Donald Tusk, the backstop and how we name bags: our roundup of the best of the broadsheets’ cryptic clues
As the US recalls that even Ronald “strapping young buck” Reagan could manage these kind of words …
14ac Reagan let IRS shake up old currency group (8,4)
[wordplay: anagram (“shake up”) REAGANLETIRS]
[definition: old currency group]
24acArch Europeanbacking Central Bank’s U-turn (4)
[wordplay: middle of (“central”) BANKSUTURN, reversed (“backing”)]
[KSUT, reversed]
[definition: Arch European]
2dIllnessmarijuana use alleviates to some extent? (6)
[wordplay: contained within (“to some extent”)] [MARIJUANAUSEALLEVIATES ]
[definition: illness]
5acTo sleep, say, on bed, one may lie on one’s back (8)
[wordplay: soundalike (“say”) of synonym for “sleep” + slang term for “bed”]
[soundalike of “nap” + sack]
[definition: one may lie on one’s back]
1dBag and barrel dog overturned before end of walk (8)
[wordplay: synonym for “barrel” & word for “dog”, both spelled backwards (“overturned”), then last letter of (“end of”) WALK]
[CASK & CUR backwards, then K]
[definition: bag]
24ac A solution given by Romeo’s first love (8)
[wordplay: type of solution, next to (“by”) first letter of ROMEO (“Romeo’s first”) + value of love in tennis]
[SALINE, next to R + O]
“I’ve heard from the Romeo and Juliet director. You’re in!”
“I am? Amazing! What’s the part?”
“Uh, it’s a certain young woman whom Romeo falls in love with …”
“I’m playing Juliet!?”
“Not exactly. You’re playing Lord Capulet’s fair niece ROSALINE.”