Times Quick Cryptic Crossword No 368 by Izetti – 8 across was a pile of poo!

Morning all

The Don is here today with his usual pleasant puzzle that most should find reasonably straightforward. The solution to the last Across clue may not be familiar to some, but otherwise it should be plain sailing (I hope!). Favourite clues were 6 down and 8 across.

ACROSS
1 BUCKET – Pail is the definition. BUCK (male animal) + EAT (to have meal) – A (without a)
4 PASSES – Overtakes is the definition. P (Parking) + ASSES (male animals)
8 MANURED – Covered in muck is the definition. An anagram (awfully) of RUDE MAN
10 BUILD – A double definition, with one half a homophone. Put up is the straight one. As advertised (BILLED) the second one.
11 LATHE – Machine is the definition. LATHER (Froth) minus R (not right)
12 SERVANT – A maid is an example of this for the definition. An anagram (sacked) of TAVERN’S
13 RETREATED – The question mark here is important as it’s a double definition with the second part slightly outside the box. Went back is the ‘straight’ definition. If you paid again for someone to do something you could be said to have done this, though the word doesn’t technically mean that.
17 TRANCES – Sleepy states is the definition. TRACES (little bits) with inside (swallowed) N (any number)
19 ADORN – Dress is the definition. A + DON (A man) with R (last letter of tailor) inside
20 GLINT – Shine is the definition. G (good) + LINT (material)
21 REPTILE – E.g. a snake is the definition. An anagram (nasty) of PET inside RILE (anger)
22 DINGHY – Boat is the definition DINGY (unattractive state) with H (front, first letter of harbour)
23 MENHIR – An old stone monument is the definition. Although it’s a slightly obscure the word, it’s indicated in probably the easiest way with a homophone of MEN HERE

DOWN
1 BUMBLE – The name of the beadle from Oliver Twist is needed here. A double definition – the name and a word that means to behave like Boris Johnson (or so he would have us believe)
2 CONSTERNATION – Dismay is the definition. An anagram (unfortunately) of ONE CONSTRAINT
3 EARNEST – Serious is the definition. EST (‘Is’ in French) with ARNE (Composer of Rule Britannia) inside
5 AMBER – Colour is the definition. An anagram (swimming around) of BREAM
6 SPIT AND POLISH – Cleaner’s attention to detail is the definition. An anagram (possibly) of and PAINT
7 SEDATE – Stuffy is the definition. SE (standard crossword indication of Home Counties) + DATE (to become old-fashioned)
9 DISPENSER – Something to provide paper towels is your definition. An anagram (possibly) of NEEDS RIPS
14 TRAMPLE – Tread is the definition. TR (First letters, primarily, of Tyre Requirement) +
AMPLE (sufficient)
15 STAGED – Put on is the definition. ST (street) + AGED (dotage)
16 IN GEAR – Double definition. A phrase that means wearing clothes and what you need to be in order to drive off in a car.
17 CATCH – Discover is the definition CAT (moggy) + CH (church)

Thanks to Izetti for an enjoyable solve. See you next week.