Times Quick Cryptic No 1892 by Hurley

Introduction

DNF, on account of 16 Down.

Solutions

A brief summary of cryptic crosswords —feel free to skip— :

• Each clue has at least one “definition”: an unbroken string of words which more-or-less straightforwardly indicates the answer. A definition can be as simple as a one-word synonym; but it can also be a descriptive phrase like ‘I’m used to wind’ for REEL or SPOOL. A definition by example must be indicated by a phrase like ‘for example’, or, more commonly, a question mark (?). Thus ‘color’ is a definition of RED, while ‘red, for example’ or ‘red?’ are definitions of COLOR. Punctuation is otherwise irrelevant. Proper nouns will appear capitalized, but otherwise capitalization is irrelevant as well.
• Each clue may also have an unbroken string of words which indicates the answer through wordplay, such as: using abbreviations; reversing the order of letters; indicating particular letters (first, last, outer, middle, every other, etc); placing words inside other words; rearranging letters (anagrams); replacing words by words that sound alike (homophones); and combinations of the above. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the general theme is to reinterpret ordinary words as referring to letters, so that for example ‘lion’s head’ indicates the first letter of LION: namely, L.
• Definitions and wordplay cannot overlap. The only other words allowed in clues are linking words or phrases that combine these. Thus we may see, for example: “(definition) gives (wordplay)” or “(definition) and (definition)” or “(wordplay) is (definition)”.
• The most common clues have either two definitions, or one definition plus wordplay, in either order. But a single, very misleading definition is not uncommon, and very occasionally a definition can also be interpreted as wordplay leading to the same answer. Triple definitions (and more) are also possible.

My conventions in the solutions below are to underline definitions (including a defining phrase); put linking words in [brackets]; and put all wordplay indicators in boldface. I also use a solidus (/) to help break up the clue where necessary, especially for double definitions without linking words.

After the solutions, I list all the wordplay indicators and abbreviations in a Glossary.

Across

1   Bad beer, old pal? Very bad! (10)
DEPLORABLE = anagram of BEER OLD PAL

8   Fierce swimmer Private Investigator / fled — that’s funny! (7)
PIRANHA = P.I. + RAN + HA

9   Fast-moving / group of ships (5)
FLEET = double definition

10   Having pale greyish colour when / extremely hoary (4)
ASHY = AS + first and last of HOARY

11   Speak contemptuously of redesigned title belt, unfinished (8)
BELITTLE = anagram of TITLE BELT without the last letter

13   Parent at / end of term, different (6)
MOTHER = last letter of TERM + OTHER

14   Honorary secretary in university departs (6)
UNPAID = P.A. in UNI + D

17   Case involving United closed — a learning experience (8)
TUTORIAL = TRIAL around U + TO

19   London architect[’s] songbird (4)
WREN = double definition
Christopher Wren (1632–1723)

21   Hospital in transaction [for] source of gas (5)
SHALE = H in SALE

22   Bomb danger at sea / ultimately preventable (7)
GRENADE = anagram of DANGER + last letter of PREVENTABLE

23   Those voting in the lector at evensong? (10)
ELECTORATE = hidden in THE LECTOR AT EVENSONG

Down

2   Oddly abandoned repairs before attempt [to find] range of sound (7)
EARSHOT = REPAIRS without odd-numbered letters + SHOT

3   This might help you see / French industrial town (4)
LENS = double definition

4   One travelling in Cairo — American (6)
ROAMER = hidden in CAIRO AMERICAN

5   Help [in] rewrite of brief, then finish (8)
BEFRIEND = anagram of BRIEF + END

6   Day before / National Trust[’s] planned occasion (5)
EVENT = EVE + N.T.

7   Head count at ball around two hours before midnight? (10)
ATTENDANCE = AT + DANCE around TEN

8   Rearranged AGM imparts realistic approach (10)
PRAGMATISM = anagram of AGM IMPARTS

12   Get back about / the rose at outset, / that is very English! (8)
RETRIEVE = RE + first letters of THE ROSE + I.E. + V + E

15   Alongside an animal, crossing river (7)
ABREAST = A BEAST around R

16   Dismissed at Lord’s, Charlie, over anything at all? (6)
CAUGHT = C + AUGHT

18   Wind up hearing sound of Northern river (5)
TEASE = homophone of TEES

20   Costly article secured by the German (4)
DEAR = A in DER (‘the’ in German)

Glossary

Wordplay indicators

Abbreviations and little bits