Another entertaining, very fair offering from Mr Joker. Two clues - 6d and 13a - I thought were candidates for my 'Smart Clue of the Month' award. No obscure words or horrible homophones, nothing controversial I hope.
| Across | |
| 1 | CROSSWORD - CROSS = hybrid, WORD = promise ('I give you my word...'); not often you see CROSSWORD as the answer to a crossword clue. |
| 6 | DIP - DI = Detective Inspector, P = pressure; a slang word for a pickpocket. |
| 8 | EXTRA - Def. additional; hidden word in CONT(EXT RA)RELY. |
| 9 | ELEGANT - (GET LEAN)*, def, graceful in form. |
| 10 | SNOWDROP - SOWN 'around' = SNOW, fall = DROP, def. plant. |
| 11 | LUTE - FLUTE (one of the woodwind) is missing its F (leading note), def. instrument. |
| 13 | SECRETARIAL - This either makes you laugh or groan. SECRET (unknown) ARIAL (typeface); def. used in the office. |
| 17 | TIDE - Cryptic def., and it sounds like TIED = bound. |
| 18 | HEADACHE - HEAD = nut, ACHE = pine, long for, def. problem. Or, problem with nut, indeed. |
| 21 | TORPEDO - (DEPOT)* with R inserted; def. naval weapon. |
| 22 | TERSE - Hidden word in BAT(TERSE)A, def. definitely not rambling. |
| 23 | SPY - Double definition. SPY = make out, see at a distance; spy = secret agent. |
| 24 | UNDERLINE - UNDER LINE, cryptic definition; def. stress. |
| Down | |
| 1 | CREASE - CEASE = end, as a verb, around R = top of rope, def. fold. |
| 2 | OUTDO - OUT DO = outside do, alfresco party; def. put in the shade, do better than. |
| 3 | STANDARD - STAND = place for taxis to wait, on A RD, def. quite normal. |
| 4 | ONE FOR THE ROAD - Hidden phrase, TYR(ONE FORT HERO AD)MITTING, def. drink before driving. These days, probably a soft one, unless the other half is driving. |
| 5 | DUEL - DUE = expected, L = large; def. head to head confrontation. |
| 6 | DRACULA - (LAUD RAC)* 'turning', the amusing def. is 'one fed up with punctures'. |
| 7 | PUTTER - P = parking, UTTER = say, def. golf club. |
| 12 | PREDATOR - (REPORT)* around DA, def. an exploitative character. |
| 14 | ELDERLY - ELDER = tree, LY = largely, hollow; def. ancient. I prefer to think of myself as elderly, rather than ancient; I hope there's a difference. |
| 15 | STATUS - STATUES = figures, has E = energy removed, def. standing. |
| 16 | SEVERE - I can see two ways to parse this: 1. SEV (cut stopped) ERE (before); 2. SEVER (cut) E (completion of before); the def. for either is harsh. The second is probably better because it uses the 'completion' bit, but then why have 'stopped'? EDIT The third way, as pointed out below, SEVERE(D), past tense. |
| 19 | CORGI - COR = my, as polite expletive, GI = American soldier; def. Welsh dog, popularised by Her Majesty but nowadays rare. |
| 21 | PERU - First letters of Playing Excellent Rugby Union; def. country. |