Def Jam

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid
Each clue’s unaltered definition is given after its solution note.

Across

  • 1.
    PARROTS: REP + EATS (per rev. [parrots] → enter as REPEATS
  • 6.
    ROSARY: BE(A)DS [rosary] → enter as BEADS
  • 10.
    LEFT: A + BAN(DONE)D [left] → enter as ABANDONED
  • 11.
    WHIM: NOT(I) + ON [whim] → enter as NOTION
  • 12.
    TOO: ALSO (hidden) [too] → enter as ALSO
  • 14.
    STINKER: PO(LECA)T (lace anag.) [stinker] → enter as POLECAT
  • 15.
    TOOL: H(A + MM)ER [tool → enter as HAMMER
  • 16.
    BE: (s)EXIST [be] → enter as EXIST
  • 17.
    WONDER: MI(RAC)LE (car rev.) [wonder] → enter as MIRACLE
  • 22.
    SORTED: O + RDERED (redder anag.) [sorted] → enter as ORDERED
  • 23.
    STEEPLE PART: SP + IRE [steeple part] → enter as SPIRE
  • 24.
    DATE: E + SCO(R)T [date] → enter as ESCORT
  • 27.
    EASIER: SIMPLER (anag.) [easier] → enter as SIMPLER
  • 29.
    BALL HOLDERS: TEES (tease homophone) [ball holders] → enter as TEES
  • 30.
    EARNEST: SOLE+ M(a)N [earnest] → enter as SOLEMN
  • 31.
    SPEECH: UTTERANCE (anag.) [speech] → enter as UTTERANCE
  • 32.
    SAUCE: PEST + O [sauce] → enter as PESTO
  • 33.
    DRAW: ATTRAC + T (cart at anag.) [draw] → enter as ATTRACT

Down

  • 1.
    SPREAD: RAN + CH [spread] → enter as RANCH
  • 2.
    ROUTE: PAT + H [route] → enter as PATH
  • 3.
    RIDDLES: ENIGMAS. (anag.) [riddles] → enter as ENIGMAS
  • 4.
    HOLD DEAR: AD + ORE [hold dear] → enter as ADORE
  • 5.
    SPY: SNOOPER (anag.) [spy] → enter as SNOOPER
  • 6.
    PRETTY GIRLS: BELLES (bells homophone) [pretty girls] → enter as BELLES
  • 7.
    UNION: A + FL + C(I)O [union] → enter as AFLCIO
  • 8.
    WRECKS: DI'S + ASTERS [wrecks] → enter as DISASTERS
  • 9.
    SAW: S + POTTED [saw] → enter as SPOTTED
  • 13.
    FAKE LOCKS: HAIRPIECE (anag.) [fake locks] → enter as HAIRPIECE
  • 17.
    SLIP-UP: MISS + TEP (pet rev.) [slip-up] → enter as MISSTEP
  • 18.
    LYNN: LORETTA (hidden) [Lynn] → enter as LORETTA
  • 19.
    LAY: SECU(L)AR (saucer anag.) [lay] → enter as SECULAR
  • 20.
    COOKS BEEPERS: TI(M)ERS [cooks' beefs] → enter as TIMERS
  • 21.
    DESSERT: GELATO (first letters) [dessert] → enter as GELATO
  • 25.
    LOW: SHORT (R for U in shout) [low] → enter as SHORT
  • 26.
    PRINCIPLE: TEN(E)T [principle] → enter as TENET
  • 28.
    HORNE: LENA (hidden rev.) [horne] → enter as LENA