Word Puzzle 65

Word Puzzle 65 – Solution with Explanation

Theme: Answers to thematic clues are cricket related idioms that are commonplace in English language.

1. Furore, stir (def), some (hidden), rest is fodder.

2. Sojourn, visit (def), from (hidden), rest is fodder.

3. Play a straight bat, play (impersonate), a (a), straight (dead as in, in direct line or course), bat (flyer), rest is def.

4. Interloper, nosey Parker (def), r (last investigator i.e., last letter), E (Asian), organization (anagram of) r + E + interpole

5. Bowled over, amazed (def), owl (hooter), in (insertion), bed (bed), over (again)

6. Noodle soup, how to get (meta), Don Leo (target), Chinese dish (def), one way to get Don Leo is with “noodle” anagram (soup)

7. Feign, foreign (alien), no (deletion of), or (alternative), act (def)

8. Sticky wicket, IC (I see), K (king), in (insertion), sty (pig pen), IC (I see), K (knight), in (insertion), wet (soggy), swamp (def)

9. Abscond, flee (def), d (date), after (position), AB’s (sailor’s), con (trick)

10. Stumped, scuffled (def), massaging (anagram of), E (English), MP (politician), stud (pretty boy)

11. Prerogative, Pero (Peron fell short), pitching (anagram of), Evita + Pero + GR (King George), right (def)

12. Special forces, how to paint (meta), fresco (target), green berets for example (def), one way to get fresco is anagram (special) of “forces”

13. Had a good innings, experienced a great and successful life (def), somehow (anagram of) O (old) + dad + is + hanging + on

14. Epilogue, i (one), breaking (insertion), EP + log (pair of records), U (superior), E (bridge player), anti-climax (def)

15. Verst, Russian unit of distance (def), worst (best as in to achieve victory over ref. MW), according to hearsay (homophone)

16. Go to bat for, adjusted (anagram of) got + foot + bar, provide support (def)

17. Nebbish, mouse (def), selection (hidden), rest is fodder

18. Synthetic material, how to (meta), tear mail (target), plastic of nylon for example (def), one way to get tear mail is anagram (synthetic) of “material”

19. Not cricket, wild (anagram of) c-note (sawbuck) + trick, rest is def.

20. Persnickety, snooty (def), petty (Mickey mouse), heartless (deletion of middle letter) in petty, suppressing (container), quirky (anagram of) snicker (laughter)

21. Fetching, DD as in fair (as in attractive) and costing (as in bringing in a price)