Cryptic Clues

For those of you who might 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. Fluttering, lifting, gaining height and soaring (2,6)
-2. Start off venture with summary of previous experience... (6)
-3. ...as a fencing instructor, primarily in the East (4)
-4. According to Rev. Spooner, criticize principal element of deaf education (3,7)
-5. Cavalier judge reversed holding grudgingly at first (6)
-6. Take a close look around in military base in Bahamian city (8)
-7. The letter "n," for instance, in "inmate," "offspring," and "insect" (9)
-8. Require adherence to part of regimen for certification (7)
-9. Villain's name in bizarre old curse (9)
-10. Let's end desires for woven fabrics (6)
-11. Uniting or dividing (8)
-12. Herring shop's empty, darn it (6)

1. Fluttering, lifting, gaining height and soaring (2,6)

in flight

Fluttering = anag ind
lifting = infligt
gaining = container ind
height = h
soaring = in flight

7. The letter "n," for instance, in "inmate," "offspring," and "insect" (9)


consonant - the letter "n", for instance

in con - inmate, son - offspring and ant - insect

2. resume (d.d.)

6. Freeport

close look = peer
around = reversal ind.
military base = fort
in = container ind.

10. Twills (Let's end = t / desires = wills / woven fabrics = twills)

Bernie

5. Cavalier judge reversed holding grudgingly at first (6)

Cavalier = knight (direct)
kniht (think [judge] reversed) holding (contains) g (1st leter of grudgingly) = kni(g)ht

Great solves!

Manxman, I wouldn't call #2 a double definition because the first part is "presume - p".

8. Enforce (hidden word) = require adherence to

9. Villain's name in bizarre old curse (9)
n(ame) old curse = scoundrel (bizarre = indicator)

11. Uniting or dividing (8)
cleaving (double def)

Good solves, boys!

4. According to Rev. Spooner, criticize principal element of deaf education (3,7)

pan braille (bran pail)?

Nice try Jema, but nope.

12. Sprats = herring - sp (shop's empty) + rate (darn it!).

I had a really moment there - thinking of braille for the deaf.

4. Another go:

pan signing (sans pining)?

Lex, good answer!

Jema, it was a good thought that just didn't work with the explanation part. Same thing for this try.

Neat hint for #4!

3. ...as a fencing instructor, primarily in the East (4)

Asia

as a = as a
fencing = container ind
instructor = i
primarily in the East = As(i)a

Good one, CCb!

One more try and then I'm through.

sig panning (pan signing) or sin panning (pan signing)

"sig" (but think it's not a word) works best for transposing the letters, but "sin"
works best for funniness.

Good tries all, Jema, but no luck.

Okay, I'll sweep it up:

Lip reading = element of deaf education - spoonerism of rip (criticize) leading (principal).

Spot on, Lex!