| TIGHTLIPPED | Not giving much out, like Spooner's torch? |
| UNGENEROUS | Busy neurosurgeon or not, not giving much away (10) |
| TIGHT | Loaded, but not giving much away (5) |
| CARELESS | Not giving much attention or consideration about something (8) |
| PLATFORMTICKET | Party policy here and in America not giving much scope to fellow-travellers? |
| ROUGHDEAL | Like Spooner's duff reel, not a good transaction |
| INATTHEDEEPEND | Very much out of one's comfort zone, like the non-swimmer here? (2,2,3,4,3) |
| OVEREXERT | Take too much out of two rivers in plain (9) |
| MULCH | To figure much out and help in the garden (5) |
| FILLINGS | Pretty much out of sorts between affairs, getting restorative treatments |
| FAIR | Very much out of line, to be honest (4) |
| FEAR | Be afraid to go much out of the way (4) |
| RAREST | Very much out of the ordinary - and most underdone |
| BADLYOFF | Poor, very much out of form (5,3) |
| HEAPS | Very much out of shape |
| LOOT | To make much out of nothing is a bad thing to do |
| FLASHY | Ostentatious - like a torch? (6) |
| ASKEENASMUSTARD | Most enthusiastic, like Spooner's cheap creme anglaise (2,4,2,7) |
| PAWNSHOP | Like Spooner's dad after haircut perhaps in uncle's establishment |
| DASHCAM | Sounds like Spooner's cash is on damn car shooter! (7) |
