Cryptic crossword clue
Head off bad guy — awfully tasteless 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word GAUDY

G
A
U
D
Y

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "tasteless" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tasteless = gaudy.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does GAUDY mean?

GAUDY noun
  1. One of the large beads in the rosary at which the paternoster is recited.
GAUDY adjective
  1. Very showy or ornamented, now especially when excessive, or in a tasteless or vulgar manner
  2. Fun; merry; festive
GAUDY noun
  1. A reunion held by one of the colleges of the University of Oxford for alumni, normally held during the summer vacations.

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