| FISHKETTLE | Name, recalled in an idiom for an awkward state of affairs, for an oval or oblong pan in which to poach a salmon or trout in court-bouillon (4,6) |
| BARS | Counters in pubs; or, oblong blocks of soap, chocolate or gold (4) |
| KETTLE | Water-boiler; a geological hollow; a flock of migrating hawks; or, an oval pan in which to poach a whole fish (6) |
| CRUMBS | Word for the fragments of bread recalled in an old-school euphemism akin to Christ, Christmas, god, gracious, heavens, heck, holy mackerel or lord; or, morsels of information (6) |
| KETTLEOFFISH | Awkward state of affairs |
| MIRE | Awkward state-of-affairs beginning from mascot rage |
| ARGENTINA | Head of Top Gear in an awkward state (9) |
| CHESHIRECAT | One notably smiling catches heir in an awkward state (8,3) |
| GASKET | Mechanical seal recalled in an expression synonymous with "blow a fuse"; or, a cord securing a furled sail (6) |
| ASTORMINATEACUP | An idiom for a situation not worth a fuss (1,5,2,1,6) |
| ONEANDDONE | Apt idiom for an only child's parents |
| PAPERTIGER | Chinese-based idiom, for an "authority" without power |
| ROMEO | Codeword signalling end of affair for young lover |
| HOPSCOTCH | A children's game involving retrieval of a stone from squares or oblongs marked on the ground (9) |
| OPP | Neg., to pos. |
| NEG | Attracted to pos. |
| MEDALLION | An oval or circular painting, panel or design used to decorate a building (9) |
| MOREL | Edible fungus having an oval or pointed fruiting body with an irregular honeycombed surface |
| OBLONG | Like an oval or rectangle |
| WOKS | Wooden-handled bowl-shaped pans in which to stir-fry food (4) |
