I found this quite straightforward and finished in 10 minutes, but how did you get on?
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 |
|
| 3 | English atheist wrong to hang back (8) |
| HESITATE | |
| Anagram [wrong] of E (English) + ATHEIST | |
| 7 | US state welcoming Republican soldier (6) |
| MARINE | |
| MAINE (US state) containing [welcoming] R (Republican) | |
| 8 | Nearly everyone preparing for war is frightening (8) |
| ALARMING | |
| AL{l} (everyone) [nearly], ARMING (preparing for war) | |
| 9 | Make very slow progress in church (4) |
| INCH | |
| IN, CH (church) | |
| 10 | Friend in city across the pond quietly heading west (3) |
| PAL | |
| LA (city across the pond) + P (quietly) reversed [heading west] | |
| 11 | Clumsy bishop locates impediment (8) |
| OBSTACLE | |
| Anagram [clumsy] of B (bishop) + LOCATES | |
| 13 | Almost get rid of Times (4) |
| ERAS | |
| ERAS{e} (get rid of) [almost] | |
| 15 | Fat female dog (4) |
| FLAB | |
| F (female), LAB (dog) | |
| 17 | Very happy to catch EV up (8) |
| ELEVATED | |
| ELATED (very happy) containing [to catch] EV. Electric Vehicle. | |
| 19 | When one might expect to receive letter from Athens? (3) |
| ETA | |
| Two meanings. Estimated Time of Arrival. | |
| 22 | Fail nothing in London School of Economics (4) |
| LOSE | |
| o (nothing) contained by [in] LSE (London School of Economics) | |
| 23 | Puritan concealing rubbish project (8) |
| PROTRUDE | |
| PRUDE (puritan) containing [concealing] ROT (rubbish) | |
| 24 | Strict new school in the East End (6) |
| NARROW | |
| N (new), {H}ARROW(school) [in the East End]. Actually on the north-west outskirts of London, still called Middlesex when I grew up there. | |
| 25 | Vulgar soldiers head for the lowest level (8) |
| BASEMENT | |
| BASE (vulgar), MEN (soldiers), T{he} [head for…] | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | For whom one might provide perfect meal? (8) |
| CANNIBAL | |
| Cryptic | |
| 2 | Fashionable way to make a Martini? (4,2) |
| WITH IT | |
| The cryptic hint refers to making a Martini cocktail WITH IT (Italian vermouth) | |
| 3 | Learn from the archdeacon (4) |
| HEAR | |
| Hidden in [from] {t}HE AR{chdeacon} | |
| 4 | Pest made off in a rush (8) |
| STAMPEDE | |
| Anagram [off] of PEST MADE | |
| 5 | Office worker briefly allowed place of worship (6) |
| TEMPLE | |
| TEMP (office worker), LE{t} (allowed} [briefly] | |
| 6 | Sharp smell of insect rising (4) |
| TANG | |
| GNAT (insect) reversed [rising] | |
| 12 | University caterer cooking chicken? (8) |
| CREATURE | |
| Anagram [cooking] of U (university) + CATERER | |
| 14 | Dislike author’s initial adaptation (8) |
| AVERSION | |
| A{uthor’s} [initial], VERSION (adaptation) | |
| 16 | Bet on the French acquiring European vehicle (6) |
| BEETLE | |
| BET + LE (‘the’ in French) containing [acquiring] E (European). Rather a vague definition, but it refers of course to the VW Beetle, aka ‘Herbie’ to some. | |
| 18 | Tempt a couple of learners to go on river (6) |
| ALLURE | |
| A, L+ L (couple of learners), URE (river) | |
| 20 | Dartmoor cave providing cover for hunter (4) |
| ORCA | |
| Hidden in [providing cover for] {Dartmo}OR CA{ve}. The killer whale. | |
| 21 | Reportedly remitted money to America (4) |
| CENT | |
| Aural wordplay [reportedly]: “sent” (remitted) | |
31 minutes.
Another truly appalling performance. I am utterly incapable of doing this.
Why is it that I spend literally hours on the 15 x 15 and still get nowhere on the QC, which is supposed to be easier?
Many solvers here never go near the 15 x 15 and still beat me all ends up on the QC. No improvement, no enjoyment, no point.
Everyone who began doing the QC at or around the same time as me is now streets ahead. How does that happen?
Fed up. All this effort for nothing but frustration and disappointment.
Dear poor Gary – can’t understand why you’re so depressed. 31 minutes is very good! At least you completed it, which is surely not to be taken for granted. I’m delighted and ELATED if I finish at all (running at just below 50% so far this year). And I rarely even attempt the 15×15. I think you’re doing brilliantly. Don’t expect so much from yourself and just enjoy it. We mustn’t even try to compete with these ace seasoned solvers who post unreal times – they’ve probably been at it for decades. Cheer up and celebrate your completed puzzle!
Thanks Martinu, I appreciate your kind comments.
Once I managed to load the puzzle it took me longer than usual to complete it, missing a couple of the anagrams not helping. Struggled home in 28:11 – a poor effort really.
DNF with 4 clues stumping me at the end. 1d, 23a and 24a made sense after I’d seen the answers and worked it out backwards, however needed the blog for WITH IT. Really liked ETA and BEETLE. Thanks for the blog today 😁
Failed by 4 on 15 x 15 after 90 minutes. That’s another 2 hours of suffering racked up today. Never gets any better for me!
No Times provided free on Eurostar so had to wait until return home to (hope to) quickly dispatch this. Thank you, Pipsqueak; delightfully doable and I shall get to bed not too late thanks to you. LOI BASEMENT (soldiers can be so many things!). Only slight MER at “bet” being used literally in both clue and answer. Otherwise no problems. Liked CANNIBAL.