This solvers guide is to Stephen Clarke’s Crossword #36, published in The Byron Shire Echo Issue 39.30, 1 January 2025. Crossword #36 can be viewed as a PDF here. The solution grid can be viewed here.
Across:
1. INSOLE. O = old in anag (unusual) of lines
4. PARSEC. P =papa (in NATO phonetic alphabet)) + anag (all over the place) of races
9. ORCA. (Maj) = short, (i.e. abbreviated) officer subtracted from (taking out) Majorca = Spanish Island
10. TOURNAMENT. Anag (broken down) of men outran + t = team leader
11. MEDICI. Medicine = drugs minus n (= November in NATO phonetic alphabet) and e (= echo in NATO phonetic alphabet)
12. TRACTION. Tr = first letters of the royal + action = deeds
13. MISCREANT. Anag (nasty) of scare in mint = first class, as in “mint condition”
15. EMIR. (A)emir(C). Emir rev (takes a turn) appearing in Crimea
16. CRAB. Abbreviations Cr = councillor + ab = sailor
17. ACCESSORY. Double definition
21. TASMANIA. Initial letters (onsets) of traumatic aphasic shocks + mania = obsession
22. GRANGE. G = good + range = selection
24. PAWNBROKER. Anag (unfairly) of brawn in poker = card game
25. RUMP. (T)rump. Trump = notorious felon minus t (loses head)
26. EUROPE. Euro = large roo + p = head of publicity + e = echo (= e in NATO phonetic alphabet)
27. DEADEN. Anag ended and a (= article)
Down:
1. ISRAELI. R = origin of rebellion in anag (informally) of liaise
2. STASI. Stasi(s) = equilibrium minus final letter (almost)
3. LATTICE. L = left + attic = room at the top + e = echo (= e in NATO phonetic alphabet)
5. ANNUAL. A = onset of Autumn in annul = void
6. SOMETIMES. OM = old men in semite rev
7. CONTOUR. Anag (misrepresentation) of count or
8. JUSTINE CLARKE. Just = fair +in +e = eastern capital + lark = songbird in ce = church
14. COAL MINER. Anag (badly) of Caroline and m = married
16. CHARADE. Char = cleaner + ad = promotion + e = echo (NATO phonetic alphabet)
18. EN GARDE. Anag (terrible) of danger + e = echo (NATO phonetic alphabet)
19. REGIMEN. Regiment = soldiers minus t (don’t have time)
20. ENTRAP. Anag (wrongfully) of parent
23. ACRID. Cr = credit in (maintain) aid = assist
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