This solvers guide is to Stephen Clarke’s Crossword #34, published in The Byron Shire Echo Issue 39.28, 18 December 2024. Crossword #34 can be viewed as a PDF here. The solution grid can be viewed here.
ACROSS:
1. MUSKET. K = king in (collaring) muse = contemplate + T = tory leader.
4. SALMON. S = small + almon(d) = nut – d (chucked) = daughter.
8. ARRAYED. Arrayed = homonym (we’ve heard) of a raid = surprise attack.
9. BONDAGE. Bond = super spy (ref. James Bond) + age = a long time.
11. UNIFORMITY. U = university + anagram (abused) of f = female + minority.
12. IOTA. I = I +o = love (ref. tennis score) +t(un)a (tuna gutted).
13. ACERB. Anagram (mixed) of race + b = abbrev. of bishop (ref chess notation).
14. TREVALLY. Rev (abbrev. of reverend) = vicar in tally = count.
16. FLATHEAD. Fla(t) = unit (with tail severed) + anag. (a horrible) of death.
18. THROB. (Ba) throb (e)
20. OBOE. Dnu(ob oe)mor = oboe in Romeo bound reversed (going back).
21. OPERA HOUSE. O = nothing + anag. (can be adapted) of Europe has .
23. STAMINA. St = revered person + anag. (unusual) of mania.
24. MINARET. Anag, (crumbling) of term in a.
25. MULLET. (Double definition (ref. hairstyle).
26. FETTLE. Tl (= lt = abbrev. of lieutenant reversed) in anag. (injured) of feet.
DOWN:
1. MORON. R = right in moon = display buttocks in public (colloq.)
2. SNAFFLE. SN = poles, i.e. south and north + ff = initial letters (heads) of fine frothy in ale = beer
3. EXECRABLE. Exec = managers briefly, i.e. abbreviated + rab(b)le = unruly mob minus (fled) b = bishop.
5. AGONY. Go= depart in any = no particular
6. MADEIRA. Made = produced + IRA = freedom fighters.
7. NIGHTCLUB. Nigh = next to + t = tango in NATO phonetic alphabet + club = bat.
10. GILT-EDGED. Shame = gilt = homophone (called out) + edge = border + d = initial letter of deemed
13. AD LIBITUM. Ad = commercial + lib = liberal + initial letters (starts to) of invoke to union militants
15. EXTRA TIME. Extra = bit player + m = Mike in NATO phonetic alphabet in tie = bond
17. THERMAL. R = king in anag (new version) of hamlet
19. RIOT ACT. Ac = bill in anag. (cavorting) of trio.
21. OUNCE. U = university in once = in past times.
22. SWEDE. Anag (wild) of weeds
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