I completed this in a medium difficulty time which would have proved quicker had I not missed 1dn. I only found this relatively easy clue when I was struggling to complete 8ac. How does one miss a clue? Granted there was a little distraction here but I can’t see that as an adequate reason. At the end I was left with 15dn and 18dn stubbornly refusing to click. Thanks to Mara for a well judged puzzle in which I particularly liked the brevity of the definition in 10dn and the construction of 9ac but cod for the smile in 3dn.
ACROSS
1. Hatchway - opening. Devise (HATCH), method (WAY).
5. Waif - neglected child. (W)ichit(A), providing (IF).
8. Sloop - small boat. Puddles (POOLS) flipping over (backwards).
9. Sofa bed - part of the furniture. Very (SO), very good (FAB), journalist (ED).
11. Groundswell - growing feeling. Stadium (GROUND), fine (SWELL).
13. Astern - behind (nautically). A (A), street (ST), th(E) campe(R) va(N).
14. Lichen - plant. Anagram (cultivated) of CHILE, new (N).
17. Tea-strainer - something which is full of holes. Compass point (EAST) in shoe (TRAINER).
20. Curtsey - act of respect. Anagram (unfortunately) of SECURiTY without the 'I' (one lacking).
21. Beige - shade. A little unravelling required here for 'grasped by a worker, US soldier moving back'. The worker is a BEE which is grasping a US soldier (GI) backwards.
22. Eden - garden. In Odens(E DEN)mark.
23. Integral - whole - I had a quick double check that these actually are synonyms (which they are) as it didn’t initially leap out at me. Anagram (misshapen) of TRIANGLE.
DOWN
1. Hiss - sound from snake. In trut(H IS S)cary.
2. Thought - idea. However (THOUGH), draf(T).
3. Hippocrates - Greek physician (the only one I’m liable to have a chance of knowing). Cryptic clue/pun - boxes for large animals - HIPPO CRATES!
4. Absent - elsewhere. A (A), bishop (B), posted (SENT).
6. Amble - walk. Risk g(AMBLE) taking top letter off.
7. Fiddling - cheating. Also what one may be doing when playing in an orchestra.
10. Fashionable - in (definitions don’t come much briefer). Anagram (at sea) of FABLE NOAH IS.
12. Particle - piece. Item (ARTICLE) following piano (P).
15. Harrier - a sort of double definition. A harrier is a smallish breed of hound used originally for hare-hunting and also any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Circus, having broad wings and long legs and tail e.g. marsh harrier.
16. Canyon - deep ravine e.g. Grand. Kid (CON) passing around outside some (ANY).
18. Agree - match. Unfinished (take the final letter off) a European (A GREE)k.
19. Veal - meat. In microwa(VE A L)ot.
ACROSS
1. Hatchway - opening. Devise (HATCH), method (WAY).
5. Waif - neglected child. (W)ichit(A), providing (IF).
8. Sloop - small boat. Puddles (POOLS) flipping over (backwards).
9. Sofa bed - part of the furniture. Very (SO), very good (FAB), journalist (ED).
11. Groundswell - growing feeling. Stadium (GROUND), fine (SWELL).
13. Astern - behind (nautically). A (A), street (ST), th(E) campe(R) va(N).
14. Lichen - plant. Anagram (cultivated) of CHILE, new (N).
17. Tea-strainer - something which is full of holes. Compass point (EAST) in shoe (TRAINER).
20. Curtsey - act of respect. Anagram (unfortunately) of SECURiTY without the 'I' (one lacking).
21. Beige - shade. A little unravelling required here for 'grasped by a worker, US soldier moving back'. The worker is a BEE which is grasping a US soldier (GI) backwards.
22. Eden - garden. In Odens(E DEN)mark.
23. Integral - whole - I had a quick double check that these actually are synonyms (which they are) as it didn’t initially leap out at me. Anagram (misshapen) of TRIANGLE.
DOWN
1. Hiss - sound from snake. In trut(H IS S)cary.
2. Thought - idea. However (THOUGH), draf(T).
3. Hippocrates - Greek physician (the only one I’m liable to have a chance of knowing). Cryptic clue/pun - boxes for large animals - HIPPO CRATES!
4. Absent - elsewhere. A (A), bishop (B), posted (SENT).
6. Amble - walk. Risk g(AMBLE) taking top letter off.
7. Fiddling - cheating. Also what one may be doing when playing in an orchestra.
10. Fashionable - in (definitions don’t come much briefer). Anagram (at sea) of FABLE NOAH IS.
12. Particle - piece. Item (ARTICLE) following piano (P).
15. Harrier - a sort of double definition. A harrier is a smallish breed of hound used originally for hare-hunting and also any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Circus, having broad wings and long legs and tail e.g. marsh harrier.
16. Canyon - deep ravine e.g. Grand. Kid (CON) passing around outside some (ANY).
18. Agree - match. Unfinished (take the final letter off) a European (A GREE)k.
19. Veal - meat. In microwa(VE A L)ot.