Another Cryptic Clue

[Otis]

Destroy borders with filthy empire (7)

 

[Otis]

As Denis would say, hint time!

"with" = concatenation indicator

answer contains no 'E'

(BTW, I paraphrased this crypt based on seeing the clue elsewhere.)

 

[BigBeachBanana]

answer contains no 'E'

This eliminated all of my candidate answers.

 

[Dr.Peterson]

Destroy borders with filthy empire (7)

Got it!

Spoiler

destroy borders = ends of DestroY = DY
with
filthy = NASTY
empire = DYNASTY

 

[Otis]

This eliminated all of my candidate answers.

I know the feeling.

 

[Otis]

Got it!

You are the emperor (for a minute or two).

 

[BigBeachBanana]

Got it!

Spoiler

destroy borders = ends of DestroY = DY
with
filthy = NASTY
empire = DYNASTY

I took "destroy borders" to mean drop the ends so I was stuck with "estro" and "order" for a while. Woomp woomp.

 

[Dr.Peterson]

For a long time I expected "destroy" or maybe "filthy" to be an anagram marker.

 

[Otis]

I expected "destroy" or maybe "filthy" to be an anagram marker

Yes, it's a devious ploy when setters use a common indicator word as fodder, in wordplay that's entirely unrelated.

I believe 'misdirection' is the word.

 

[Otis]

I like BigBeachBanana's idea of using "destroy borders" as an indicator phrase, so I was motivated to try that.

Pet parasites destroy borders of artwork in head rooms, after removing crazy odor. (10)

(Yes, Denis, it's contrived — off the top of my head.)

 

[BigBeachBanana]

Nice one Otis.

Spoiler

Pet parasites = heartworms
destroy borders of artwork = "rtwor"
crazy odor = strange anagram for "odor" -> "droo"
after removing crazy odor = removing "droo" from "head rooms" -> "hea" and "ms"
in head rooms = to place "rtwor" inside "hea" and "ms".
ANSWER = "hea" + "rtwor" + "ms" = heartworms

 

[Otis]

You dewormed that one right quick!