Cryptic clues — 8 October 2026

Answers & explanations

1. CONVERT (7)

   Works yard after a storm knocks the feed. Lurking in finds CONVERT in converter — change, transform the current. Oil smell and a swinging bulb sell the hide as engineering weather, not a synonym stacked twice on the page.

2. DARK (4)

   City noir: a damp alley that really kills the mood. Lead letters of damp alley really kills, under 'initially', build DARK. Gloomy is the straight definition; the backstreet vignette hides a clean acrostic.

3. REVERE (6)

   Cathedral close when the bells still drone. Nearly sheds the final D of revered, yielding REVERE. Honour is the venerate sense — hold in deep regard. Soft stone and a bent guidebook sell the cut as pilgrim chatter rather than a bare participle trim.

4. HENCE (5)

   Anthropologist's margin gloss after a field sketch. Taking the first letters of happen, ethnic, normal, circle, exposed gives HENCE, which is thus. Notebook dust fronts the acrostic.

5. PATENT (6)

   Patent office when the stamps still thud. Dozen yields TEN; inside nests it in chuck (PAT) — PA(TEN)T. Licence is the patent sense, a granted right. Soft carpet and lukewarm tea cloak the container as clerk weather, letters locking plain.

6. NICE (4)

   Reception hush when the badge still beeps. Name is N, chill ICE — NICE, courteous. Soft carpet and a cooling urn cloak name-then-chill as lobby mutter.

7. GARB (4)

   Hook to wardrobe: barb with a change of heart B becomes G names an outfit. GARB; the spike flips into clothing.

8. CHIME (5)

   The answer is CHIME. The definition is 'Bell'. Starting from the fodder CRIME, change the letter R to H to form CHIME.

9. UPBEAT (6)

   Canteen pep talk after another round of bargain lab pizza. Taking the last letters of you, cheap, lab, welfare, pizza, ought gives UPBEAT, which is cheerful. Trays and fluorescent light dress the terminals as forced good cheer.

10. PARDON (6)

    Kindness as mercy shown; forgive as the official remit. Quiet office when the stamp comes down. Both readings land on PARDON.