The answer to this puzzle is a list of ten thematically related words or proper names or phrases. Each of these is clued cryptically, and the theme is to be determined. Since the definition part of a cryptic clue would give away the theme, these cryptic clues use a family member (e.g., mom, sister) to stand in for the definition part of the clue. So for example, if the theme of the puzzle were chemical elements, "Sister picking at nit" would clue "tin". NOTE: Unlike many previous puzzles in this genre, clues are NOT sorted alphabetically; however, lengths of each answer are given with the clues. I hope you enjoy!
- Grandpa and you making way for boat captain (5)
- Uncle heard ewe mounting ram? (5)
- Sister moving up, impresses with short record (6)
- I left open incoming mail bin, aggravated aunt (12)
- Dad to extract invading weed (5)
- Brother's Original Musk overwhelms top floors of hotel (6)
- Mom throwing last Tau Lambda Delta daughter out (7)
- Son to drop boyfriend without final hug (4)
- Dregs of rum, one fifty-one; mess left for niece (5)
- Queerly, it's right-most senator helping leaders recognize Grandma (5)
HINT: Wow, normally these get crushed within an hour, but this one is harder.
The words are proper nouns, not English. Recommend following some of the straightforward wordplays, even if they don't seem to make sense.
HINT:
Start with #10. The wordplay is dead simple, but counterintuitive since the root language is Arabic.
HINT:
#5 and #9 also have straightforward wordplay. #5 is a Nyanja word, while #9 is Arabic, but with Latinate roots. #6 might also be a good one to break in.