An almost completely sequential solve for me. The only one that I had to pass over first time round was 21A where the double definition just managed to elude me but popped out like a glass eye once I had the checkers. Thanks Hurley for a very gentle start to the week.
FOI was obviously 1A and LOI 21A as suggested above. COD as usual is difficult for me to decide as nothing really stuck its neck out but perhaps 12D?
Definitions are underlined and everything else is explained just as I see it as simply as I can.
| Across | |
| 1 | Case for weapon in small taxi seen by poet (8) |
| SCABBARD – S (small) + CAB (taxi) + BARD (poet). | |
| 6 | Mother’s meeting son’s crowd (4) |
| MASS – MA’S (mother’s) + S (son) [edited following Kevin’s comment below]. | |
| 8 | Nasty riot in southeast leading to soldiers’ sudden sally (6) |
| SORTIE – anagram of RIOT (‘nasty’) ‘in’ SE (southeast). | |
| 9 | Floor covering in vehicle — a favourite (6) |
| CARPET – CAR (vehicle) + PET (favourite). | |
| 10 | Release without charge (4) |
| FREE – double definition. | |
| 11 | Business discussed after hours as spa loth to change tack ultimately (8) |
| SHOPTALK – anagram of SPA LOTH (‘to change’) + K (tacK ‘ultimately’). | |
| 12 | Dance company not getting approval initially (5) |
| CONGA – CO (company) + NGA (Not Getting Approval ‘initially’). | |
| 13 | Behind in time — some daft error (5) |
| AFTER – hidden word: ‘some’ dAFT ERror. | |
| 15 | Angry words as aid returned by large family? (8) |
| DIATRIBE – DIA (aid ‘returned’) + TRIBE (large family). | |
| 17 | Conspiracy cutting India out of experimental programme (4) |
| PLOT – P |
|
| 19 | Good to visit West African country, harmless (6) |
| BENIGN – G (good) ‘visiting’ BENIN (West African country). | |
| 20 | Chesspiece that is needed for new recruit (6) |
| ROOKIE – ROOK (chesspiece) + IE (i.e., that is). | |
| 21 | Flier’s harmless mischief (4) |
| LARK – double definition. | |
| 22 | Nudge perhaps about person caring for children (8) |
| REMINDER – RE (about) + MINDER (person caring for children). | |
| Down | |
| 2 | Singers, choosy (not half!) I recognise at first (5) |
| CHOIR – CHO |
|
| 3 | Bird nibbled beside another one (7) |
| BITTERN – BIT (nibbled) + TERN (another bird). | |
| 4 | First-rate catcher? Nothing odd in that (3) |
| ACE – cross out the odd letters of |
|
| 5 | New version of Art Deco — to a degree (9) |
| DOCTORATE – straight anagram (new version) of ART DECO TO. | |
| 6 | Dormer I think displays good qualities (5) |
| MERIT – hidden word: dorMER I Think ‘displays’. | |
| 7 | All set for reform at end of December? Outstanding! (7) |
| STELLAR – anagram (‘for reform’) of ALL SET + R (end of DecembeR). | |
| 11 | Shop for writers where trains are — supported by Queen (9) |
| STATIONER – STATION (where trains are) ‘supported by’ (i.e. ‘on top of’ in this down clue) ER (queen). | |
| 12 | Agree with artist it’s unrealistic idea (7) |
| CHIMERA – CHIME (agree) + RA (Royal Academician, artist). | |
| 14 | Typo containing H — cricket side storm (7) |
| TYPHOON – TYPHO (TYPO ‘containing’ H) + ON (the LEG side in cricket). | |
| 16 | Indication of approval to include King in batch of playing cards (5) |
| TRICK – TICK (indication of approval) ‘to include’ R (king). | |
| 18 | Nothing good kept in reserve (2,3) |
| ON ICE – O (nothing) + NICE (good). | |
| 20 | Farm animal’s damage on way up (3) |
| RAM – MAR (damage) reversed (i.e. ‘on way up’ in this down clue). | |
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