A bit north of tipsy when doing this, I gave up after 16 minutes. In retrospect, I would have been a while getting 12d, but I really should have got 13ac without... well, it's not cheating looking at the answer, is it? It's just giving up. As for 12d, I couldn't get past "knitwork", the idea being knit=needle=worry. Yes, needle doesn't mean worry, knitwork isn't a word, and even if it was there would be no earthly reason for it to entail cutting out. Oh well, enough of my inabilities. I thought there was a high ratio of very nice glues in this, with either 14d or 15d being my favourite by a small margin. Not sure just how difficult, but very good fun indeed - many thanks to Joker!
| Across | |
| 1 | Euphoric group of students like those at Eton? HIGH-CLASS: semi-cryptic definition: euphoric = HIGH; group of students = CLASS. And Etonians like to go to the toilet to take cocaine and urinate over their hands - hey, Churchill said it, not me (minus the cocaine bit, that bit's not true). |
| 6 | Steal from Sherwood inhabitant who’s not at home ROB: ROBIN (Sherwood inhabitant of the Hood variety), who does not haveIN (at home) |
| 8 | A time National Union of Journalists backed strict rule JUNTA: A, T(time), N.U.J. (National Union of Journalists, presumably), all reversed. |
| 9 | Bright red vehicle left to go into collection SCARLET: CAR (vehicle) L(eft), to go in SET (collection) |
| 10 | Place money changes hands is revealed after probe CHECKOUT: OUT (revealed) goes after CHECK (probe). Very nice. |
| 11 | Reportedly go yachting when prices are low SALE: sounds like SAIL - yachting, "reportedly", or spoken/heard. |
| 13 | Covert sign used by office workers SECRETARIES: SECRET (covert) ARIES (sign). Might have been very nice had I got it. |
| 17 | Want chess player to lose bishop LACK: BLACK - as opposed to white, loses the B for bishop. I liked the devious simplicity - I was scratching my head wondering if I could possibly have failed to recall a five-lettered chess piece with a B in it. |
| 18 | Prisoner has to attract scorn CONTEMPT: CON (prisoner) has TEMPT (attract). |
| 21 | Run small vehicle for living in SCAMPER: S(mall) CAMPER (vehicle for living in) |
| 22 | Volunteer not keen on appearing before the Queen OFFER: OFF (not keen on), ER (the Queen) |
| 23 | Drink for a small child TOT: double definition. |
| 24 | Arrest friend in final moment of game CHECKMATE: CHECK (arrest) MATE (friend) |
| Down | |
| 1 | Greeting sailor that’s to take over craft HIJACK: HI (greeting) JACK (sailor) |
| 2 | Aladdin’s helper that is after information GENIE: GEN (info) I.E. (that is) |
| 3 | Mad for biscuits CRACKERS: double definition |
| 4 | Attack part of meal in army training area ASSAULT COURSE: ASSAULT (attack) COURSE (part of meal) |
| 5 | Fool carrying round detergent SOAP: SAP (fool) carries/holds/contains O (round) |
| 6 | Concerned with rental agreement that’s free RELEASE: RE (concerned with/concerning) LEASE (rental agreement) |
| 7 | The two English run to make trouble BOTHER: BOTH (the two) E(nglish) R(un). |
| 12 | What entails cutting out worry over employment FRETWORK: FRET (worry) over WORK (employment). Miles away from this, glad i gave up. |
| 14 | Strong desire to go topless to captivate ENCHANT: PENCHANT (Strong desire, to go topless). |
| 15 | Small room near top of tower CLOSET: CLOSE (near) T (top of tower). |
| 16 | Go without food— tears flowing about five? STARVE: Anagram (flowing) of TEARS going around V (five). Another lovely clue. |
| 19 | Organised criminals mostly are from Italian area originally MAFIA: the original letters of mostly are from Italian area. |
| 20 | Long film showing in the pictures EPIC: revealed/showing in the letters of thE PICtures. |