Super stuff friends. Hi to Jazzy, Ari (Mozartean, indeed!!!), Chris, Andy, Djaw, GK and Rosie.
Well done RE. All but #1 and Djaw, a Royal Flush for you with spot-on parsing.
Thanks everyone for taking part (and for the kind comments). I'm off to dine the noo. Will peep in much later.
1. Just (prune leader) = ust; garden plot = bed; ust ‘in’ bed = busted; bloom = flush (flush (n) = bloom; Chambers Thes) yielding BUSTED FLUSH = something that has to be abandoned as a failure (Chambers def)
2. (double) CUFFS (handcuffs = bracelets; cuffs = boxes)
3. (in Rome?) implies Italian; anag (dance) of “fast Teutonic” = COSI FAN TUTTE = (Ital) that is what all women do (Chambers definition)
4. Capital cognac = c; single = lone; yielding CLONE = double
5. sermonize = preach; sermonize without a ch(urch) = pre; work up = ferment (Chambers def); yielding PREFERMENT = a promotion, esp in the Church.... (Chambers def)