Cryptic Clues

Cryptic #1 - Capital punishment across the Pond!  

Solve the clues to find the names of American state capitals

1. A drive in a famous English car will get you to this capital 

2. But you’d need a famous English bike to get here 

3. Then again, you could have got here at twice the speed of sound in a famous aeroplane

4. Sex shop owner Miss Summers blushing by the sound of it 

5. Give an ex-Bee Gees wife a medal

6. Sounds like an order to a sportsman to carry on with the innings but wear make-up

7. Generally speaking, a deep-South capital 

8. Painful treatment for a boil 

9. Cross-channel ferry travellers would be very confused ending up here

10. A famous ex-president travelling in a town car wearing a green-suit might feel at home here

Cryptic #2 - Strictly for the birds  

Solve the clues to find the names of birds

1. How a burglar makes a living 

2. A small cry of pain a Cockney might make 

3. In sailor’s slang, a serving bird

4. If you’re unfit and running uphill, you could end up doing this

5. This bird sounds like a group of German men

6. You couldn’t have a kebab without one of these 

7. What you would need to settle if you bought a new electric shaver 

8. Would you use lots of these birds to decorate an outdoor party

9. A small measure of what’s not wanted after threshing wheat 

10. A Cockney would probably need to do this to the door-bell if the householder was slightly deaf 

Cryptic #3 - Mick Sterbs!  

Solve the clues to find the names of common herbs

1. This supposedly flies when you’re having fun 

2. What a posh person would do if overtaking golfer Trevino

3. Would this have described Miss Palmer-Tompkinson having left the building 

4. Would it be a wise move to use this herb 

5. Got the troops together to obtain this favourite

6. Famously, she said she did everything Fred did, only backwards and in high heels

7. Sounds like someone’s nicked my motor

8. Would you apply this with a brush?

9. This is best used when in perfect condition

10. Singer Mr Morrison sounds in worse health than before

Cryptic #4 - A river runs through it  

Solve the clues to find the names of UK rivers

1. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman starred as detectives in this gruesome murder mystery 

2. Would '60s singer Del have "Runaway" on this river 

3. Golfers use these regularly 

4. Appropriately, Bonnie would have liked this stretch of water

5. If you were a Londoner living in Bow, would this be a useful accessory?

6. If you end up in this position, you've just missed the chance of a medal 

7. A smaller version of the answer to No.6 but sometimes called the same

8. Listen carefully, you may hear this calling 

9. Would comedian Jack feel at home on this river?

10. This river has a bit of a fork 

Cryptic #5 - Sounds the same to me   

Solve the clues to find two words which sound the same but are spelt differently

1. Not a very economical animal by the sound of it 

2. A close relative but not the nearest

3. Sit and realIy enjoy the sun in sexy underwear 

4. Nothing short of being saintly 

5. Fed up with members of management 

6. The middle part turned out to be rubbish

7. Got wind of something that sounds quite risqué 

8. As a rule it’s usually quite wet

9. A nice filling dish to give to a man of the cloth 

10. An amphibian given road-side assistance 

Cryptic #6 - Take a letter  

Solve the clues to find the first word, then remove a letter to find the second word. Numbers shown represent the number of letters in the two words.

1. Stress caused by a dirty mark 6/5 

2. A close relative causes a bit of trouble 7/6 

3. Moaned about being dressed like Batman 6/5 

4. Some racy news about a casual item of footwear 7/6 

5. A member of children’s TV’s Rainbow blowing his own trumpet 6/5

6. Someone in hospital, that’s fairly obvious 7/6

7. A local who doesn’t seem very worldly-wise 6/5  

8. Do these insects suffer from this through lack of vitamin D? 8/7 

9. If you catch your sleeve on this, you might get this result 5/4

10. Scrooge was full of this because of what he was 6/5

Cryptic #7 - State your name

Solve the clues to find the names of American states

1. A doll’s boyfriend got high  

2. A physical feature of both a horse and a big cat

3. Join up, sound a note then separate 

4. A maritally committed flower-power female 

5. An unspoilt sensory organ

6. A male Scot with six old pence 

7. Beat up an egg in a bad way

8. Sounds like two women and a Spanish connection

9. Listen then use a tool 

10. A TV ducker and diver who is, as he might say “all about”

Cryptic #8 - 6-letter words

Solve the clues to find 2 different answers - each a six-letter word, with one letter difference

1. Courteous detectives perhaps 

2. How you feel perhaps when tooth-ache is driving you mad 

3. Take a fall during a gang-fight

4. Think about your food then add herbs and spices 

5. Got into a scrap over nothing at all 

6. A psychiatrist finds himself in a holy place 

7. Lose your nerve before a big fight 

8. Give an ant a disease 

9. An Eastern ruler with a healthy glow 

10. Get a bit shaky about a black eye 

Cryptic #9 - Capital Punishment

Solve the clues to find the names of capital cities

1. Initially, Miss Redgrave had a rough edge to her 

2. An old ex-racing driver’s trade name maybe

3. You’d be pretty sure to find a Hilton here 

4. Alright, be afraid

5. A character in “Auf Wiedersehen Pet” feeling sad

6. A painful result of conflict by the sound of it

7. A support garment sounds less sensible 

8. Last man on a tug of war team 

9. Really get up someone’s nose 

10. The road from Torquay to Brixham maybe?

Cryptic #10 - London calling 

Solve the clues to find the names of places in London, England.

1.  What a wolf might suffer dressed in sheep’s clothing 

2. Give the third letter a bit of GBH 

3. The value of a fairy’s equipment

4. Getting TV comedian Harry in a tangle perhaps

5. Blimey, this place sounds enormous 

6.  Sounds like the paperwork for your inheritance is complete 

7. What to do for the cast when you’ve seen a good show

8. You can be pretty certain there’s a channel dug here 

9. How a Cockney might describe the main part of a doctor’s job 

10. Sounds like Superman’s alter-ego is out of sorts

Cryptic #11 - Around the world

Solve the clues to find the names of countries

1. Could be the birthplace of singer Bob maybe 

2. This island is a sweet measure of land

3. Is this where well dressed men go to get knotted

4. Sounds like a bunch of American males all answering in the affirmative

5. You could get well-lubricated here

6. A female supporter perhaps, doesn’t sound very well 

7. Take legal action against a desperate comic character

8. Take a dodgy deal out of building material to get to this island

9. Does one of the Tele-tubbies come from here 

10. If this island was covered in this, it could be the answer to a brewer’s prayer

Cryptic #12 - An Englishman's home

Solve the clues to find the names of English towns or cities

1. A number of old crones having a go at something

2. A detective may depend on these to get his man 

3. A vessel wouldn’t get far without this

4. Sounds like a poet is crying 

5. An extra that you can firmly attach 

6. Sounds like a Cockney is swapping a joint

7. A university professor fly-fishing maybe

8. A south-coast holiday resort that certainly doesn’t sound dull

9. Mr Fawlty finished with what he was doing

10. Sounds like the Cockney cook got better

Cryptic #13 - Strictly for the birds - Part 2

Solve the clues to find the names of birds

1. Sounds like a pair are perfectly capable 

2. Would you put the flags out for this little bird 

3. Knitting, stamp collecting or maybe photography

4. Is this an entrance that prisoners use?

5. When actor Finney meets diva Diana, will they get the bird?

6. A  big smile on Mr Como’s face by the sound of it

7. A door opener for us perhaps 

8. Is this what a Cockney offering you a television would say?

9. A famous Brazilian sportsman also sounds quite able

10. Get this right, or you could be left with a three-pointer 

Cryptic#14 - Out on a limb

Solve the clues to find the names of trees

1. Not one of the youngest trees around. 

2. Someone crazy about bricks and mortar

3. A description of Shylock as a young boy perhaps 

4. Did Michael Caine take his stage-name from this tree

5. Give actress Miss Ryan a “Glasgow kiss” 

6. By the sound of it, if you were included this tree would be well liked 

7. Absolutely fed-up with an ex-Bond actor? 

8. A fanatic about Dolly Parton perhaps 

9. Is this where you’d find an abbreviated Mrs Thatcher and one of the Gallagher brothers? 

10. An inevitable outcome for a debtor

Cryptic #15 - Sounds the same to me #2 

Solve the clues to find two words which sound the same but are spelt differently

1. DNA dressed in casual wear

2. Ejected from a seat of power

3. Hid in the corner like a yellow-belly

4. Kismet at the local fund-raiser 

5. Something to get your teeth into on your computer

6. Would you need to rotate to play this part 

7. A perjurer playing an ancient instrument 

8. This would leave a bitter taste in the mouth of an old Frenchman

9. Would a leading dignitary ride on this

10. Remained respectable 

Cryptic #16 - Group Therapy 

Solve the clues to find band names

1. Is this a compromise to “Men only”? 

2. A German perhaps, using devices to regulate the beat 

3. A female relative in a bit of a tangle

4. Actor Paul goes down a storm and gets applause

5. Firearms and floribunda should lead you to this US group 

6. According to folklore, these do not amass small flowerless plants 

7. A religious servant who is a bit down in the dumps

8. What you might say to your two young sons if they asked “What is the best feature of Bournemouth?” 

9. Ravers on a box at Hyde Park Corner maybe 

10. A poodle, a beagle, an alsatian and Paul McCartney?

Cryptic #17 - No man is an island

Solve the clues to find the names of islands

1. Mix this with water and you’d get grog

2. Sounds like a crazy time on this holiday island

3. Would it be appropriate to wear a bonnet here

4. Is this what you would do if someone asked you “What are conches?”

5. Is this where you get the best satellite TV service 

6. Sounds like a greeting given to a famous alien 

7. You don’t have to be mad to live here, just a bit daft 

8. Funny, there aren’t any pyramids on these islands 

9. Secure the Spanish king with rope perhaps

10. Could be acute or obtuse, have a look

Cryptic #18 - Tubular belles

Solve the clues to find the names of  London tube stations.

1. Sounds like a popular doll is capable 

2. A segregated place of worship in the East End 

3. So this is where the brothers of colour pray

4. Could this be Penny Lane for instance

5. A royal sounds angry 

6. What copper rings will do to your fingers 

7. An instruction you often hear in “The Weakest Link” 

8. Egg-shaped maybe

9. Well-liked, briefly

10. Manufactured part of a bride’s trousseau by the sound of it 

Cryptic #19  - Life's a beach

Solve the clues to find the names of UK seaside towns & cities

1. “The Jazz Singer” was the first one

2. An entrance solely reserved for your old Mum 

3. You’ll certainly need your swimming gear here 

4. It might sound like the pits but it’s one of the West Country’s favourites 

5. Does this describe the weekly increase in holiday-makers at this favourite northern resort? 

6. What the Worzels used to start their harvester in 1976 

7. Instructions, with an arrow, on a Welsh door-bell, telling you how to use it?

8. You’ll feel very relieved after spending a week here 

9. There’s nothing dull about this place 

10. A female swan’s mother’s sisters

Cryptic #20 - It's a dog's life

Solve the clues to find the names of breeds of dog

1. Sounds like this dog will certainly give you an idea of which way to go

2. Beer refreshed with the use of a foot-pump perhaps 

3. A Communist quiz compiler? 

4. Give this dog a second and he’ll come out fighting 

5. The middle ingredient of Indian butter? 

6. Would you use this dog to give actor Mr Crowe a mechanical lift? 

7. Sounds like you’ve got a frog in your throat 

8. You’d be forgiven for thinking there are all sorts of this dog 

9. A dog with a bad smell and not very bright by the sound of it 

10. Herr Schmidt, responsible for ovine well-being?

Cryptic #21 - Change a letter

All answers have six letters, change one in part 2 to answer both clues

1. Make a journey on a pebbly surface

2. A card-sharp perhaps makes life more expensive

3. Hang around for a bit of spice

4. Keep a financial record of the paying guest 

5. Hold a grievance as you slog along 

6. A comedian’s spiel when using a golf club 

7. A parent getting in a bit of a sweat 

8. A tidier warming device 

9. The surname of a fictional schoolboy becomes the nickname of a Great Train robber

10. Put a piece of jewellery through the wringer 

Cryptic #22 - Say it with flowers

Solve the clues to find the names of flowers

1. Do you plant this flower in neat parallel lines?

2. In other words - “keep me in mind” 

3. A big cat, dressed to kill 

4. Tie the knot with an Olympic champion perhaps 

5. More frequent than weeklier? 

6. Is this what John Lennon said when he first met his first wife?

7. Sounds cold enough to turn you blue 

8. Add the US last letter to the end of 24 hours to find this common flower 

9. Make a successful transaction then have a posh meal 

10. Handwarmer for a vixen?

Cryptic #23 - Famous names 

Solve the clues to find the names of famous people

1. It’s doubtful that this super-model would be picked up by a Rolling Stone 

2. A self-made millionaire who, ‘though he sounds sweet, was tough enough to once win his Spurs 

3. A soap actress who was used to a bit of a carry-on

4. A small nail and a coal-mine will give you this super-star’s name

5. Sunrise in St. Tropez perhaps will give you this funny girl 

6. Send an account for the opening barriers to this super-rich man 

7. A famous Archbishop became a female politician in a post that was foreign to her

8. A holiday afloat for male cats maybe for this super-star

9. For this female ex-presenter, take legal action against one of a famous funny duo

10. An ex- British political top man who, by the sound of it, would never have been a miner

Cryptic #24 - Cryptic sixes, change a letter

All answers have six letters, change one in part 2 to answer both clues

1. The risk associated with a wardrobe accessory 

2. Speak indistinctly then get all mixed up 

3. A boiler attendant who likes to light up 

4. A cowardly man by the sound of it

5. A dangerous substance to stir perhaps 

6. A textile retailer could keep the stock here 

7. A small metal fixing found in the farm outbuilding

8. Put your hands together for a footballer maybe

9. Spot a learner 

10. A harsh noise heard in the Amazon perhaps

Cryptic #25 - London calling - again!

Solve the clues to find the names of places in London, England.

1. This area sounds as if it’s well-liked 

2. Is this where the Cockney kings and queens get their outfits? 

3. The 1,760th yard perhaps

4. Take a pace towards a low joint 

5. As a haulier, you might go here to get your load checked 

6. Where a cockney farmer might keep ‘is chickens perhaps 

7. Sounds like you really do have to be mad to live here

8. This is where you can draw your pension, put on your boots and go out and buy a bun

9. Is this where a Cockney gets ‘is ‘air cut? 

10. A shallow area where a moggie could cross the Thames maybe?

Cryptic #26 - "Spin" of our times on innocent rhymes

Solve the clues to find the names of nursery rhymes

1. Demand for payment of overdue loan causes concern in Capital’s campanology fraternity

2. 55 year old mother charged with cruelty towards her enormous brood claims ignorance of birth-control and child-management as root of all her problems

3. Whilst his charges ran riot, missing livestock guard found comatose in animal feed pile

4. Young boy found guilty of semi-naked late-night neighbourhood rant blames genital slur caused his mental state

5. Unseemly bovine athletics followed by canine humour blamed on feline musician

6. Obesity claimed as factor in fatal fall, on-site cavalry regiment reprimanded for inability to aid victim and appalling lack of medical knowledge

7. Wanton massacre of two dozen songbirds and mutilation of female servant whilst uncaring monarch checks wealth 

8. Whilst walking to a patient's house in inclement weather, medical man narrowly escapes drowning at the roadside. Vows that he will not visit that district again 

9. Noble-born army commander’s sadistic training regime exposed as pointless waste of boot-leather

10. Girl’s picnic spoiled by giant arachnid’s unwanted presence

Cryptic #27 - Play it by the book

Solve the clues to find the book titles

1. As a mentor and guide in a child’s spiritual development, this man’s vow of silence had nothing to do with the church  

2. Stan’s comic partner, and what he might say at Pontoon 

3. Regularly deported male pensioners may end up convinced of this 

4. Think the world of mainland UK 

5. Unfortunately, departed due to flatulence 

6. Rebellion over corporal punishment?

7. What a famous artist used to make sure his letters couldn’t be used in blackmail

8. Cleopatra for instance?

9. Would a bad-tempered Jeremy Vine produce such a crop? 

10. Red Rum with a sore throat perhaps?

Cryptic #28 - Saturday night at the movies

Solve the clues to find the film titles

1. An assassination plot against President Clinton 

2. Merlin – from Melbourne?

3. Bananas, growing naturally 

4. How quite a few people prefer the weather

5. The young flock to send you to Coventry 

6. Check in, take a shower, meet my Mum!

7. A first date for President Truman and actress Miss Field 

8. A group of male mourners

9. The Channel Tunnel? 

10. How the Hanging Gardens, the Colossus of Rhodes etc might be described

Cryptic #29 - At sixes and sevens   

Solve the clues to find 2 different answers - the first is a six-letter word, then add a letter for the second answer

1. Talk amongst yourselves about a pine tree

2. Lords it over everyone then packs it all in

3. A modern pop-singer who used to hunt for a living

4. A seafood favourite to put a light in your eye

5. Was very scruffy but still pulled! 

6. Make a heck of a noise putting up a shelf support

7. A man all alone in his underwear

8. Get in a sweat then hide maybe 

9. If you pay attention, you could shine

10. Feeling healthier, go for a fried treat

Cryptic #30 - TV teasers

Solve the clues to find the names of TV programmes

1. Having declared himself a Communist to the other six, is this what Sneezy became?

2. Perfect pairing on Tuesday perhaps

3. If a contest was held, Lemonade or maybe Orangeade could be favourite for this

4. Standing in for the King at a military parade, what William might consider the passing troops to be? 

5. Dracula feeling quite depressed? 

6. Give us a twirl on your arrival

7. According to “Dave” in the title song, the following are the sole labourers! 

8. If moved up North from London to this site, would they hold the ancient ceremony on the crown of the road? 

9. Is this what they mean by “I was only obeying orders”? 

10. Honest, I’m hard-working and won’t let you down

Cryptic #31 - UK Sporting Greats

Solve the clues to find the names of UK sportspeople

1. Now retired but still the Premier League’s top scorer, does he make a living selling sheepskin coats?

2. Ex-Olympian field-eventer, she sounds like an obese “old lady” who is heiress to a brewery 

3. Was this ‘50s driving champion named after something that Robert the Bruce picked off the walls of the local castle as a souvenir after Bannockburn?

4. A six-time top snooker player – that’s interesting!

5. A crafty Cockney sparrow, he could really throw an arrow 

6. With “‘is ‘ammer,” this champion K/O artist used to have his opponents over a barrel! 

7. A double Olympic field-events champion of the early ‘80s, he sounds like he was a 24/7 kind of personality 

8. Change a letter in this leading striker’s Christian name and he sounds like he could strike an even harder “blow” for England

9. A tennis great whose father sounds like he used to breed chickens 

10. An ex-World Champion snooker player turned commentator, did he prefer to nibble cuttle-fish bone rather than biscuits between frames?

Cryptic #32 - Be on your mettle!

Solve the clues to find the names of different metals

1. I know it sounds obvious but is this what girls with long  shiny hair braids have been doing?

2. Can I use this to preserve food?

3. According to old fashioned rumour, this metal is wide-spread in pig-sties

4. The country built on this has Latin to thank for its name

5. Take things literally by the sound of it

6. Maybe using Factor 30 will help you do this 

7. As domestic use of this is increasing, the more it is decreasing!

8. Not a very PC form of address 

9. The main aim at an archery contest 

10. Was in first place all the way

Cryptic #33 - "And they're off!" 

Solve the clues to find the names of UK racecourses  

1. What you’d call a native Glaswegian or Aberdonian?

2. What you’d get out of a nice forest perhaps? 

3. In a Grand Prix, what you would be driving for Ferrari! 

4. The best way to get a smooth finish on a rough wood surface.

5. A Scottish lad with an oak perhaps, to call his own

6. The reason why the horses and hounds are finished for the day?

7. Is this what you’d call out to get attention at your local surgery? 

8. A University lecturer who is a keen fly-fisherman?

9. What forgers are doing making pounds making pounds!

10. Every ambitious trader is seeking this  

Cryptic #34 - Sounds the same to me #3

Solve the clues to find two words which sound the same but are spelt differently

1. Have a drink then complain about it 

2. A long-eared animal makes an appearance in a risqué ‘60s musical

3. Is this the way to obtain heavenly food

4. Put an embargo on the Rolling Stones perhaps 

5. A bird does a perfect impersonation of an underground worker 

6. Assessed the pounds before a walk through deep water 

7. Sit on matching furniture to eat a rhubarb crumble perhaps

8. Having become an adult, make a dissatisfied noise about it

9. Engaged in conflict over a military stronghold 

10. Overtaken by history

Cryptic #35 - Capital Punishment Part 2

Solve the clues to find the names of capital cities

1. Put a parent in a sack

2. A recording of a ‘70s British TV comedy classic 

3. From the sound of it, it doesn’t cost a thing to live here 

4. A marsh you say? Oh thank-you! 

5. A final resting place for a well-loved vehicle?

6. Certainly doesn’t sound like a woman

7. The ultimate outcome a pyromaniac desires

8. Give a cheer for famous blues singer Mr Charles?

9.  Make a reservation and take it easy 

10.  Sounds likes Hades on a very dark night

Cryptic #36 - Quiz "Knight"

All answers begin with the sound "Sur/Sir" etc  

1. A Belgrade citizen, this knight is proud of his nationality

2. If you’re buying a house, call on this chap to give it the “once-over” 

3. A gallant knight, one that you can be absolutely sure of

4. This knight’s name sounds rather apt, he’s really a bit of a toady, self-abasing and humble

5. Another foreign knight, he was born in a small country in South America but his native language is Dutch 

6. A knight who likes to play the clown, this is where you might find him 

7. An ex -valet who rose through the ranks 

8. A day spent with this knight would prove to be just a little too much 

9. Any form of identification usually includes this 

10. A knight who fought a lot of battles and lived to tell the tale 

Cryptic #37 - Add a letter

In each question, Clue 1 is a 4 letter word

1. Not obese and able to reason 

2. Have a friendly talk then begin to sing 

3. Do a little comic sketch about being stony broke

4. A bird flying over a harbour

5. Increase the temperature of the cereal

6. There’s nothing odd about this occasion 

7. Level and able to stay on the surface

8. Rant about the big black bird

9. A part of a boat in which you might need to bend a leg

10.  Adopt a stance and take in some poetry

Cryptic #38 - "To coin a phrase"

The answers to the clues to old money add up to the total £11.9.10  

1. The man to talk to when you want a “P” 

2. The Sun, Moon and Jupiter perhaps 

3. A male singer 

4. An old fashioned form of  wheeled transport

5. Is this what you’d pay for a cavy?

6. Sounds like how a Cockney might describe wood laminate or lino for example

7. A worker who's used to delivering a good hiding!

8. A woman’s name, shortened 

9. King Kong had 2 of these, one in each leg!

10. Headgear for royalty

Cryptic #39 - Sounds the same to me

 2 same-sounding words in each answer but with different spelling

1. An old-fashioned fight about a diamond for instance

2. Takes a long hard look at a flight going up and down 

3. Is aware of a facial feature

4. Make a confusing move then pass out 

5. Cut the grass after a fashion

6. Neutered a cat but surely not with this!

7. Compare something to a growth on a rock

8. A length of timber – I’m not interested!

9. An officer who sounds like a bit of a nut

10. Shakespeare was not welcome at his local

Cryptic #40 - Read all about it

Solve the clues to find the names of famous books

1. As a mentor and guide in a child’s spiritual development, this man’s vow of silence had nothing to do with the church  

2. Chef Jamie dancing to Chubby Checker?

3. Regularly deported male pensioners may end up convinced of this 

4. Think the world of mainland UK 

5. Unfortunately, departed due to flatulence 

6. Rebellion over corporal punishment?

7. What a famous artist used to make sure his letters couldn’t be used in blackmail?

8. Cleopatra for instance? 

9. Would a bad-tempered Jeremy Vine produce such a crop? 

10. Red Rum with a sore throat perhaps?

Cryptic #41 - Paired Anagrams

The answer to the second clue is an anagram of the answer to the first clue

1. The "Lone Star" state demands these compulsory financial contributions from its citizens

2. A British Prime Minister likes the taste of this edible root of a tropical climbing plant

3. A European car manufacturer remains unbiased and impartial 

4. Would this ex-husband of Ava Gardner have been considered a worker in a skilled trade? 

5. Something made from the heraldic term for silver would make a nice setting for this deep red vitreous silicate precious stone 

6. The portrayal of this tragic Shakespearean male role, getting a call for an encore from an English sporting hero of 1966? 

7. A single man may well enjoy a visit to this Highlands area in Scotland which includes Fort William 

8. This well-known herb may well have been served up aboard this famous 16th century flagship 

9. Saves goods from damage or destruction in the USA’s “Sin City”

10. In her day, would Queen Anne have been able to enjoy these Spanish snacks at her favourite racecourse? 

Cryptic #42 - State your name #2

Solve the clues to find the names of American states

1. Is this how you would describe having borrowed money from your wife? 

2. How a trouble-making, irritating male’s behaviour will affect you

3. No-one enjoys being in this 

4. Speaking familiarly, something done in the style of the 44th US President

5. Open your eyes, it’s two fivers!

6. The first letter, sounding sun-burned

7. I once owned a gardening tool

8. Beat together the omelette mixture in a fit of anger 

9. Every acre is owned by TV cook Berry 

10. That sounds like an awful lot of teeth! 

Cryptic #43 - Around the world - again!  

Solve the clues to find the names of countries

1. What Seb Coe, for instance, did at the Olympics

2. You can expect to get a hot meal here 

3. Are they famous for straight-talking here, or is it gobbledy-gook?

4. A country infamous for people being tight-fisted?

5. A Cockney’s best mate

6. A Frenchman claiming this is where he scored! 

7. Interrupted when indicating the meat patties

8. Serve a “desperate” comic character with a court order

9. A renamed country that belongs to me and Mum!

10. Get in line and be patient

Cryptic #44 - What do you "No"? 

Solve the clues to find words beginning with 'No'

1. Agreeing, or dropping off?

2. A wanderer claiming sanity, in Pidgin English

3. It would be a dynamite job if you guess this man’s name, you may end up with a prize!

4. A Convent garden perhaps, or Roedean’s hockey pitches? 

5. A group of musicians without a safety measure? 

6. Famous and well thought of but having nothing to eat off 

7. Sounds strange but William was one 

8. Back in 1966, he was one of England’s heroes

9. Forget Mae West, this ancient was the original life-preserver! 

10. A suitable nickname for actress Sarah Jessica?

Cryptic #45 - Initials

The letters supplied are the first letter of each word of the answer

1. Visiting Mars or the Moon perhaps - superb? (OOTW)

2. A hint to a blacksmith regarding when to withdraw his labour (SWTIH )

3. Push one lovely twin aside so that you can have access to do this (PTOO)

4. Why you need a partner to win Strictly Come Dancing? (ITTTT)

5. A saying from WWII -Imitate one parent and retain another (BLD-KM)

6. You’ve taken your tie off, don’t go any further- calm down! (KYSO)

7. Stating the obvious, paupers have no options (BCBC)

8. Sky-diving over the Pacific? (ADITO)

9. Van Helsing’s advice on dealing with vampires? (NGASAEB!)

10. The graffiti louts have struck again! (TWIOTW)

Cryptic#46 - I do like to be beside the seaside!

Solve the clues to find the names of UK seaside resorts

1. Is this where the Welsh go to celebrate November 5th?

2. What you would suffer from dried grass if a few nettles were accidentally mixed in! 

3. What the shepherd uses to keep the male away from the females perhaps

4. Something you don’t want to find in your skirting board! 

5. A small metal clip found in a farm building?

6. A deep dark area of water 

7. What a bunion sufferer does to ease the pain?

8. Does this mean you can’t use Oxygen in this Scottish resort?

9. Aboard the cruise liner, what the chef did when he drastically over-cooked the large pork joint!

10. Would this term have been applied to Roy Rogers’ stallion Trigger if he had been female? 

Cryptic #47 - Name the Group

Solve the clues to find the names of bands

1. Salt, pepper, garlic and thyme perhaps

2. How former TV chef Keith may have looked after a few minutes in the hot sun?

3. It would be nice to have them playing under your roof like they do in their natural state 

4. Unlike church clocks, wristwatches have these

5. Was he the Red Baron’s personal servant? 

6. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John plus Mary, Theresa and many others! 

7. A detective’s most reliable informant 

8. Margherita, Hawaiian,4 Cheese and Prosciutto!

9. Your reply to two small lads asking where they can get a puppy?

10. Angelica Huston, Rosemary Clooney and Nigella Lawson in their teens perhaps

Cryptic #48 - Sounds the same to me 

1. Forcibly drag something ‘round to a large mansion

2. Commit murder using a form of winter transport 

3. Has connections with a feral feline 

4. Would you use this to attract a very wealthy man 

5. Run away in fear of an insect 

6. A little bodily depression that has everything to do with warships

7. A building level sounds like it has a defect 

8. Conduct a general survey of a satirical theatrical entertainment

9. Make a nice return as a seer

10. Give someone ample notice of something that’s not in good condition

Cryptic #49 - Get a job 

All the surnames are types of work

1. In 1962, instead of slaving in a kitchen, this singer was Twistin’ the night away! 

2. A “green-fingered” actress who married Old Blue Eyes. 

3. A well-liked English boxer, not noted for his grammar – he certainly floored old Cassius when “‘e ‘it ‘im wiv ‘is ‘ammer!” 

4. As a machine-operator, would she have been simply the best? 

5. This ex-snooker player really had the game sewn-up when he potted the black to win World Championship in 1985. 

6. A famous children’s writer, she sounds like she would have been a natural snooker player! 

7. Did he really “knead the dough” when he took on the role of the 4th Doctor Who? 

8. This award-winning English actress sounds like she’s moonlighting delivering fossil fuel! 

9. His “Moonlight Serenade” was guaranteed to get you “In the mood” 

10. A political leader who didn’t often raise the roof but could maybe have repaired it!

Cryptic #50 - A river runs through it - Part 2

1. A question mark hangs over this river 

2. Do you need to be over twelve to swim in this one?

3. To put it into academic parlance, this river "indicates the location of whatever you are seeking"! 

4. Midges are a nuisance in most rivers, but this one helped write a famous song for charity

5. By the sound of it, this river isn’t suitable for wild swimming 

6. Sounds like a Cockney enquiring about the ownership of an item 

7. This river of the far North would “suit you Sir”!

8. When it’s fresh, a breath of this will make you feel good 

9. A Cockney’s reply to “Name the dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds”?

10. Most rivers flow well but if you put a “D” in front of this one’s name, you’ll only get a trickle! 

Cryptic #51 - Something fishy!

1. A fish that will really get the best from your piano – that’s sound! 

2. This fish is used regularly by weight-lifters in workouts

3. Does this fish go on and on until it gets its way?

4. A fish that was ordered to remain anonymous in a favourite BBC TV sitcom!

5. You’ll have got your line so move to the music to catch this snake-like fish 

6. A fish dearly loved by Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight

7. Deceased US artist "Jack the Dripper's" favourite fish?

8. You should know yours or this fish will put you in it!

9. Herge’s teenage hero is great friends with this old sea-dog

10. Has Amazon almost eradicated this old-fashioned method of paying for goods at the door?