Cryptic Crossword Solutions & Explainer - Language Issue
Winner Darragh Maguire’s crossword answers.
Elusive local group The Anymen published yet another Govanhill-themed cryptic crossword in Language issue. Over the past month, some locals have been sending in their completed crosswords while many more are still scratching their heads with where to start. Take a look at the answers below along with an explainer of each clue.
By The Anymen
Solutions:
Well done for having a go and hopefully completing the third Anymen crossword!
Congratulations to Katy White who won the second prize draw and received a £10 voucher for
Category Is. The winner of this issue’s prize draw is Darragh Maguire! Congratulations. The
Greater Govanhill team will be in touch with your prize.
We have written the solution to each clue below accompanied by step by step breakdowns of
the answers. In case you’re not familiar with the core premise of cryptic crosswords, the clues
tend to (although not always!) break down into a literal definition and wordplay. The definition
can either be at the start or the end of the clue, and the wordplay consists of the remainder of
the clue, with a series of words that can be played around with to fit the definition.
Key concepts:
Indicator word: a word or phrase which tells you to play around with some of the other words or
letters in the clue. For example, jumbled, in the mix or muddled are classic words which indicate
an anagram. Similarly, in reverse or subverted indicates that you should flip the letters so they
are back to front. Finally, the word audibly or out loud indicates that the sound of a word out loud
will have the same meaning as the one written down.
Content words: this is referring to the literal letters that will be used to create the answer. So in a
clue that has an anagram indicator, the word/s next to the indicator will be the ones that you
anagram!
Double definition: these sorts of clues don’t have any wordplay in them. Instead the clue states
two things which have the same definition.
The solutions below are formatted so that the word in bold is the literal definition, words in italics
are indicator words, and words underlined are content words.
Across
1. New divine audio bar brings one to a community station (5,5,4) - Radio Buena Vida
7. A Gru stirs sauce (4) - Ragu
8. Like beans falling down exclusive pathways (4,5) - Bike Lanes
11. Nondescript dish from Sweeney’s waste disposal system? (4,3) - Meat Pie
12. A bed, blown up is a little old (4) - Lilo
14. Mean one in Paris is nice? (6) - Unkind
15. Request whiskey barrel without about (3) - Ask
16. Numpty found heading west in Crossmyloof (4) - Fool
19. Blue deer are hiding (4) - Rare
20. Primarily brown or green? (3) - Bog
21. Thunderclap. Lo! Mbappé contains self-confidence (6) - Aplomb
24. Cold oar flails about large sea dweller (4) - Orca
25. I, Martin, knocked back a drink (7) - Martini
27. Despotic audio starts whizzing around quintessential summer soundtrack (9) - Despactio
28. Takes steps to hear tomahawk (4) - Asks
29. Indulger’s oaths spinning enthusiasm and delight (5,3,6) - Gusto and Relish
Down
2. Bother with crisps to find pack leaders (3, 7) - Dog Walkers
3. Team untied, heart flipped out (6) - United
4. Unnecessary desire for fewer things (8) - Needless
5. It’s possible on the way to half bleach (6) - Viable
6. Oscar removed tuxedo, dropped a kiss then messed up both parts of the song (4) - Duet
7. Island with politician, you and me and Kanga’s kid inside children’s play area (6,4) -
Rumpus Room
9. Pole lifting pines for fortitude (5) - Spine
10. Bike repairer’s last words of millennial restless children (5,5) - Willy Bains
13. Pass Mike, OK? Anyman’s vital life force provided by local fermentation expert (4,6) -
Gomo Kimchi
17. Feast on cavernous appetizer coupling classic Italian antipasti starters? (8) - Foccacia
18. Regularly sips on raki with Avant-garde implement (5) - Spork
22. Impart jittery abyss (6) - Armpit
23. Moody teenager Ted expressed his feelings (6) - Emoted
26. Guys you list (4) - Menu