Muristek
The origin of an old-ish phrase is discussed in this week’s pick of the best of the broadsheets’ 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.
9d Threads about plugging Boris Johnson’s statements? (6)[ wordplay: abbrev. meaning “about” inside (“plugging”) word denoting “Boris Johnson’s statements?” ][ RE inside FIBS ][ definition: threads ]
7/1d Engineer can request a book, needing to start afresh, it’s said (4,2,6,3)[ wordplay: jumble the letters of (“engineer”) CANREQUESTABOOK ][ definition: expression for “to start afresh” ]
this is unlikely, as the system was abandoned several decades before the first record of the phrase
6a Look old on mother’s ruin (6)[ wordplay: synonym for “look old” next to (“on”) old-fashioned synonym for “mother” ][ AGE next to DAM ][ definition: ruin ]
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