| OILMAN | Boring chap perhaps, but he keeps us going |
| OILMEN | Boring chaps perhaps, but they keep us going |
| TIDES | Keeps us going, ... us over |
| INERTIA | Sloth, lack of skill, and in English now what keeps us going |
| BODILY | Lad holds back cover for functions that keep us going |
| IDLER | He's riled perhaps, but he does nothing |
| OLDFATHERTHAMES | Most half-hearted moving around, but he keeps rolling |
| LOLLIPOP | Boring chap going round in a circle - the sucker |
| COLONIST | Coin lost, perhaps, but he settles |
| ABSTAINER | Eats in bar, perhaps, but he won't drink in one (9) |
| TOLSTOY | Lost toy perhaps but he made it a long story (7) |
| DEALER | A leader, perhaps, but he won't lead (6) |
| TOILER | Loiter perhaps, but he's unlikely to! (6) |
| UOMI | Italian chap, perhaps (4) |
| SORE | Chap perhaps brought up love (4) |
| SERENADE | Noted performance of plucky chap, perhaps, looking up to girl? |
| TOWNSMAN | Douglas chap, perhaps, seen to drag two poles to his island home? |
| EASTENDER | Capital chap, perhaps, attaching note to a small present |
| NIALL | Limerick chap perhaps elevated in a couple of lines (5) |
| INDULGENT | Ready to excuse faults in largely boring chap (9) |
