PH18: To Serve Man
These are cryptic clues...but don’t be scared! The beginning and/or the end of each clue is a definition that has been marked in bold for you. The other part has some wordplay. The number in parentheses is the length of the word. To learn more about solving cryptics, go to https://www.leoedit.com/weekly/how-to-solve-cryptic-crosswords/.
Now listen closely, there’s some trickery after figuring out the words. The title might help you figure it out. Then use the numbers in the left column as an index into the words.
| 4 | The hind ends of a river horse and a stoat form a mollusk (6) | ||
| 2 | Hear bats? A rodent-like mammal (4) | ||
| 3 | King needs old wine, servant initially understands (5) | ||
| 3 | Engineer culls a small oar (5) | ||
| 2 | Concealed within cavern, a valiant marine (5) | ||
| 4 | It’s essential to breathe a little to effect a cure (4) | ||
| 1 | Drag appearing in uptown (3) | ||
| 2 | Victor, the first character at home, became conceited (4) | ||
| 2 | Squander garbage (5) |