Cryptic Clues - directs in bold

For those of you who need instructions for cryptic crossword clues, check out this page .

These have all been created by a variety of well-known constructors. There may be one or two that we might question, but they're still fun. Please explain all answers.

-1. Sled filled with joke bags (7)
-2. Dad's having a problem with nightwear (7)
-3. They wail about one exiled group (9)
-4. As the French say, "There is black gold in Virginia" (5)
-5. Most glare wildly at station (7)
-6. Return and conceal chemical compound (8)
-7. International organization rejected antelopes, without honor (6)
-8. Bachelor helps string players (8)
-9. Intend to widen tear in clothing(7)
-10. Baby food made of fruit - about a bushel (7)
-11. Crude answer inhibits churchmen (5)
-12. Mother has rulers for material (7)

12. makings
ma+kings

4. As the French say, "There is black gold in Virginia" (5)


Voila - as the French say "There is"

VA - Virginia
oil -black gold
in -container
VoilA

1. Sled filled with joke bags (7)

luggage

Sled = luge
filled with = container ind.
joke = gag
bags = lug(gag)e

6. sulphide

and = plus "returned" = sulp
conceal = hide
chemical compound = direct

8. Bachelor helps string players (8)

B (batchelor) + assists (helps) -> bassists (string players)

2. Dad's having a problem with nightwear

PajamAS

Dad's = Pa's
Having = container
a problem = a jam
nightwear = direct

You're all brilliant!

5. Largest - glare (wildly/anag) + (at) st(ation) = most

5. largest
glare wildly = anag. ind.
station = st

oops, didn't refresh first!

11. deans (hidden word)

10. Baby food made of fruit - about a bushel (7)

baby food = pabulum (direct)
fruit (plum) about (inc. ind.) a bushel (abu) = p(abu)lum

Excellent solves!

7. International organization rejected antelopes, without honor (6)

unsung - without honor

un - United Nations (international organization)
sung - anag. of gnus (antelopes)

9. raiment (aim in rent)

Beautiful solves!

3. banishees

ban(i)shees

Yes! Well done, manxman!

Pandora...please enlighten me re #7...

antelopes = gnus = sung (anag)

I thought the word that had to be anagramed had to be in the clue?

sung - "reversal" of gnus (antelopes)

one day maybe..one day...

There you go, Koala. Thanks for the assist, Johnny K.

Soot, dive right in!