Quick Cryptic 2374 by Alfie – Times for The Times

An engaging puzzle that came in just over par at 7 minutes, so perhaps more tricky than average. It’s also an example of that rare beast, the double pangram. Favourite clue is the very neat 21ac. Held up by 4dn because I never learn.

Across
6	Exclamation of alarm as a horde assembled (2,4)
	OH DEAR – anagram (‘assembled’) of A HORDE
7	Inter again later the club you swear by, ultimately! (6)
	REBURY – last letters of lateR thE cluB yoU sweaR bY
9	Variable IQ reflected after taking in university pub event? (4)
	QUIZ – Z (variable) + IQ all backwards with U for university inserted
10	Make the most of revolutionary mix in corn (8)
	MAXIMIZE – MIX backwards inside MAIZE. US spelling because the clue doesn’t work otherwise
11	Kiss Pole madly in winter sports setting (3,5)
	SKI SLOPE – anagram (‘madly’) of KISS POLE
13	Eye venue for return, regularly — experiencing this? (4)
	ENVY – reversed alternate letters of eYe VeNuE
15	A biscuit or photo? It’s the same thing! (4)
	SNAP – triple definition
16	MP in France I involved in projects that take off immediately? (4,4)
	JUMP JETS – MP + JE (in France, ‘I’) inside JUTS. The definition is a bit clunky but I suppose it’s a semi-&lit
18	Very unpleasant fag would, when put out (3-5)
	GOD-AWFUL – anagram (‘put out’) of FAG WOULD
20	Charlie cut a toffee, perhaps (4)
	CHEW – C + HEW. Chew is also a noun, of course.
21	City some discover on Adige (6)
	VERONA – hidden word: discoVER ON Adige. Also a nice &lit because Verona lies on the Adige river, which I did not know until today.
22	Money order spoken for by vet or E European? (6)
	CHEQUE – sounds like CHECK and CZECH

Down
1	Say nothing: manage with knowledge that’s much reduced? (8)
	SHRUNKEN – SH (say nothing) + RUN + KEN
2	Pram zone zoo’s organised for female singer (5-7)
	MEZZO-SOPRANO – anagram (‘organised’) of PRAM ZONE ZOO’S
3	Cases of cider, ice-cream and Barolo for Christmas (6)
	CRIMBO – outside letters of CideR + Ice-creaM + BarolO. Fairly familiar British slang word for Christmas
4	Girl endlessly tries to grab one kiss (6)
	TRIXIE – TRIE[S] with I X inside. Better name for a dog than a person. Note in the 15 x 15 such a clue would use a synonym rather than the word itself, and it catches me out every single time in the QC. There are dozens of synonyms for ‘try’ (shot, bash, stab, go, essay, hear…) so I was barking up the wrong tree for a while.
5	Place in Austria making razors for paring down (4)
	GRAZ – hidden word: makinG RAZors
8	Aircraft to lift alien’s coat (6,6)
	BOMBER JACKET – BOMBER + JACK + ET
12	Greek character with ukulele originally more musical (3)
	PIÙ – PI + U for ukulele. Italian for ‘more’, used in musical notation. Apologies for pretentiously adding the accent.
14	Our vet is upset, becoming glassy (8)
	VITREOUS – anagram (‘upset’) of OUR VET IS
16	Yes German females like oranges! (6)
	JAFFAS -JA (‘yes’ in German)+ F + F + AS (like)
17	Evil intent of maiden, a girl in wonderland (6)
	MALICE – M for maiden (cricket abbreviation) + ALICE
19	One arranged to keep ten cattle (4)
	OXEN – anagram (‘arranged’) of ONE with X (ten) inserted

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