New language and portmanteau words for wayward snacking in our pick of the best of the cryptic clues
In the sample clues below, the links take you to explainers from our beginners’ series. The setter’s name often links to an interview with him or her, in case you feel like getting to know these people better.
16/6d Hunter: feud with me and devious leporine rival originally animated (5,4)
[ definition: hunter ]
[ wordplay: anagram (‘animated’) of FEUD & ME & first letters of (‘originally’) DEVIOUS LEPORINE RIVAL ]
[ anagram of FEUDMEDLR ]
With the Tune Squad by his side, @KingJames is ready to step onto the court and face the Goon Squad. Space Jam: A New Legacy is in theaters and @HBOMax– July 16. #SpaceJamMoviepic.twitter.com/juiDMrnM6a
25/13d Noisome Casanova, footballer on page, keen to read up about it (4,2,3)
[ definition: Noisome Casanova ]
[ wordplay: noted footballer & abbrev. for ‘page’ with reversed (‘to read up’) synonym for ‘keen’ (as verb) surrounding (‘about it’) ]
[ PELE & P inside reversed WEEP ]
13ac Unintended eating from tins is back happening? Not at home (10)
[ definition: unintended eating ]
[ wordplay: synonym for ‘tins’ reversed (‘is back’) + synonym for ‘happening’ without (‘not’) synonym for ‘at home’ ]
[ CANS reversed + INCIDENT – IN ]
Entirely trivial, unofficial, but sometimes necessary word of the day: a snaccident is the inadvertent consumption of an entire packet of biscuits when you meant to have just the one.
22ac Abrasive republican slogan? (7)
[ definition: abrasive (as noun) ]
[ wordplay: a republican might wish to scrap ER ]