Word Puzzle 162

Word Puzzle 162 – Solution with Explanation 

Theme: None 

Clues:  

1. Civil servant is a guy with most courage? (8) 

   Mandarin, civil servant (def), man (guy), with (juxta), most (delete last letter in), daring 

   (courage) 

2. Dictatorial leader called for French fries covered in brown gravy and cheese curds (7) 

   Poutine, Putin (dictatorial leader), called (homophone), rest is def. 

3. Spooners dot ball (as in cricket), could be a sex toy? (3,4) 

   Bot doll, spooners (spoonerism of) dot ball, rest is def. 

4. Keep the award letter in a box (11) 

   Commemorate, keep (def), OM (award), memo (letter), in (insertion), crate (box) 

5. Beginners like Ian may now paint!! (4) 

   Limn, beginners (first letters in i.e. acrostics) “like Ian may now”, paint (def) 

6. Scholars stumbling into the castle (7) 

   Bastion, BAs (scholars), stumbling (anagram of) into, castle (def) 

7. Vulnerability aspect (8) 

    Exposure, DD. 

8. Hand of a spectator was broken in the melee that erupted in the stands (6) 

   Aspect, hand (def), of (hidden), rest is fodder. 

9. Fish for a “hot nurse”? (8, 8) 

   Southern flounder, implicit meta, fish (def), hot nurse (target), one way to get the target is 

   via, southern anagram (flounder). 

10. Labyrinthine network (7) 

     Complex, DD. 

11. How to make nitrates from one of Sheldon Cooper’s favourite toy? (5,5,3) 

     Model train set, how to make (meta), nitrates (target), rest is def (PS Sheldon Cooper is one 

     of the main character from Big Bang Theory), one way to get target is via anagram (model) 

     of “train set” 

12. Thorough harangue after the shipment was returned (9) 

     Elaborate, thorough (def), orate (harangue), after (positionally after), bale (shipment), 

     returned (reversal) 

13. Dreadful burden Damion had on (3,1,6,2) 

     Did a number on, dreadful (anagram of) “burden Damion”, had on (def) 

14. Regular review (10) 

     Periodical, DD. 

15. Ridiculous bill proposed by Trump led government, had everyone somewhat confused (7) 

     Rumpled, somewhat (hidden), confused (def), rest is fodder. 

16. Bright lad accompanied by a social worker seen around the university (7) 

     Buoyant, bright (def), boy (lad), accompanied by (juxta), ant (social worker), seen around 

     (container), U (university) 

17. Carryalls etc. Can be distinct (7,5) 

     Crystal clear, can be (anagram of) “carryalls etc”, distinct (def) 

18. Provoke to get monition (3,2,6) 

     Set in motion, implicit meta, provoke (def), monition (target), one way to get the target is 

     via, anagram (set) of “in motion” 

19. Inhibit the party’s convoy (9) 

     Constrain, inhibit (def), con (party), s (‘s), train (convoy) 

20. Boss in the all-hands meeting said, “we need to be reducing over ninety percent of  

     expenses in Asian markets to be a viable business” (6) 

     Govern, boss (def), in (hidden), rest is fodder. 

21. Duck!! Where? look inside the pen (6) 

     Slalom, duck (def), lo (look), inside (insertion), slam (pen)