11 minutes for this one which I think is fairly straightforward though there are a couple of less than familiar words, one of which (at 7dn) could catch out the unwary solver. Also 1dn might cause a problem.
Definitions {deletions} [indicators]
|
Across |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | Landing area publicises tour (8) |
| AIRSTRIP – AIRS (publicises), TRIP (tour) | |
| 5 | Intend article to be taken in by people (4) |
| MEAN – A (article) taken in by MEN (people) | |
| 8 | Jewish scholar‘s undergarment taken in robbery (8) |
| HEBRAIST – BRA (undergarment) taken in by HEIST (robbery) | |
| 9 | Support for power (4) |
| PROP – PRO (for), P (power) | |
| 11 | What boxer must do before bout for someone unimportant (10) |
| MAKEWEIGHT – Double definition, the first requiring (4,4) enumeration. I know nothing about boxing but I assume it’s necessary for a boxer to attain or make a certain weight to comply with the rules. | |
| 14 | Anger about one apparition (6) |
| WRAITH – WRATH (anger) about I (one) | |
| 15 | Parents, heading off for rest (6) |
| OTHERS – {m}OTHERS (parents) [heading off] | |
| 17 | Some say wife‘s improved by a little beer (6,4) |
| BETTER HALF – BETTER (improved), HALF (little beer). Colloquially beer is often referred to and ordered as a “pint” and or a “half”. The apostrophe S is short for “is” rather than indicating the possessive. As the clue suggest, some men do or did refer to their wife as their “better half” though by now it’s surely a somewhat dated and unfashionable expression. | |
| 20 | Unsightly condition Isaac Newton bears (4) |
| ACNE – Hidden in {Isa}AC NE{wton} | |
| 21 | Quietly make contact with extremely eager lecturer (8) |
| PREACHER – P (quietly – music), REACH (make contact with), E{age}R [extremely] | |
| 22 | Periods of stunned confusion for audience (4) |
| DAYS – Sounds like [for audience] “daze” (stunned confusion) | |
| 23 | Certain to tuck into alcoholic drink, but restrained (8) |
| MEASURED – SURE (certain) inside [tuck into] MEAD (alcoholic drink) | |
|
Down |
|
| 1 | Church to go in a year? That’s hurtful (4) |
| ACHY – CH (church) inside [to go in] A, Y (year). Care was needed here not to bung in ACHE. | |
| 2 | Polish back of grey stone (4) |
| RUBY – RUB (polish), {gre}Y [back of] | |
| 3 | Note parasite waltzing into social events (3,7) |
| TEA PARTIES – TE (note) + anagram [waltzing] of PARASITE | |
| 4 | Part of boot marching men should keep (6) |
| INSTEP – Double definition, the second requiring (2,4) enumeration | |
| 6 | Peer over colourless drink (4,4) |
| EARL GREY – EARL (peer), GREY (colourless). A tea flavoured with oil of bergamot. | |
| 7 | Relatively helpful employer? (8) |
| NEPOTIST – Barely cryptic definition. Again care was needed not to enter the more familiar NEPOTISM. | |
| 10 | Silent pair, slithering, could be snakes (10) |
| REPTILIANS – Anagram [slithering] of SILENT PAIR | |
| 12 | Have team collecting right sort of supermarket goods (3,5) |
| OWN BRAND – OWN (have), BAND (team) collecting R (right) | |
| 13 | Desire, just in a promiscuous way (8) |
| WANTONLY – WANT (desire), ONLY (just) | |
| 16 | Woman I cheer madly (6) |
| CHERIE – Anagram [madly] of I CHEER | |
| 18 | Singe map, losing southernmost part (4) |
| CHAR – CHAR{t} (map) [losing southernmost part]. The deletion indicator here requires the answer to be in a Down clue. | |
| 19 | Poke piano with stick (4) |
| PROD – P (piano – music, again), ROD (stick) | |
Philip
A prop is support and also provides power ie. Propellor