This is an emergency blog and is still in preparation
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]
| Across | |
| 1 | Flag by the end of gloomy game (9) |
| BLACKJACK - BLACK (gloomy), JACK (flag) | |
| 6 | Baby’s pram initially covered in dirt (5) |
| SPOIL - P{ram} [initially] covered in SOIL (dirt) | |
| 9 | Smaller than some European articles (5) |
| UNDER - UN (European article #1), DER (European article #2) | |
| 10 | In court rejected second apparent objection (9) |
| COMPLAINT - CT (court) contains MO (second) [reversed] + PLAIN (apparent) | |
| 11 | Order device primarily used in more precise navigational aid (9-6) |
| DIRECTION-FINDER - DIRECTION (order) then D{evice} [primarily] inside FINER (more precise) | |
| 13 | Sweets moved about near lips (8) |
| PRALINES - Anagram [moved about] of NEARLIPS | |
| 14 | Line on chauffeur’s pants (6) |
| DRIVEL - DRIVE (chauffeur - vb), L (line) | |
| 16 | Escape from work after striking (6) |
| OUTRUN - OUT (striking), RUN (work) | |
| 18 | Stays keen about county overlooked by daughter (8) |
| CORSETRY - CRY (keen - wail) about {d}ORSET (county) [overlooked by daughter] | |
| 21 | I enjoy discussing actions investor misconstrued (15) |
| CONVERSATIONIST - Anagram [misconstrued] of ACTIONS INVESTOR | |
| 23 | One not heartless describing member with unpleasant rash (9) |
| IMPRUDENT - I (one), MP (member), RUDE (unpleasant), N{o}T [heartless] | |
| 25 | Retired military commander caught shoplifting, say (5) |
| CRIME - EMIR (military commander) + C (caught) reversed [retired] | |
| 26 | Throw out old coat shortly (5) |
| EXPEL - EX (old), PEL{t} (coat) [shortly] | |
| 27 | First class work following conclusion of trial in tense case (3,6) |
| TOP FLIGHT - OP (work) + F (following), {tria}L [conclusion] inside TIGHT (tense). "In...case" is the containment indicator. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Sure United will be involved in tie (5) |
| BOUND - U (united) involved in BOND (tie) | |
| 2 | Berkshire village an old master portrayed originally (11) |
| ALDERMASTON - Anagram [portrayed originally] of AN OLD MASTER. Famous as the destination of CND Ban-the-Bomb marches in the 1950s. | |
| 3 | Turkish capital left by first couple meeting Greek character in port (7) |
| KARACHI - {an}KARA (Turkish capital) [minus first couple], CHI (Greek character) | |
| 4 | Records in waste briefly turning up outside busy place (8) |
| ARCHIVES - SCRA{p} (waste) [briefly] reversed [turning up] outside HIVE (busy place) | |
| 5 | Stunner goes round one day in exotic dress (6) |
| KIMONO - KO (stunner - knockout) goes round I (one) + MON (day) | |
| 6 | Officer perhaps flogged strapping individual losing head (7) |
| SOLDIER - SOLD (flogged), {t}IER (strapping fellow - one who ties, geddit?) | |
| 7 | Witchcraft portrayed by Holbein regularly (3) |
| OBI - OBI | |
| 8 | Best, but not the first, meeting, strictly speaking (9) |
| LITERALLY - LITERALLY | |
| 12 | Joining party in poor health after check (11) |
| DOVETAILING - DOVETAILING | |
| 13 | Condemn act of piracy in plain language (9) |
| PROSCRIBE - PROSCRIBE | |
| 15 | Impression of Oxford? Once Labour leader’s flipping favourite (8) |
| FOOTSTEP - FOOTSTEP | |
| 17 | Out of tune, qualitatively different (7) |
| UNEQUAL - UNEQUAL | |
| 19 | After treatment, lots going about in charge of a patient (7) |
| STOICAL - STOICAL | |
| 20 | Expression when kissed reportedly (6) |
| ASPECT - ASPECT | |
| 22 | In races need minute to send messages (5) |
| TWEET - TWEET | |
| 24 | Just defeat leaders of parties in poll (3) |
| PIP - PIP | |