Very straightforward this one, with nothing to complain about from my point of view.
I would probably pick 17A as my favourite clue.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 AWFUL – (l)AWFUL = sanctioned | |
| 4 EXCITEMENT – EXIT = withdrawal, around C = caught, then E = English, MEN = soldiers, T = time | |
| 9 FENNEL – FEEL = think, around N(ew) and N(ame) | |
| 14 GYRFALCON – (ONLY CRAG)* around F = fine | |
| 15 OUTSTANDINGLY – (UNGODLY TITANS)* | |
| 16 SQUEEZE – double definition | |
| 17 IMBROGLIO – (l)IMB(s) (f)ROG(s) (s)LI(p) (n)O(w) with the first and last letters (skins) removed | |
| 18 ENTER – (carp)ENTER = woodworker with carp = criticise removed | |
| 19 PERSUASIVENESS – PERSUASI(on) = Austen novel, V = see, SENSE* | |
| 22 MOTTLED – M(illions), OTT = too much, LED = under control | |
| 25 RE-EVALUATE – RE = concerning, EVA = girl, LATE = dead, around U = uranium | |
| 27 COMMUNICABLE – COMMUNI(st) = red, CABLE = guy | |
| 30 VALUE – VALE(t) = manservant, around U = upper-class | |
| 31 SORCERER – SORER = more angry, around CE = church and R = resistance | |
| 32 TUG-OF-WAR – double definition, the first mildly cryptic where TUG = appeal | |
| 35 LARGESSE – LARGS = Ayrshire town, around E = English, then SE = home counties | |
| 36 HACIENDA – HAND around CIE = French company (abbreviation), A | |
| 37 SCORN – S(ociety), CORN = banal sentimentality | |
| 39 GREAT-HEARTED – AT HEART = in one’s real nature, in GREED = selfish desire | |
| 41 SEVERENESS – SEVERN = river, around E = energy, then (l)ESS | |
| 43 EXHAUST – EX = former, HAUST = FAUST = role in Goethe with the first letter changed to H = hard | |
| 45 PREFABRICATION – PR = public relations, E = ecstasy, FABRICATION = lie | |
| 48 NICHE – NICE = French resort, around H = husband | |
| 49 NIGHTLONG – NIGHT sounds like KNIGHT = horseman, LONG = pine | |
| 51 RE-ELECT – hidden in wiRE ELECTrician | |
| 53 BELLES-LETTRES – (BEST SELLER)* around LET = allowed | |
| 54 TWENTIETH – (IT WENT, THE)* | |
| 55 BOYISH – B(achelor), (c)OYISH = rather bashful | |
| 56 DRAWBRIDGE – DRAW = sketch, BRIDGE = English composer | |
| 57 RISER – RIVER = Amazon, say, with V = velocity changed to S = small | |
| Down | |
| 1 AUGUST – SU = gold, GUST = rush in the air | |
| 2 FORTUNE-TELLER – FORTUNE = mint, TELLER = bank employee | |
| 3 LEAVE – LEAVE(s) = pages | |
| 4 EXCRETA – EXC = excellent, RATE* | |
| 5 CONCILIATORY – CRY = shout, around COALITION* | |
| 6 TROUBLED – TROU(t) = fish, BLED = escaped into surrounding area | |
| 7 MATZO – MATLO = sailor, around Z = unknown. I was unaware of that spelling of the sailor but knew the biscuit | |
| 8 NETTLESOME – (TEN OMELETS)* | |
| 10 EXIGENT – EXIT = flight, around GEN = information | |
| 11 NIGHTCLUB – NIGH = almost, TUB = boat, around CL = one hundred and fifty | |
| 12 LAYER – (s)LAYER = killer | |
| 13 INCOMMENSURATE – (INSANE COMMUTER)* | |
| 20 STATEMENT – SENT = broadcast, around TATE = gallery and M(illions) | |
| 21 ESOTERIC – E = note, SOT = habitual drunkard, ERIC = chap | |
| 23 DREARINESS – DINES = eats, around REAR = back, (meal)S | |
| 24 TRAVELOGUE – TUE = Tuesday, around RAVEL = composer and OG = GO = work, reversed (mounted) | |
| 26 UNSUSPECTINGLY – UNSU(re), S = small, PEC = muscle, TINGLY = smarting | |
| 28 CROWS-FEET – double definition | |
| 29 LEGALESE – LEGS = pins, around ALE = beer, E(veryone) | |
| 33 WHOLESOMENESS – WHOLENESS = unity, around SOME = a number | |
| 34 UNSEGREGATED – (TEENAGE DRUGS)* | |
| 38 PROPAGATOR – PROP = hold up, A, GATOR = reptile | |
| 40 ETHICALLY – E(uropean), TALLY = count, around HIC = this in Rome (Latin) | |
| 42 CAROUSER – CAR USER = driver, around O = old | |
| 44 USELESS – (ho)USELESS = having no home | |
| 46 CORTEGE – CORE = main, around TEG = GET = obtain, reversed | |
| 47 ETCHER – ET CHER = and expensive, in Paris (French) | |
| 48 NABOB – NAB = nick, OB = he died | |
| 50 THROW – T(enc)H, ROW = line | |
| 52 ESTER – (ch)ESTER = county town | |
Edited at 2019-02-02 04:36 pm (UTC)