clothes "on")

P(AGO)DA = def "temple"
rpl 0
10389 FAIT ACCOMPLI (4, 8) Ran away from California camp to lead poorly-done deal (4,8) Ran away from - delete RAN from...
California camp, To lead, poorly - (CALIFORNIA CAMP T_)*

(CALIFORNIA CAMP T_)* - RAN = FAIT ACCOMPLI(-ran)*

def = "done deal" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/done%20deal
rpl 0
10399 ARENA (5) Performance space, for one (5) Performance = ARIA
space (EN), for one (I) = I -> EN
AR(i->EN)A &lit. (entire clue is the def)
rpl 0
10400 RETURNED (8) Ed Turner's shot hit back (8) ED TURNER* ("[i]s shot" = anagrind)
def = hit back (as in sports, e.g. tennis)
rpl 0
10401 FOR GOOD (3,4) Wicked Tony hit female on head with rod outside of work (3,4) F(emale) O_ + R(GO)OD = "Wicked" Tony hit (i.e. title of popular song acclaimed at the Tonys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpm446mRQ2g) rpl 0
10409 ARENA (5) Playing area/venue/center (5) Playing = anagram
AREA _N_* &lit. (entire clue is the def)
rpl 0
10418 MEMORY (6) Macavity envies Mulan obviously, leads raspy cover for "Reflection" (6) M_E_M_O_ (leads) R__Y (cover) // {for} reflection = def
rpl 0
10422 OVERWATCH (9) Hot RPG thrown, finish off evac in blizzard (9) Hot RPG = def
THROW_ EVAC = thrown, finish off evac
in blizzard = anagrind
OVERWATCH(-n)*
rpl 0
10428 NIGHTHAWKS (10) Evening folks' fancy Hawaii wedding starts and ends with thanks (10) Evening folks = def (same sense as calling people "night owls")
fancy = anagrind
[H__I W__G (starts and ends) + THANKS]* = fodder
rpl 0
10433 OVERWATCH (9) Safeguard and move central water supply to Switzerland (9) def = Safeguard, link = and
_OV_ ("central") ERWAT* ("supply") + CH ("Switzerland")

supply (adverb of supple) means free-flowing
rpl 0
10458 ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?) Belief about California's outside gold over border school divided team (17, 3 wds.) THE(C__A RO< LINE SCH.)ISM ("over" = reversal)
THE(C(OR)A. + LINE SCH.)ISM ("over" = juxtaposition in down clue)
rpl 0
10464 ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?) Some puzzlers: "So we start to solve a pure meta?" Me: 😖 (16, 3 wds) [SO WE (start to) S_ A PURE META ME]* (confounded) = SUPER TEAM AWESOME
rpl 0
10467 CARAFE (6) Pitcher for Golden State abused a ref (6) def = Pitcher {for} // CA (Golden State) + RAFE* rpl 0
10468 GOLFER (6) Player putting on green upset referee after Messi's score (6) def = Player putting on green // GOL ("goal", Spa.) + (after) FER< (upset referee) rpl 0
10483 VERDIGRIS (9) Green coat of mine found in river's ruined (9) def = Green coat
DIG (v. mine) in VER()RIS* (rivers ruined)
rpl 0
10484 SHORTEST (8) Tory leader? Toss her out like Putin among Russia's leaders (8) T_ TOSS HER* (out = anagrind) rpl 0
10491 DOWN (4) Feathers of swallow (4) ddef feathers = swallow (v.) rpl 0
10495 PIKASHOCK (9) Kings contain wild chaos after spy makes meme face (9) K(*ASHOC)K (after) PI (spy) // {makes} meme face = def rpl 0
10496 LIMITED (7) Rationed fresh deli sandwiches with German (7) *LI()ED (fresh deli) contains (v. sandwiches) MIT ("with", German) rpl 0
10497 TRIPTYCH (8) Endless cryptic puzzle hidden in the unfinished artwork (8) CRYPTI_ (endless CRYPTIC) anagram (puzzle) inside T H_ (THE, unfinished) => T(RIPTYC_*)H_ rpl 0
10509 HYGGE (5) Husband flipped eggy Danish for comfort (5) H(usband) YGGE< rpl 0
10514 HAUNT (5) Trouble for Henry, Lydia, or Becky (5) def = trouble (v.) {for} // H(enry) (SI unit) AUNT (Lydia or Becky) rpl 0
10520 DRACARYS (8) Rhaenyra's pet losing tail badge over dragonfire (8) Rhaenyra's pet, losing tail = SYRA(-x) badge = CARD
over = reversal
DRAC _ARYS<
rpl 0
10523 AMALGAM (7) American semi-fascist movement upset about Labour Union (7) AM. = American
A(L.)GAM< = semi-fascist movement [MAGA] reversed [upset], containing [about] L(abour) [UK Party abbr.]
Union = def
rpl 0
10546 MARICOPA (8) Gerrymandered map containing ~42.85% of Arizona county results in site of many election lawsuits (8) M PA* = Gerrymandered MAP
containing ...
ARI = ~42.85% (3/7) of ARIzona
CO. = county
rpl 0
10897 MIGHT (5) Cologne with absorbing hydrogen gas used up, say (5) Cologne = German indicator
with = MIT (German)
absorbing = containing
H(ydrogen) G(as) = H G (chem abbreviations)
used up = vertical reversal
say = def (n. "clout")

MI(GH<)T
rpl 0
10915 ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE SUNG TO TUNE OF TMNT THEME SONG (?) Heller hero's cloned degree, chief (5, 5, 5, 5) Sing these words in Turtle Cadence:
"Heller hero" definition;
"Degree" means MAJOR; "Chief" means MAJOR;
"Cloned" means doubled (that makes four times).
Answer's sung in Turtle Cadence:
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR
rpl 0
11034 ARRAIGNMENT (11) Trial for a far-right Republican left out of order (11) def = trial; link = for
A
_R = faR right
R = Republican
A(-l)IGNMENT = L(eft) out of order
rpl 0
11447 G (1) Final note of "Defying Gravity" (1) _G // def = gravity (g) rpl 0
11537 BAROQUE (7) Obama's first order covering up torture by Spanish Inquisition was elaborate (7) BAR(-rack) = Obama's first ... covering up torture (rack)
O = order (abbrev in math/cs)
QUE = Spanish Inquisition (i.e. "what?" in Spanish)
def = elaborate (link = was)
rpl 0
11543 NOVELLA (7) Fitzgerald with new volume that includes love story (7) ELLA (Fitzgerald)
N(O)V = N(ew) V(olume) includes O (love)
rpl 0
11544 R (1) Short take is intended for mature audiences (7) ddef
short take - r. is abbrev from Latin for "take" (e.g. Rx prescription)
intended for mature audiences - movie rating
rpl 0
11546 R (1) Language to be conjugated in speech (1) def - R is a (programming) language
wordplay - "to be" conjugated = "are", homophone (in speech)
rpl 0
11562 BARBIE (6) Robbie refuses Oscar with a plastic toy (6) [R(-O)bbie + A]* (plastic = anagrind) / def = toy rpl 0
11711 RECOVER (7) Find Republican Electoral College voter fraud? Not true! (7) def "find" = R EC OVER*(-t) rpl 0
12113 WHAT (4) "Huh? Who's short stop?" "Third base..." "On first base??" (4) WHO's short = WH_
Stop? = TGA [or TAA] (codon)
Third base... of STOP codon = __A
[on]
firsT base = __T (for a vertical clue)
rpl 0
12127 BARBADOS (8) Producer of Rihanna R&B single “Diamonds” wears steamy buns (8) def = producer of Rihanna (i.e. the singer's birthplace)
BA(R&B A D)OS
rpl 0
12132 MIHOYO (6) RPG manufacturer redirected ICBM shell to cargo hole (6) def RPG manufacturer (i.e. the maker of Genshin Impact)
M__I< (shell, redirected) HOY (cargo) O (hole)
rpl 0
12148 SATURNINE (9) Against the underdog Chiefs, Niners were upset... sad! (9) [A_T_U_ NINERS]* ("were upset") rpl 0
12149 MERCURIAL (9) I'm up first to dance with (ignore the odds) Mr. Kelce & Taylor Swift! (9) IM U_ anagrammed ("to dance") with even letters of mR kEcLe tAyLoR
def = swift
rpl 0

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