A couple of unfamiliar solutions and one word that I have only seen in crosswords, but all fair
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 RELIANCE - E.C. = City, NAILER = fixer, all reversed | |
| 5 FIZGIG - FIZ(z) = champagne, GIG = performance. A word I have seen in crosswords before, but nowhere else that I can recall | |
| 9 REDUCED - REED = grass, around DUC = CUD = what may be chewed, reversed | |
| 14 PENALTY AREA - PENALTY = fine, AREA = district. Box is the definition, from football/soccer. | |
| 15 AT ALL EVENTS - double definition | |
| 16 SPOOR - (t)ROOPS = soldiers, reversed | |
| 17 TEMPEST - TEM = MET = forecasting office, reversed, then PEST = nuisance | |
| 18 STAIRWELL - sounds like STARE WELL = look very carefully | |
| 19 DUNGEON - DUN = horse, GONE* | |
| 20 MUSIC TO ONES EARS - double definition | |
| 22 SLIP STITCH - ST(reet) = way, around LIPS = edges, then ITCH = irritate | |
| 23 SUNSET - SUET = sort of pudding, around N(orth) and S(outh) | |
| 25 RAIL - double definition | |
| 28 RUNNING BANQUET - RUNNING = taking charge of, BANQUET = state dinner. Unfamiliar, but clear from the clue | |
| 30 RED PANDA - R(un), DEADPAN* | |
| 32 SUBTOPIA - SUB = BUS = transport, reversed, TO, PI = apparently good, A(rea) | |
| 34 MAN AND SUPERMAN - MAN = chap, AND = with, SUPERMAN = outstanding individual | |
| 37 BOND - double definition | |
| 38 HASTEN - HAS = keeps, TEN = NET = web, reversed | |
| 39 BIPARTISAN - B(l)IP = minor irregularity, ARTISAN = craftsman | |
| 43 UNDERPERFORMING - UNDERPIN = shore up, around FORMER*, G(ate) | |
| 45 SCAPULA - (CASUAL P(ressure))* | |
| 47 FORESTALL - FO = OF, reversed, R.E. = soldiers, STALL = play for time | |
| 49 CONIFER - CON = prisoner, I, FE(a)R = suspect | |
| 51 EXTOL - hidden in nEXT OLympics | |
| 52 LONDON PRIDE - double definition, the second mildly cryptic referring to the fact that one can be said to "swell with pride" | |
| 53 PULL STRINGS - PULL = yank, STRINGS = part of orchestra | |
| 54 SHELTIE - SHELTE(r) = refuge, around I | |
| 55 ENSIGN - (m)EN = people, SIGN = initial | |
| 56 ASBESTOS - A, S.O.S. = call for help, around BEST = very fine | |
| Down | |
| 1 REPOSED - double definition | |
| 2 LINCOLNS INN - LINCOLN = president, SIN = wrong, around N(ew) | |
| 3 ALLERGENS - ALL = every one, GREENS* | |
| 4 CRY STINKING FISH - double definition. Another unfamiliar phrase but the checking letters left little doubt and a search confirmed | |
| 6 IN A SENSE - (A SIN SEEN)* | |
| 7 GIANTS CAUSEWAY - GIANT = huge, SWAY = influence, around CAUSE = ground | |
| 8 GLASSHOUSE - double definition the second referring to the saying "Those in glass houses should not throw stones" | |
| 9 RELEARN - LEAR = humorist, in alternate letters of oRlEaNs | |
| 10 DOVER - DOVE = symbol of peace, R(ight) | |
| 11 CENTENARIAN - (ANCIENT NEAR)* | |
| 12 DISCLOSE - DISC = counter, LOSE = go down | |
| 13 DRUM - DUM = MUD = slander, reversed, around R = king | |
| 20 MR CHAD - MRCH A = MARCH = demo, with a letter moved, D(ay). A wartime humorous cartoon drawing, normally with a phrase such as "Wot, no sugar" to complain about shortages | |
| 21 SCRAPIE - (AS PRICE)* | |
| 22 SOREST - SO = well, REST = take a break | |
| 24 THE SUN ALSO RISES - double definition, the first cryptic and referring to The Sun newspaper | |
| 26 SQUARE BRACKETS - SQUARE = old-fashioned type, BRACKETS = supports | |
| 27 CANNON - CON = criminal, around ANN = woman | |
| 29 IN ORDER - double definition | |
| 31 EDGING - hidden in approachED GINGerly | |
| 33 BLOOD ORANGE - BLOOD = drink for Dracula, ORANGE = odd colour for blood | |
| 35 MOSQUITO NET - MO'S = doctor's, QUIT = leave, NOTE* | |
| 36 USEFUL LIFE - USEFUL = worthwhile, LIFE = existence | |
| 40 TO A DEGREE - TOAD = amphibian, EGRE(t) = water, (bridg)E | |
| 41 OUTFALLS - FALLS OUT = leaves parade, with the order of the words then changed | |
| 42 WINNIPEG - WINNI = sounds like WINNIE = (Winston) Churchill, PEG = somewhere to hang a hat | |
| 44 EXAMPLE - EXAM = test, PLE(a) = prayer | |
| 46 ATLASES - SEA = ocean, around SALT = brine, all reversed | |
| 48 SCOOT - S(mall) COOT = bird | |
| 50 FOLD - F(ine), OLD = getting on | |