Lots to enjoy here - especially cod 14ac. A couple of points of interest - 9ac and 8dn. Many and varied clue types and enough of a puzzle for me to be surprised to have come inside the 10 minute target. Thanks Teazel. LOI 12ac.
ACROSS
1. Lassoed - caught. Girl (LASS) with dictionary (OED - Oxford English Dictionary).
7. Apparel - clothes. Horrify (APPAL) hiding away (hiding inside itself) (R)ar(E).
9. Wyoming - State. I think there’s a case for “why coming back to 'ouse” to be all that’s required in this clue as it gives us a WhY hOMING without the 'H's. Possibly because there are two 'H's to remove or because this is a QC we get the belt and braces homophone of 'for us to hear'. Comments appreciated.
10. Goes out - leaves. Anagram (being cooked) of GOOSE, workers group (TU Trade Union) turns (backwards).
11. Odds - likelihood (what are the odds for a quick QC time?). Spare (ODD - odd sock). Second (S).
12. Mare's Tail - marsh plant - sadly we have some of these in our garden - which I wouldn’t describe as a marsh - but the soil is clay. Anagram (may be processed into) of MATERIALS which looks from the word play that we are doing an anagram of the answer to get 'materials'.
14. Tap dancer. Wonderful clue which is both a cryptic definition and an anagram. A tap dancer does indeed need a floor which is hard and carpet free. Leaving it at just 'a floor which is hard' we find an anagram (free) of AND CARPET.
16. Halo - ring (went to Venice recently - so much artwork - with more haloes than you could shake a stick at). Heartless greeting (HA)l(LO).
17. Intrude - trespass. One (I), Aussie territory (NT - Northern Territory), impolite (RUDE).
20. Wrangle - noisy dispute. Some cre(W RANG LE)ader.
21. Shut-eye - snooze. Small (S), shed (HUT), contemplate (EYE).
22. Day trip - brief excursion. Anagram (hit) of PAY DIRT.
DOWN
1. Low Countries - cryptic definition.
2. Snow drop - flower of spring. South (S), these days (NOW) also (with) fail (DROP).
3. Omit - fail to include. Note (MI) in part if bible (OT).
4. Dagger - weapon. In DANGER with good (G) replacing new (N).
5. Appeaser - one offering concessions. Homophone (we hear) of A PISA.
6. Trio - small group. Not entirely pa(TRIO)tic.
8. Little Bo-Peep - she lost her flock (of sheep). Small is LITTLE and also seems to be used to shorten boy (BO)y, having brief look (PEEP).
12. Measured - checked size. Myself (ME) and a (A), certain (SURE), daughter (D).
13. Arranger - tidier - one who tidies. A(A), river(R), warden (RANGER).
15. Chewed - was eating. Revolutionary (our favourite CHE Guevara), married (WED).
18. Taut - not slack. Homophone (soundly) of TAUGHT.
19. Wary - cautious. Conflict (WAR) with unknown (Y).
ACROSS
1. Lassoed - caught. Girl (LASS) with dictionary (OED - Oxford English Dictionary).
7. Apparel - clothes. Horrify (APPAL) hiding away (hiding inside itself) (R)ar(E).
9. Wyoming - State. I think there’s a case for “why coming back to 'ouse” to be all that’s required in this clue as it gives us a WhY hOMING without the 'H's. Possibly because there are two 'H's to remove or because this is a QC we get the belt and braces homophone of 'for us to hear'. Comments appreciated.
10. Goes out - leaves. Anagram (being cooked) of GOOSE, workers group (TU Trade Union) turns (backwards).
11. Odds - likelihood (what are the odds for a quick QC time?). Spare (ODD - odd sock). Second (S).
12. Mare's Tail - marsh plant - sadly we have some of these in our garden - which I wouldn’t describe as a marsh - but the soil is clay. Anagram (may be processed into) of MATERIALS which looks from the word play that we are doing an anagram of the answer to get 'materials'.
14. Tap dancer. Wonderful clue which is both a cryptic definition and an anagram. A tap dancer does indeed need a floor which is hard and carpet free. Leaving it at just 'a floor which is hard' we find an anagram (free) of AND CARPET.
16. Halo - ring (went to Venice recently - so much artwork - with more haloes than you could shake a stick at). Heartless greeting (HA)l(LO).
17. Intrude - trespass. One (I), Aussie territory (NT - Northern Territory), impolite (RUDE).
20. Wrangle - noisy dispute. Some cre(W RANG LE)ader.
21. Shut-eye - snooze. Small (S), shed (HUT), contemplate (EYE).
22. Day trip - brief excursion. Anagram (hit) of PAY DIRT.
DOWN
1. Low Countries - cryptic definition.
2. Snow drop - flower of spring. South (S), these days (NOW) also (with) fail (DROP).
3. Omit - fail to include. Note (MI) in part if bible (OT).
4. Dagger - weapon. In DANGER with good (G) replacing new (N).
5. Appeaser - one offering concessions. Homophone (we hear) of A PISA.
6. Trio - small group. Not entirely pa(TRIO)tic.
8. Little Bo-Peep - she lost her flock (of sheep). Small is LITTLE and also seems to be used to shorten boy (BO)y, having brief look (PEEP).
12. Measured - checked size. Myself (ME) and a (A), certain (SURE), daughter (D).
13. Arranger - tidier - one who tidies. A(A), river(R), warden (RANGER).
15. Chewed - was eating. Revolutionary (our favourite CHE Guevara), married (WED).
18. Taut - not slack. Homophone (soundly) of TAUGHT.
19. Wary - cautious. Conflict (WAR) with unknown (Y).