The Times Cryptic May 31 2021 Crossword Solutions

 

The Times - Cryptic - Times Cryptic No 27991
Clues	Answers
A good laugh? Pious role model is taken aback	AGHAST
Back in pub, saying when about to drink?	bottoms up
Barker's sales pitch about auction that's empty	SPANIEL
Charlie not only child in part of car	CHASSIS
Cover on board with fancy metal cap	place mat
Desert island left having good grounds	RATIONAL
Does it hinder people getting on? Answer is set in stone	AGEISM
European steals in, after forging key	ESSENTIAL
Ex-president failing in style	YELTSIN
Figure from writer of some reportage from the east	TROPE
Forest dweller turning elephantine head around	GIBBON
Languages once spoken and not used — only internally	NORSE
Lover once and I getting in bed? It's a bold act	EXPLOIT
Muses, say, why fishing might be unsuccessful?	NONET
Old lady wearing corset, finding special staple	MAINSTAY
On a farm, refuse drink very loudly	CHAFF
One in go-cart is spinning out of control	ORGIASTIC
Opposing suggestion with token gesture	countermotion
Overworked boss at the Shoreditch Times?	HACKNEYED
Picked up little key ring	EYELET
Popular old means of decreasing, not right for an increase	INFLATION
Possibly scratch hamstring	HANDICAP
Profit greatly in contest, keeping in shape?	clean up
Recalled primitive weapon being used with drug business	TRADE
Republican admitted to charge, a provocateur	TROLL
Show criminal in the cooler	air-con
Such characters a matter for the drug squad?	upper case
Title for gent regularly fined, we hear	EFFENDI
Wound up hem here?	on edge
Writer considered unbalanced shut up	felt-tipped pen
The Times - Cryptic - Times Quick Cryptic No 1885
Clues	Answers
Best item on dinner table at Christmas? A sort of biscuit	cream cracker
Brave man in the rocket	HERO
Chief magistrate once concerned with first woman	REEVE
Classical theatre Oswald's outside a very long time	ODEON
Conventional image of potter, eyes fixed	STEREOTYPE
Food shop to reproach lady removing contents on purpose	DELIBERATELY
Hospital member suffering	HARM
Little child obtains right headwear	MITRE
Loosely hang fish at end of day	DANGLE
Mountainous region, to the west, Mallory traversed partly	TYROL
One-time pro associated with French sea	FORMER
Part of mathematics test beneath George and myself	GEOMETRY
Part of sailing ship contains something woolly and life jacket	Mae West
Parting sports arena after Ballesteros maybe	SEVERING
Perhaps a solemn promise by the Spanish	VOWEL
Plain meal regularly selected somewhere in Peru	LIMA
Ring huge Greek character	OMEGA
Ruminant animals lacking good cereal grass	OATS
Small earthquake damaged Metro railway primarily	TREMOR
Snail Charlie found amongst storage at sea	ESCARGOT
Struggle with awful sleet on river	WRESTLE
Type of dog, slippery creature, grabbed by that lady	HEELER
Unusual article about new musical instrument	CLARINET
Winner to embrace old French writer	victor hugo