Solving time – 14:08
Sorry about the briefness of today’s post, but I haven’t got much time, so just brief clue explanations I’m afraid.
Across
| 1 | M,IS,MAT,CH – CH = “Companion of Honour” |
| 5 | NIPPER – “reppin'” reversed |
| 10 | (f)ALL-OUT |
| 12 | FIGURE OF EIGHT – would anyone like to explain this clue? I can’t. |
| 15 | CRAVE(n) |
| 16 | GANG,LIE,ST – does this really mean most weedy, though? Not in my book. |
| 17 | OUT AND OUT – nice cricket-themed clue. I’m surprised it wasn’t linked to 10ac in some way. |
| 19 | A(LIE)N – definition “offensive” is in the Big Red Book, but I wasn’t aware of it before. |
| 20 | A,D(VENT,U)RESSES – A = are (the land measure) |
| 23 | STROBILI (Bristol,I)* – didn’t know the word, but easy to work out the anagram once the crossing letters were in place. |
| 26 | OR(1,GIN)AL |
Down
| 1 | MALE,FACTOR |
| 3 | A,STAR((gen)T)E – Phoenician goddess of love. |
| 6 | ILL,E.G.,AL |
| 7 | PROSTHETICS (the script so)* |
| 11 | PEANUT BUTTER (tea put,Bunter)* |
| 13 | GIANT PANDAS (adapting as,n)* |
| 14 | STANDS,TILL |
| 18 | NOV,ELLA |
| 19 | A,GEL,ON,G |
| 21 | (coa)T,RIM |
Despite the extra clue from the_od I am still with linxit in not understanding 12a. The top right square of the grid contains an R. How does this relate to Figure of Eight??
Just the six “easies” omitted from the blog:
9a Initiative taken by magazine when there’s delay (4,4)
LEAD TIME
22a It may have an answer but it’s full of holes (6)
RIDDLE
25a Port wine (6)
MUSCAT. Capital & major port of Oman.
2d The tide has aquatic mammal left stranded (3)
SEA (l)
4d Public areana that facilitates a start to negotiations (6,6)
COMMON GROUND
8d Scoundrel has particular drug – speed (4)
RAT E. The corner R in question.
24d Home next to new hotel (3)
IN N
Kevin Walsh