There was a real sense of playfulness and invention to the cryptic elements to match – I was much tickled by 10ac, 18ac, 3dn and more besides. Thanks setter! My only regret is that solving and blogging on a Dvorak keyboard is very slow work, but who knows, maybe this will be the year I finally don’t blow off my resolutions and master the damn layout. Here’s to faster typing speeds in 2022, for us all!
Definitions underlined, (ABC)* indicating anagram of ABC, {} deletions and [] other indicators.
Across
1 Worried about grasping unknown ancient language (5)
AZTEC – ATE C [worried | about] “grasping” Z. Isn’t the language more properly “Nahuatl”?
4 Resent shift, say, ending for worker inside (8)
BEGRUDGE – BUDGE, E.G. {worke}R inside that
8 Work allowing you to take extended leave? (3,4,7)
THE LONG GOODBYE – a Raymond Chandler work, with added cryptic definition of its title
10 Unhealthy condition of Society? That’s the case across the pond (9)
SINUSITIS – S(ociety) + IN U.S. IT IS
11 Two playing partners love to get through (3,2)
DUE TO – DUET + 0
12 Reading for one’s partner no longer suitable for him or her (6)
UNISEX – UNI’S EX [e.g. Reading’s | partner no longer]
14 Unusual shop, said to be one containing bar? (8)
SOAPDISH – (SHOP SAID*)
17 Palace supporter following city going to West Ham (8)
ALHAMBRA – BRA, following L.A. (written from east to west) + HAM
18 One leaving lingerie promotion possibly somehow reanimated (6)
UNDEAD – UND{i}E AD
20 European state chancellory taking back exhibits (5)
TYROL – hidden reversed in {chancel}LORY T{aking}
22 Canvas creator’s realism somehow capturing a king (9)
SAILMAKER – (REALISM*) “capturing” A K
24 I, in turn, no longer having influence, make huge effort (2,3,2,4,3)
GO OUT OF ONES WAY – ONE, in GO + OUT OF SWAY
25 Sticky matter, new poetry book being sent back for late supplement? (8)
ADDENDUM – all of MUD N EDDA reversed
26 Sports for kids (3,2)
HAS ON – double def. As in, “he has a onesie on? You’re having me on!”
Down
1 A white cat in a street isn’t rare, ultimately (4,8)
ASTI SPUMANTE – PUMA in A ST ISN’T {rar}E
2 What could be Bangkok hotel’s sound promotional material (3-2)
TIE-IN – homophone of THAI INN
3 Contradictory facial expression for one providing support (9)
CROSSBEAM – a “cross beam” would appear to be an oxymoronic facial expression
4 City airline crossing from South African country (6)
BOGOTA – B.A. “crossing” TOGO (written from south to north)
5 Merchandise on the way? Bravo! (4,4)
GOOD SHOW – GOODS on HOW [the way, as in, “the way we live now”]
6 Cancelled one for each of 18 (5)
UNDID – UND{ea->I}D
7 Endless zest in good French school is something sweet (9)
GLYCERINE – RIN{d} in G LYCEE
9 Awfully odd time, in theory, to cheat (2,3,5,2)
DO THE DIRTY ON – (ODD T IN THEORY*)
13 Sort of royal club for US dramatist (9)
ISHERWOOD – ISH E.R. WOOD [sort of | royal | club]
15 Pub drama involving politician in French city (5,4)
PHNOM PENH – P.H. NOH “involving” M.P. EN
16 Most of new school having walls painted (8)
FRESCOED – FRES{h} CO-ED
19 Sand blaster in my opinion cuts small round marks (6)
SIMOOM – IMO “cuts” S O M
21 See something worthwhile in blackguard (5)
LOUSE – LO! USE
23 Birds mostly peck, with one poking inside (5)
KIWIS – KIS{s}, “poked” by W I [with | one]
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