Solving time: 52 minutes for all but one clue which required aids, so it was a technical DNF for me. That aside, this was mostly very enjoyable.
As an aside, I know that a number of bloggers and contributors to TfTT also do The Guardian puzzle. Following changes on their site the default print option has been lost and solvers are only offered a PDF version with black grid and a different layout, however there is a workaround. The old grey format can be obtained by simply typing /print at the end of the url in the address bar and pressing Enter.
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Understate personal record recalled in diary regularly (8) |
| DOWNPLAY | |
| OWN (personal) + LP (record) reversed [recalled] contained by [in] D{i}A{r}Y [regularly] | |
| 5 | Unethical counterpart to PM against test (6) |
| AMORAL | |
| AM (counterpart to PM – time of day), ORAL (test) | |
| 9 | Small possibility left about ghost materialising in new form (4,4) |
| LONG SHOT | |
| L (left), ON (about), anagram [materialising in new form] of GHOST | |
| 10 | Wisdom and totally unlimited tact mums deny (6) |
| ACUMEN | |
| {t}AC{t} + {m}UM{s} + {d}EN{y} [totally unlimited] | |
| 12 | Bruising ultimately affected head and pulse (5-4,4) |
| BLACK-EYED BEAN | |
| BLACK-EYE (bruising), {affecte}D [ultimately], BEAN (head). Premium Oxford Dictionary: a creamy-white edible bean that has a black mark at the point where it was attached to the pod. NHO this but apparently it’s also known as ‘black-eyed pea’ which does ring a bell. | |
| 15 | Wet beam joint in auditorium (5) |
| RAINY | |
| Aural wordplay [in auditorium]: RAI-NY / “ray” (beam) + “knee” (joint) | |
| 16 | American article on holm oak revised (9) |
| OKLAHOMAN | |
| Anagram [revised] of HOLM OAK, then AN (indefinite article) | |
| 17 | Tense local abandoning female’s lofty abode (4-5) |
| TREE-HOUSE | |
| T (tense), {f}REE HOUSE (local – pub) [abandoning female]. A pub not controlled by a brewery and therefore not restricted to selling particular brands of beer or spirits. | |
| 19 | Attack keep — insurgents held back guards (5) |
| SNIPE | |
| Reversed (held back) and hidden in [guards]{ke}EP INS{urgents} | |
| 20 | Withdrawal police officers promise (13) |
| DISENGAGEMENT | |
| DI’S (police officers), ENGAGEMENT (promise) | |
| 22 | Dispute when behind vehicle loudly reversed (6) |
| FRACAS | |
| CAR (vehicle) + F (loudly) [reversed], then AS (when) | |
| 23 | Secure advanced warning and protective cover (8) |
| PINAFORE | |
| PIN (secure), A (advanced), FORE (warning – golf) | |
| 25 | Substitute outstanding artwork (6) |
| RELIEF | |
| Two meanings. POD: relief – a method of moulding, carving, or stamping in which the design stands out from the surface. | |
| 26 | Plant in ground established grip (8) |
| INTEREST | |
| INTER (plant in ground), EST (established). We had ‘plant’ meaning ‘inter’ only recently. | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Give information in flyer after shop is planned (10) |
| DELIBERATE | |
| DELI (shop), then RAT (give information) contained by [in] BEE (flyer) | |
| 2 | Sketch this accomplishment of Victor wearing drag (3) |
| WIN | |
| A reverse-type clue. WIN (this accomplishment of Victor) contained by [wearing] DRAG = DRAWING (sketch). Complicated a little by the definition coming in the middle of the clue for a change. | |
| 3 | Ask spy source in enemy complex for means of access (7) |
| PASSKEY | |
| Anagram [complex] of ASK SPY E{nemy} [source] | |
| 4 | Proceed to block some files for advisory panels? (5,7) |
| AGONY COLUMNS | |
| GO (proceed) contained by [to block] ANY (some), COLUMNS (files). Agony columns give advice but tend to be fronted by one person so I’m a little puzzled by ‘panels’ here. Seems a little odd, but it’s probably me. | |
| 6 | US subject receives award for drama (7) |
| MACBETH | |
| MATH (US subject) contains [receives] CBE (award). Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. | |
| 7 | Old dominion’s premier confused about sultanate (5,6) |
| ROMAN EMPIRE | |
| Anagram [confused] of PREMIER, containing OMAN (sultanate) | |
| 8 | Dash with leader going down passage (4) |
| LANE | |
| ÉLAN (dash) becomes LANE (passage) when its leading letter moves down | |
| 11 | Corruption, masked in flattery, disheartened the king (12) |
| ADULTERATION | |
| T{h}E [disheartened] + R (king) contained by [masked in] ADULATION (flattery) | |
| 13 | Sweet basil and leek nearly prepared (7,4) |
| ANISEED BALL | |
| Anagram [prepared] of BASIL AND LEE{k} [nearly]. Do they still make these? | |
| 14 | Not feeling excited, one entering in hospital department (10) |
| INSENTIENT | |
| SENT (excited) + I (one) contained by [entering] IN + ENT (hospital department). This was the clue that did for me and I eventually reverted to aids. ‘Sent / excited’ never occurred to me. I thought it was dead a buried decades ago. | |
| 18 | Prisoner I’m surprised turned on old coach (7) |
| HOSTAGE | |
| OH (I’m surprised) reversed [turned], STAGE (old coach) | |
| 19 | Ooze from spot on side (7) |
| SEEPAGE | |
| SEE (spot), PAGE (side) | |
| 21 | Case lost in African expedition miles away (4) |
| AFAR | |
| {s}AFAR{i} (African expedition) [case lost] | |
| 24 | Concert hall’s not performing lyrical work (3) |
| ODE | |
| ODE{on{ (concert hall) [not performing – on). Most Brits probably think of cinemas before the Greek concert halls. | |
28’25” with a lot of biffed clues that I didn’t fully understand till I read the blog. Thanks. I actually rather liked 2 down. It makes an interest change — and challenge — when the synonym part of the clue is not at the beginning or end.
Nice puzzle except for WIN and AMORAL.
Unethical means not adhering to recognised standards that would otherwise apply. There is an element of interpretation and subjectivity.
Amoral people don’t recognise any standard. Behavioural nihilists if you like.
Around 60 minutes. A nice meaty puzzle. Particularly liked TREE-HOUSE
25.57. Completed o.k. but failed to parse ‘win’.