Solving time: 7 minutes. This seems mostly straightforward with no obscure words and only a couple of slightly unfamiliar meanings.
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]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
|
Across |
|
| 1 | Some chap in a foreign garment (8) |
| PINAFORE : Hidden in [some] {cha}P IN A FORE{ign} | |
| 5 | Plans to return this junk mail (4) |
| SPAM : MAPS (plans) reversed [to return]. ‘This’ is required here or the clue might have been ambiguous. | |
| 8 | Subject those people memorise at last (5) |
| THEME : THEM (those people), {memoris}E [at last] | |
| 9 | Be left wearing the lady’s kilt regularly (7) |
| INHERIT : IN (wearing), HER (the lady), {k}I{l}T [regularly] | |
| 11 | Colour odd bits of house (3) |
| HUE : H{o}U{s}E [odd bits] | |
| 12 | Reconfigure a nerd’s app — that’s rough! (9) |
| SANDPAPER : Anagram [reconfigure] of A NERD’S APP | |
| 13 | Endure wet weather across East Midlands, initially (6) |
| REMAIN : RAIN (wet weather) containing [across] E (east) + M{idlands} [initially] | |
| 15 | Strange story about European seafood delicacy (6) |
| OYSTER : Anagram [strange] of STORY, containing [about] E (European) | |
| 18 | Nicotine misused outside hospital in a risky location (2,4,3) |
| ON THIN ICE : Anagram [misused] of NICOTINE containing [outside] H (hospital) | |
| 19 | Add a little whisky, perhaps (3) |
| TOT : Two meanings | |
| 20 | Integrity of perfect pen (7) |
| HONESTY : HONE (perfect – pronounced perFECT), STY (pen). Trelawney in Oink’s territory here! | |
| 21 | Acquire unlimited wine with scoundrel (5) |
| INCUR : {w}IN{e} [unlimited], CUR (scoundrel) | |
| 22 | River fish — pulled in with this? (4) |
| REEL : R (river), EEL (fish) | |
| 23 | Lively tango a maiden is dancing (8) |
| ANIMATED : Anagram [dancing] of T (tango – NATO alphabet) A MAIDEN | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Player throwing beer container? (7) |
| PITCHER : Two definitions, one by example | |
| 2 | French city accepts English relative (5) |
| NIECE : NICE (French city) contains [accepts] E (English) | |
| 3 | Non-conformists found at an open bar? (4,7) |
| FREE SPIRITS : A definition and a cryptic suggestion | |
| 4 | Singer somehow sits on the throne (6) |
| REIGNS : Anagram [somehow] of SINGER | |
| 6 | A dog, perhaps, under standard defensive structure (7) |
| PARAPET : PAR (standard), A, PET (dog, perhaps) | |
| 7 | Car is secure outside front of terminal (5) |
| MOTOR : MOOR (secure – a boat) containing [outside] T{erminal} [front] | |
| 10 | Compromise the result of a profitable seance? (5,6) |
| HAPPY MEDIUM : A definition and a cryptic suggestion | |
| 14 | Friend outside trendy theatre, finally, for afternoon show (7) |
| MATINEE : MATE (friend) containing [outside] IN (trendy) + {theatr}E [finally] | |
| 16 | Gave up work, extremely reclusive and exhausted (7) |
| RETIRED : R{eclusiv}E [extremely], TIRED (exhausted) | |
| 17 | Left India next to an African (6) |
| LIBYAN : L (left), I (India – NATO alphabet), BY (next to), AN | |
| 18 | Additional trouble doesn’t begin (5) |
| OTHER : {b}OTHER (trouble) [doesn’t begin] | |
| 19 | Diplomacy around Iran’s leader is understood (5) |
| TACIT : TACT (diplomacy) containing [around] I{ran} [leader] | |
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