| NEARLYMAN | Name Australopithecus, for example, one not quite a success |
| DART | Anthropologist who coined the genus name Australopithecus; a missile thrown from behind an oche; or, a tapered tuck in dressmaking (4) |
| ACQUAINTANCE | A short scrub round unusual for one not quite a friend |
| AQUILEGIA | Form of quail, for example - one standing by a flower (9) |
| BEAUTIFUL | Fine gold in punt is alongside one not quite loaded |
| EGREGIOUS | Flagrantly bad, for example, one grouse badly treated (9) |
| GLASSWARE | Retorts, for example, one can see through |
| PINEAPPLE | Spike, Earl and Dick Davies, for example - one of which produces tropical fruit? (9) |
| WOEBEGONE | Blue net for example one used to catch nothing (9) |
| VEGETABLE | Check expert eating, for example, one type of food (9) |
| SERENGETI | Director's workplace covers most of the rent backing, for example, One African Grassland (9) |
| GAMESMAN | One's not quite a cheat - sneakily manages to secure First in maths (8) |
| INNER | Bad guy missing No. 1, not quite a golden hit (5) |
| SECONDFIDDLE | Another bit of cheating for one not quite fit to be a leader |
| INTEGER | For example, one to bury -for example, buried (7) |
| SOLI | Pieces for one not quite secure (4) |
| IMPRIMATUR | Licence for devil to take one not quite ripe (10) |
| SMARTCASUAL | Code for one not quite in the habit of business |
| HYPOCHONDRIA | Feeling one's not quite right moving a phony orchid |
| DANIELA | Dare, for example, one to get drink served up for woman (7) |
