The Times Cryptic 2019 12 31 - Crossword Answers

Clue	Answer
Distinguish why, occasionally, North Korea’s leaders looking to the West	KNOW
In departing, train say skidding off the rails	ASTRAY
EUROPEAN FILM ABOUT COOL STUFF MOSTLY, ONE LIKELY TO BE CONTROVERSIAL	POLEMICIST
Delete Times puzzle finally	ERASE
Coax husband at last into circle with relative at the end	WHEEDLE
Skater requiring ploy to tamper with scoring method, of course?	STROKE PLAY
Paint light under socket	PORTRAY
Two bullets, one killing pest?	slug pellet
Shirt and tie restyled — in this decade?	THIRTIES
NEAT EDGE ON FRONT OF TOPIARY	TRIM
Very dark stream	JET
Beverage: a tin each is drunk	CHINA TEA
Clubs welcome letter from Greece	CHI
Matter ending on lap in spill — absorbed with this?	TISSUE PAPER
Roller-coaster, British one, gripped frantically	BIG DIPPER
Rest a load and lean back	PIT STOP
Large number recalled reportedly sharp fantasy author	TOLKIEN
ATTEMPT TO SELL BATHROOM EQUIPMENT	PLUG
Ram position from below	TUP
Part of sign attracts small fly	GNAT
Glorious thing seeing kid in tree	MAJESTY
Runner turned on a father protecting wife after time	TAP WATER
Closely examine second container	SCAN
Possible sandwich filling for each container of sandwiches, say?	HAMPER
Travel by bike, first half desert	GOBI
Vet fails disastrously to make celebration	FESTIVAL
Settler: mark a series about one	COLONIALIST
Age English horse and policeman retired	EPOCH
Fitting uniform, it's in black	SUITABLE
Left depressed with ale passed around, one cries	bellower
Had a fling with a female — it became very heated	THREW A FIT
Fat and happy, in summary	round-up
Old biker in government department	MOD
A zealot initially going after finest gemstone	TOPAZ
Snare hasn't closed — you can say that again!	MANTRA
Interrogate unknown after pound endlessly	QUIZ
Wordplay something injected by this writer from the Indian subcontinent	PUNJABI
Order drinks regularly, tasteless stuff	DIKTAT
As nurses run, going this way and that?	PALINDROMIC
Exchanging spades somewhere in East London	SWAPPING
Stuff served with culture hasn't hurt, a relaxing discipline	YOGA
Concert exercises performed at once	PROMPT
Quite obtuse, all jerks on telly, ultimately	ABSOLUTELY
A politician supporting Conservative Party	CAMP
Mum's vehicle key — item found in handbag?	MASCARA
HEALTH RESORT SON HAS JOINED ANNUALLY	SPA
Seafood Roy's arranged around empty table	OYSTER
Mite eats one's supporting beam	JOIST
Red wine to remain in vehicle with fishing gear	CABERNET
Nothing supporting meeting, one's very much exposed to criticism	SITTING DUCK
Jack at home with cross, that brings bad luck	JINX
Crooked spire, and twisted	SPRAINED
COCKTAIL MARK CONSUMES SOMETHING FISHY	SIDECAR
Share hotel in state where one's lost?	TRANCHE
Italian dish gentleman knocked up with essential oil	RISOTTO
NEW IDEAS ABOUT HORSE ALMOST CONFLICT	DISAGREE
Racecourse regenerated Lancashire town	NEWBURY
Newcastle United nothing like entirely ready for Bucharest?	LEU

Distinguish why, occasionally, North Korea’s leaders looking to the West

KNOW

In departing, train say skidding off the rails

ASTRAY

EUROPEAN FILM ABOUT COOL STUFF MOSTLY, ONE LIKELY TO BE CONTROVERSIAL

POLEMICIST

Delete Times puzzle finally

ERASE

Coax husband at last into circle with relative at the end

WHEEDLE

Skater requiring ploy to tamper with scoring method, of course?

STROKE PLAY