Yup, that’s what I was going for - maybe not very cryptic, as you say it doesn’t really have 2 ways to the answer in the clue. Carry on!
A giant man was left with a cancerous tumor.(9)
A giant man was left with a cancerous tumor.(9)
MALIGNANT ( giant man + L anagram)
+++++
The littlest guy of two thousand in hot tub party? (3, 5)
TOM THUMB (hot tub + MM)
+++++
Dr. Honeydew’s assistant broke the glass vial.(6)
Some cryptic clues are straight definitions that don’t play it straight. Often homographs are used in a clue in a way to imply one context when the clue is going for a different one if you change the word the homograph represents. Also, sometimes the clue is just a pun.
I find these clues more common in British cryptics as opposed to the American ones.
BEAKER (double definition)
Alleged electronic speeder eliminates record. (6)
Eraser (e-racer)
+++++
Quick trip to mountain top immediately precedes long jump (5)
Hint: It’s a double definition with the two halves split between top and immediately. Also, depending on the context, the answer word(s) can be written three ways, as (3,2) or (3-2) or as in the answer (5).
Couldn’t get it without the hint, but I think the answer is “RUNUP”? I didn’t know it could be spelled as one, unhyphenated word.
I think you’re right, since it can be spelled as run-up.
I also didn’t know there were variants of this term before doing this puzzle. There’s run up, run-up and runup. Interesting that the dictionaries don’t seem to be entirely consistent on when to use what. Runup is the intended answer.
That’s how I would normally spell it when used as a noun, in which case I would expect the setter to use “(3-2)” rather than “(5)”. But I see the hyphen isn’t required (they’re a dying breed), so I’ll carry on.
Author said this is where a drowning Dutch rabbit runs (6)
(As is often the case, I don’t know if this is a ‘good’ clue or not - but I like it! Probably easy given the overlap element.)
UPDIKE (double definition)
Don’t worry about this kink, easy to confuse with author. (3, 5)
KEN KESEY (author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, sounds like kink easy)
+++++
What you might utter on the beaches here (10)
Seychelles (Say, shells!)
+++++
Famous guitar player advises Beatles to diminish McCartney’s presence. (3,4)
LES PAUL (less Paul)
+++++
Alun confused radius with something of similar length (4)
AULN (anagram)
(how do you know that word, DC? It’s been obsolete for over a century.)
“Titanium replaces Helium in 0,” exhibitionist displays in forest of acclaimed sheriff. (10)
First I’d heard of it! I was actually shooting for “ulna” (being a bone of similar length to the radius). Quite an amazing coincidence that another answer also fitted the clue AND the overlap. Very happy to continue regardless with
NOTTINGHAM (“nothing” [0] but with “Ti” [titanium] replacing “H” [Helium, though maybe you meant Hydrogen? And even then it looks like technically we have an extra letter I], followed by “ham” [which can mean an exhibitionist, as in a hammy actor, the whole being where the famous sheriff was from])
+++++
Hit singer stripped of military cross (6)
Hammer (w/o MC)
BTW: Hammer is a hit singer? Nailed it!
+++++
Reduces confused found lost (7)
RESCUED (anagram)
I neglected to fact-check those element abbreviations, DC. /forehead slap
Rock star brutally invaded Helena. (5, 3, 5)