A bizarre semi-stinker this week. It could be just me, but if you split the grid into two halves, north-west versus south-east, then it felt like the north-west was a piece of piss compared to the horror show opposite. I got there, I think, but good grief this was like pulling teeth, especially toward the end. Not fun. A shame, really, as there were some clues that were rather well worked. (Shrugs.)

As ever, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions. I hope you find them useful. Meanwhile, you can find previous solutions to the last couple of years’ Jumbos on my Just For Fun page. I’ve also got some book reviews and a story of mine knocking about the place.

Until next time, keep well, continue to give thanks to the NHS and all key workers as we continue to inch out of lockdown. And MASK UP! Don’t moan about it. If you can do it, then do it. This pandemic is bigger than any of us. Don’t be selfish.

Right then. Off to the answers with you while I find a way down off my high horse. Laters, taters.

LP

Across clues

1. Athlete runs and runs past point of no return (5)

Answer: RACER (i.e. “athlete”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) and a second R (“runs” again) placed after or “past” ACE (i.e. “point of no return” – referring to a tennis point scored in one hit), like so: R-ACE-R.

4. Purpose encompassed by a stick was stirring (7)

Answer: AROUSED (i.e. “was stirring”). Solution is USE (i.e. “purpose”) placed in “encompassed by” A ROD (i.e. “a stick”), like so: A-RO(USE)D.

8. Stupid to accept degree in dialect? (9)

Answer: IDIOMATIC (i.e. “in dialect”). Solution is IDIOTIC (i.e. “stupid”) wrapped around or “accepting” MA (i.e. “degree”, specifically a Master of Arts), like so: IDIO(MA)TIC.

13. What’s just the thing for the papers? It won’t detain court long! (9)

Answer: BRIEFCASE (i.e. “just the thing for the papers”). When written as BRIEF CASE the solution also satisfies “it won’t detain court long”.

14. Start off shining, having taken job in tap room? (9,4)

Answer: LISTENING POST (i.e. “tap room” – playing on how wiretaps are used to listen in on people). Solution is GLISTENING (i.e. “shining”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “start off”) and the remainder followed by POST (i.e. “job”).

15. There’s no way out of it – this setter’s had his day (7)

Answer: IMPASSE (i.e. “there’s no way out of it”). When written as I’M PASSE, the solution also satisfies “this setter’s had his day”.

16. Spectators compete with bets, blowing silver (7)

Answer: VIEWERS (i.e. “spectators”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “compete”) followed by WAGERS (i.e. “bets”) once the AG has been removed (indicated by “blowing silver” – Ag being the chemical symbol of silver), like so: VIE-WERS.

17. “Caught in flying saucer”, he claims (7)

Answer: ACCUSER (i.e. “he claims”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “flying”) of SAUCER, like so: AC(C)USER.

18. Dog lacking ears helps in coursing (4,7,7)

Answer: KING CHARLES SPANIEL (i.e. “dog”). “Coursing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LACKING EARS HELPS IN.

21. Religion without saints returns to African nation (4)

Answer: MALI (i.e. “African nation”). Solution is ISLAM (i.e. “religion”) with the S removed (indicated by “without saints” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “saint”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “returns”).

23. Fashionable food store with non-U sort of cheese that can’t be got rid of (9)

Answer: INDELIBLE (i.e. “can’t be got rid of”). Solution is IN (i.e. “fashionable”) followed by DELI (i.e. “food store”, short for delicatessen) and BLUE (i.e. “sort of cheese”) once the U has been removed (indicated by “non-U” – whatever that’s supposed to mean. Non-Uranium, maybe, which is always reassuring when one is buying cheese), like so: IN-DELI-BLE.

25. Looking back, Gap creator sums up (6)

Answer: RECAPS (i.e. “sums up”). Solution is SPACER (i.e. “gap creator” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) reversed (indicated by “looking back”).

26. Allow financial computer to become deadly (6)

Answer: LETHAL (i.e. “deadly”). Solution is LET (i.e. “allow”) followed by HAL (i.e. “fictional computer” from Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey).

28. One on world tour putting foot on ball (12)

Answer: GLOBETROTTER (i.e. “one on world tour”). Solution is TROTTER (i.e. “[pig’s] foot”) placed “on” or after GLOBE (i.e. “ball”).

30. Sack builder who keeps lighting up compulsively? (4-6)

Answer: FIRE-RAISER (i.e. “who keeps lighting up compulsively”). Solution is FIRE (i.e. “sack”) followed by RAISER (i.e. “builder”).

33. Spoke about new education sector that’s free (10)

Answer: UNFETTERED (i.e. “free”). Solution is UTTERED (i.e. “spoke”) wrapped “about” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and FE (“education sector”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Further Education), like so: U(N-FE)TTERED.

34. Fold following disastrous collapse – it encapsulates English (4,2,6)

Answer: FALL TO PIECES (i.e. “fold”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “following” that you don’t often see, which is surprising – I suspect we might see a flurry of setters using this in the near future) followed by an anagram (indicated by “disastrous”) of COLLAPSE IT wrapped around or “encapsulating” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: F-ALLTOPI(E)CES.

37. Westerly to dry fish (6)

Answer: TURBOT (i.e. “fish”). Solution is TO followed by BRUT (i.e. French for “dry” or unsweetened wines) all reversed (indicated by “westerly” – this being an across clue), like so: TURB-OT.

39. Cash machine charge capped to maximum (2,4)

Answer: AT MOST (i.e. “to maximum”). Solution is ATM (i.e. “cash machine”, short for Automated Teller Machine) followed by COST (i.e. “charge”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “capped”), like so: ATM-OST.

40. Such as “No standing at the bottom!” in playground? Pupils understood this once! (5,4)

Answer: SLIDE RULE, a mathematical aid used before the advent of electronic calculators, i.e. “pupils understood this once”. Never had to use one in school, thankfully, so I can’t comment on whether the otherwise nonsensical “No standing at the bottom!” bit means anything in this context, other than it sounding like a rule. A quick aside: the “pupils understood this once” bit reminds me how the ones most critical of schoolkids using calculators are often the ones who didn’t have them when they were at school. Funny that.
[EDIT: Thanks to Steve and John in the comments for shedding light on this one. The “No standing at the bottom!” bit relates to playground slides, where children would be sworn off lingering around at the bottom. Cheers, both! – LP]

42. Relative’s ‘angout (4)

Answer: AUNT (i.e. “relative”). Solution is HAUNT with the H dropped (indicated by “‘angout”, as in ‘ow all ‘em cockneys would say it, dropping their bleedin’ aitches, Gordon Bennett, chim-chim cher-ee Miss Poppins, the Queen Mum gawblessah, and other playfully withering anti-London-isms).

43. Hung fire, putting life in the balance? (9,9)

Answer: SUSPENDED ANIMATION. Solution is SUSPENDED (i.e. “hung”) followed by ANIMATION (i.e. “fire”, as in being angry or animated). On the flip side, “life in the balance” riffs on how some weighing scales use a pair of “suspended” pans, with “life” taken to mean “animation”. You get the idea. Can’t say I was keen on this one. Having both halves of the clue equally cryptic and neither really relating to the solution felt a bit unfair. World keeps spinning, meanwhile…

46. Helping of coffee airline sent back (7)

Answer: ABETTAL (i.e. “helping”). Solution is LATTE (i.e. “coffee”) and BA (i.e. “airline”, specifically British Airways) all reversed (indicated by “sent back”), like so: AB-ETTAL.

47. Unleavened bread, brown, for one into self-denial? (7)

Answer: PURITAN (i.e. “one into self-denial” – Puritans are strictly moral in conduct and therefore “deny” themselves all kind of things. All the more for us heathens then…) Solution is PURI (i.e. “unleavened [Indian] bread”) followed by TAN (i.e. “brown”).

48. Potato pest perhaps keeping its distance (7)

Answer: ALOOFLY (i.e. “keeping its distance”). Solution is ALOO (a “potato” in Indian cooking – thank you, Chambers) followed by FLY (i.e. “pest perhaps” – other pests are available).

50. Would a second cup of this be appropriate? (7,6)

Answer: INSTANT COFFEE. Clue plays on how a second cup of instant coffee wouldn’t be quite as “instant” as the first. Assuming the coffee has been poured from a pot, I guess. I mean, most people would chuck instant coffee into a cup and add hot water, wouldn’t they? In other words it would always be instant. They wouldn’t make two cups of instant coffee, for example, and have one later, making it less instant, would they? Would they? No, of course not. That would be ridiculous. They’d just stick the kettle on again when they are ready to have another cup. Which would be another cup of instant coffee. To be honest, you could even argue that coffee poured from a pot is instant too, because it’s there ready to pour whenever you want it. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the clue is… hello? Guys? Where’d you all go? Hello…?! Guys???

51. Make hit plays, then perform opera (3,6)

Answer: THE MIKADO (i.e. an “opera” by Gilbert & Sullivan). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “plays”) of MAKE HIT followed by DO (i.e. “perform”), like so: THEMIKA-DO.

52. Old writers include two separate notes for those providing explanation (9)

Answer: EXPONENTS (i.e. “those providing explanation”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old”) followed by POETS (i.e. “writers”) wrapped around or “including” N and N (i.e. “two separate notes” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “note” – “separate” indicates these are strewn throughout POETS, rather than sitting side-by-side), like so: EX-PO(N)E(N)TS.

53. Content fits badly in Express (7)

Answer: SATISFY (i.e. “content” – Hmm. “Contented = Satisfied”, yes, I get, but I’m struggling to think of a sentence that would allow “content” to be swapped for “satisfy”. Perhaps I’m being too fussy…) Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of FITS placed “in” SAY (i.e. “express” – ignore the misleading capitalisation and italicisation), like so: SA(TISF)Y.

54. Cultivated meadow’s beginning to go after variable output (5)

Answer: YIELD (i.e. “output”). Solution is FIELD (i.e. “cultivated meadow”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “beginning to go”) and the remainder placed “after” Y (i.e. “variable” – setters love describing X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns or variables), like so: Y-IELD.

Down clues

1. Funny parasite found under bone on fish (3-8)

Answer: RIB-TICKLING (i.e. “funny”). Solution is TICK (i.e. “parasite”) placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – RIB (i.e. “bone”) and then followed by LING (i.e. “fish”), like so: RIB-(TICK)-LING.

2. Brisk constable arresting gentleman from the south (5)

Answer: CRISP (i.e. “brisk”). Solution is PC (i.e. “constable”, specifically a Police Constable) wrapped around or “arresting” SIR (i.e. “gentleman”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “from the south” – again, this being a down clue), like so: C(RIS)P.

3. Don’t put money in plate for rubbish service (6,10)

Answer: REFUSE COLLECTION. Solution satisfies “don’t put money in [collection] plate” and “rubbish service”. Nicely worked.

4. Scared, run away onto a public walk (7)

Answer: ALAMEDA (i.e. a “public walk” in Spain). Solution is ALARMED (i.e. “scared”) with the R removed (indicated by “run away” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) and the remainder followed by A, like so: ALAMED-A. Chalk one to my Bradfords here. I couldn’t look past AFRAID for “scared”, even when it clearly wouldn’t fit the intersecting letters.

5. Set too much store by usefulness of deliveries? (9)

Answer: OVERVALUE (i.e. “set too much store” in something). When read as OVER VALUE the solution also satisfies “usefulness of [cricket] deliveries” – six of which make an over.

6. Movie world’s barrier against old people? (6,6)

Answer: SILVER SCREEN (i.e. “movie world”). Solution also satisfies a “barrier against old people”.

7. Persisted rudely holding Conservative in contempt (10)

Answer: DISRESPECT (i.e. “contempt”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rudely”) of PERSISTED wrapped around or “holding” C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”), like so: DISRESPE(C)T.

8. Edited Times articles (5)

Answer: ITEMS (i.e. “articles”). “Edited” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TIMES. Simple, but nicely done.

9. I found a partner to adopt computer business, and took off (8)

Answer: IMITATED (i.e. “took off”). Solution is I MATED (i.e. “I found a partner”) wrapped around or “adopting” IT (i.e. “computer business”, specifically Information Technology), like so: I-M(IT)ATED.

10. Endless spiritual ceremony, involving smoke rising and charms (6)

Answer: MAGICS (i.e. “charms”). Solution is MASS (i.e. “spiritual ceremony”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “endless”) and the remainder wrapped around or “involving” CIG (i.e. “smoke”, both slang words for a cigarette) once it has been reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: MA(GIC)S. Another nicely worked clue.

11. The right way is for everyone to be premier (9)

Answer: TAOISEACH (i.e. Irish Prime Minister or “premier”). Solution is TAO (i.e. “the right way” in Confucianism – thank you again, Chambers) followed by IS, then EACH (i.e. “for everyone”). A word I don’t think I’ll ever spell correctly without help. Or pronounce, for that matter.

12. Provide support in early stage of life (11)

Answer: CATERPILLAR (i.e. “early stage of life” of butterflies). Solution is CATER (i.e. “provide”) followed by PILLAR (i.e. “support”).

19. Capital movements no longer available, becomes dormant (4,3)

Answer: NODS OFF (i.e. “becomes dormant”). Solution is NODS (i.e. “capital movements” – capital taken to mean “relating to the head” (Chambers); you nod your head, it is therefore a capital movement) followed by OFF (i.e. “no longer available”).

20. Union’s a joke, mounting case with no right (7)

Answer: NUPTIAL (i.e. “union” or marriage). Solution is PUN (i.e. “a joke”) reversed (indicated by “mounting” – this being a down clue) and followed by TRIAL (i.e. “[court] case”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “no right” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: NUP-TIAL.

22. Nephew’s 21st perhaps has hallmark of largest party? (8,8)

Answer: RELATIVE MAJORITY (i.e. “hallmark of largest party”, being the seats the largest political party has over and above its nearest rival without holding an overall majority). Solution is RELATIVE (i.e. “nephew”) followed by MAJORITY (i.e. “21st perhaps” – an acknowledgement that the age of majority has historically differed in the UK). Another nicely worked clue.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mrs D for the typo fix. I’d originally written “Solution is RELATIVE (i.e. “relative”)…” – LP]

24. Indian appetizer picked up for one performing lighter work (6)

Answer: BARGEE (i.e. “one performing lighter work” – lighter taken to mean a kind of boat). “Picked up” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of BHAJI (i.e. “Indian appetizer”). Seems this setter has a thing for Indian food. I approve!

27. Oil know-how picked up in northern India (6)

Answer: NEROLI (i.e. an “oil” distilled from orange flowers, which sounds rather nice). Solution is LORE (i.e. “know-how”) reversed (indicated by “picked up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” between N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: N-(EROL)-I. Chalk another one to my Bradfords here. I’d rather lost the will with this puzzle by this point.

29. Picked up shirt, left around, to get crown (7)

Answer: TREETOP (i.e. “crown”). Solution is TEE (i.e. “shirt”, as in a T-shirt) with PORT (i.e. “left” in nautical lingo) placed “around” it. The whole is then reversed (indicated by “picked up” – again, being a down clue), like so: TR(EET)OP. Another score for my Bradfords here. My brain had badly wanted to do something else.

31. Devils yield to temptation, sacrificing maiden on island (7)

Answer: SUCCUBI (i.e. “devils”, a plural of succubus). Solution is SUCCUMB (i.e. “yield to temptation”) with the M removed (indicated by “sacrificing maiden” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “maiden” used in cricket to record scoreless overs) and the remainder followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: SUCCUB-I.

32. Abuse of whisky to gobble up 20% of money through regular payment (12)

Answer: MALTREATMENT (i.e. “abuse”). Solution is MALT (i.e. “whisky”) followed by EAT (i.e. “gobble up”) and M (i.e. “20% of money”, specifically the first 20% of the word “money”) once these latter two have been placed in or “through” RENT (i.e. “regular payment”), like so: MALT-R(EAT-M)ENT. Another nicely worked clue.

33. Solider upholding extremist position in spectrum? (11)

Answer: ULTRAMARINE (i.e. “position in [colour] spectrum”). Solution is MARINE (i.e. “soldier”) placed below or “upholding” – this being a down clue – ULTRA (i.e. “extremist”), like so: ULTRA-MARINE.

35. Coppers getting offer in barber’s shop? (7,4)

Answer: SWEENEY TODD. Solution satisfies “coppers”, specifically the cockney rhyming slang for the Flying Squad, a branch within the London Metropolitan Police, and “offer in barber’s shop”, specifically… well… Sweeney Todd, who had a thing for “offing” customers sitting in his barber’s chair. A reminder you should tip, people!

36. Plan to invade hills in US winds up? On the contrary (10)

Answer: DOWNDRAFTS (i.e. “US winds up? On the contrary” – a bit rubbish this, but basically the solution is the opposite of “winds up”, “winds” taken to mean a breeze and using the American spelling DRAFT rather than the UK spelling DRAUGHT. I suspect this will go down like a shit sandwich with some solvers!) Solution is DRAFT (i.e. “plan”) placed in or “invading” DOWNS (i.e. “hills”), like so: DOWN(DRAFT)S.

38. Seconds of bean feast? (7-2)

Answer: RUNNERS-UP (i.e. “seconds”). Solution is RUNNER (i.e. “bean”) followed by SUP (i.e. “feast” – an archaic meaning of “sup” is to take the evening meal, or to supper).

40. Deer at the bottom becomes motionless (9)

Answer: STAGNATES (i.e. “becomes motionless”). Solution is STAG (i.e. “deer”) followed by NATES (i.e. one’s “bottom”, anatomically – you learn something new every day!)

41. Ball fired at the crease producing report (8)

Answer: BULLETIN (i.e. “report”). Solution is BULLET (i.e. “ball fired” – bullets can be round as well as conical) followed by IN (i.e. “at the crease” in cricket).

44. German spy’s confession perhaps lacking right figures of speech (7)

Answer: IMAGERY (i.e. “figures of speech”). Solution is I’M A GERRY (i.e. “German spy’s confession perhaps” – in WW2, Germans were often referred to as Jerry or Gerry. Speaks to the age of the setter, it seems, along with a number of other clues this week) with one of the Rs removed (indicated by “lacking right” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

45. Provincial theatre etc facing up to pressure (6)

Answer: STRAIN (i.e. “pressure”). Solution is NI ARTS (i.e. “provincial theatre etc”, taken to mean Northern Irish arts) reversed (indicated by “facing up” – this being a down clue), like so: STRA-IN.

47. Leader of prayers has obligations for devout (5)

Answer: PIOUS (i.e. “devout”). Solution is P (i.e. “leader of prayers”, i.e. the first letter of “prayers”) followed by IOUS (i.e. “obligations”, or I Owe Yous).

49. Surround female and male sheep with pen after shearing (5)

Answer: FRAME (i.e. “surround”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) followed by RAM (i.e. “male sheep”) and E (i.e. “pen after shearing”, i.e. the word “pen” with its first and last letters removed).

A little later than usual (working weekend) but here’s my completed grid for this week’s Times Jumbo. It was a so-so puzzle for me, with a few good clues but a few others where I thought the setter was pushing things a little too far, particularly with homophones. Your mileage may have varied. In any case, you can find explanations for my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful.

As ever, I’ll hawk some other stuff while you are here. Consider it my fee. You can find previous solutions to these things on my Just For Fun page, some book reviews or a story of mine. There, that wasn’t painful, was it?

And so to the answers. Till next time, continue to give thanks to the NHS and key workers everywhere, stay safe, eat your greens and wash behind your ears.

TTFN,

LP

Across clues

1. Bloomer made by union leader surrounded by dangerous reptiles (6)

Answer: CROCUS (i.e. a flower or “bloomer”). Solution is U (i.e. “union leader”, i.e. the first letter of “union”) placed in or “surrounded by” CROCS (i.e. “dangerous reptiles”), like so: CROC(U)S.

5. Canadian law enforcer free to pursue method of working (7)

Answer: MOUNTIE (i.e. “Canadian law enforcer”). Solution is UNTIE (i.e. “free”) placed after or “pursuing” MO (i.e. “method of working”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Modus Operandi), like so: MO-UNTIE.

9. Barker put on TV with porter (8)

Answer: AIREDALE (i.e. a breed of dog, or “barker”). Solution is AIRED (i.e. “put on TV”, “put” taken as past tense) followed by ALE (i.e. “porter”, a strong beer).

13. Extremely helpful, like an English noble once? (5,4,6,2,4)

Answer: WORTH ONE’S WEIGHT IN GOLD (i.e. “extremely helpful”). “Like an English noble once” refers to a noble, an English gold coin from the fourteenth century. Nicely worked.

14. Beg last of theatre managers to manage current stars (8)

Answer: PLEIADES (i.e. a group of “stars”, visible to the naked eye). Solution is PLEAD (i.e. “beg”) and ES (i.e. “last of theatre managers”, i.e. the last letters of “theatre” and “managers”) wrapped around or “managing” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current”), like so: PLE(I)AD-ES. One I remembered from a previous grid, to be honest, though I’ll never remember how it’s spelled.

15. Illegal enterprises involving court? (7)

Answer: RACKETS (i.e. “illegal enterprises”). “Involving court” riffs on how rackets – or racquets, both spellings are recognised – are used to play tennis.

16. Film most of pleasant outdoor meal (6)

Answer: PICNIC (i.e. “outdoor meal”). Solution is PIC (i.e. “film” – both taken to mean movies) followed by NICE (i.e. “pleasant”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “most of”), like so: PIC-NIC.

17. Plea by Liberal in Lincoln referable to higher court? (10)

Answer: APPEALABLE (i.e. “referable to higher court”). Solution is APPEAL (i.e. “plea”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) once it has been placed “in” ABE (i.e. Abraham “Lincoln”), like so: APPEAL-AB(L)E.

20. Pieces of fruit a presbyter conceals, some say (12)

Answer: ELDERBERRIES (i.e. “pieces of fruit”). Solution is ELDER (i.e. “a presbyter” – an elder of the Presbyterian Church) followed by a homophone (indicated by “some say”) of BURIES (i.e. “conceals”).

23. Partner? One may be a fool’s or a scholar’s (4)

Answer: MATE (i.e. “partner”). The remainder of the clue plays on chess terms: a “fool’s” mate is “the simplest of the checkmates (in two moves by each player)”, while a “scholar’s” mate is “a simple mate accomplished in four moves” (Chambers, both).

24. Lacking shape, one leaves in livery (8)

Answer: UNFORMED (i.e. “lacking shape”). Solution is UNIFORMED (i.e. “in livery”) with the I removed (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one leaves”).

26. Caustic quality potentially making crony mad (8)

Answer: MORDANCY (i.e. “caustic quality”). “Making” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CRONY MAD.

29. Reduction in level of French euphoria about southern California (2-10)

Answer: DE-ESCALATION (i.e. “reduction in level”). Solution is DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”) followed by ELATION (i.e. “euphoria”) once it has been wrapped “about” S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and CA (ditto “California”), like so: DE-E(S-CA)LATION.

30. Clearly only teacher turns out a novel (10)

Answer: COHERENTLY (i.e. “clearly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of ONLY TEACHER once the A has been removed (indicated by “turns out a”).

32. Eg Fowler’s old lady transfixed by married woman (10)

Answer: GRAMMARIAN (i.e. “Eg [Henry Watson or Francis George] Fowler” – the brothers worked on a number of acclaimed books in the early twentieth century, perhaps most famously A Dictionary of Modern English Usage). Solution is GRAN (i.e. “old lady”) wrapped around or “transfixed by” M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”) and MARIA (i.e. “woman”, basically a woman’s name), like so: GRA(M-MARIA)N.

34. Self-aggrandising type came out clasping female Arab (12)

Answer: MEGALOMANIAC (i.e. “self-aggrandising type”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out” – one definition of the word is “away from the original or normal position or state” (Chambers)) of CAME, wrapped around or “clasping” GAL (i.e. “female”) and OMANI (i.e. “Arab”, specifically one from Oman), like so: ME(GAL-OMANI)AC.

36. Energy invested in fellow’s joint academic office (8)

Answer: DEANSHIP (i.e. “academic office”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) placed or “invested in” DAN’S (i.e. “fellow’s”, basically a man’s name made possessive) and followed by HIP (i.e. “joint”), like so: D(E)AN’S-HIP.

38. Explosive that throws me in moat! (8)

Answer: AMMONITE. Not one I’m 100% on, but I can’t immediately see anything else that fits. The solution is an anagram (indicated by “throws”) of ME IN MOAT. An AMMONITE is an extinct marine mollusc – hardly the kind of thing you’d see bobbing around a moat. I guess the setter is riffing on AMMO being an “explosive”, but that isn’t terribly satisfactory. If someone swings by with a better solution then I’ll update the post, but as it stands this one is destined for the setters’ sin bin.
[EDIT: Thanks to a number of people in the comments for highlighting that ammonite is a form of an old high explosive called Amatol. It’s a definition that is not supported by any of the dictionaries I have, but it does get a two-line mention in some far-flung Wikipedia page for Amatol. I don’t think it’s enough to bring the setter out of the sin bin, though. Which reminds me, I didn’t leave any food or water in there. (Checks sin  bin.) Shit… – LP]

39. Alcoholic drink? Some welcome a Dubonnet (4)

Answer: MEAD (i.e. “alcoholic drink”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: WELCO(ME A D)UBONNET.

41. Contrive goals, once proper, to live within one’s means (4,4,4)

Answer: MAKE ENDS MEET (i.e. “to live within one’s means”). Solution is MAKE (i.e. “contrive”) followed by ENDS (i.e. “goals”) and MEET (i.e. “once proper” – we’ve seen this in a recent puzzle, and was brought to light by Dr John in the comments: meet is a formal or archaic word meaning qualified or fitting, an example being in the Bible quotation “Therefore it was meet and proper that that in everything he should resemble his brethren…” (Hebrews 2:17)).

43. Like moonrock brought to earth? It’s hard to credit (3-7)

Answer: FAR-FETCHED. Solution satisfies “like moonrock brought to earth” and “it’s hard to credit”.

44. Knocked back drink with spirit, engendering furore (6)

Answer: RUMPUS (i.e. “furore”). Solution is SUP (i.e. “drink”) reversed (indicated by “knocked back”) and placed after or “with” RUM (i.e. “spirit”), like so: RUM-PUS.

46. Artlessness of first-class surgeon in Newcastle area (7)

Answer: NAIVETE (i.e. “artlessness”). Solution is AI (i.e. “first-class”, i.e. A1, often taken to mean excellent – the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and VET (i.e. “surgeon”, specifically a common shortened form of veterinarian) both placed “in” NE (i.e. “Newcastle area”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “north-east”, as opposed to any specific area in Newcastle), like so: N(AI-VET)E.

48. Merseyside port’s guttersnipes ultimately unshod (8)

Answer: BOOTLESS (i.e. “unshod”). Solution is BOOTLE (i.e. “Merseyside port”) followed by S and S (i.e. “port’s guttersnipes ultimately”, i.e. the last letters of “port’s” and “guttersnipes”).

50. Over the moon, having sampled seasonal delights! (4,2,3,4,2,6)

Answer: FULL OF THE JOYS OF SPRING. Solution satisfies “over the moon” – both phrases meaning “very happy” – and “having sampled seasonal delights” – riffing on SPRING being one of the four seasons. Another nicely worked clue.

51. Veracious husband withdraws, holding son to be gullible (8)

Answer: TRUSTFUL (i.e. “gullible”). Solution is TRUTHFUL (i.e. “veracious”) with the H removed (indicated by “husband withdraws” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) and S slotted in (indicated by “holding son” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: TRUT(H)FUL => TRUTFUL => TRU(S)TFUL.

52. Outstanding aim first to be funded (7)

Answer: ENDOWED (i.e. “funded”). Solution is OWED (i.e. an amount of money “outstanding”) with END (i.e. “aim”) placed ahead of it or “first”, like so: END-OWED.

53. Make fun of carrier, a slovenly dresser (6)

Answer: RAGBAG (i.e. “a slovenly dresser”). Solution is RAG (i.e. “make fun of”) followed by BAG (i.e. “carrier”).

Down clues

2. Argument over the Spanish horseman’s spiked wheel (5)

Answer: ROWEL (i.e. “horseman’s spiked wheel [on a spur]”). Solution is ROW (i.e. “argument”) followed by EL (i.e. “the Spanish”, i.e. the Spanish for “the”).

3. Audibly damn head adopting the writer’s quality of joined-up writing (11)

Answer: CURSIVENESS (i.e. “quality of joined-up writing”). Solution is CURS (i.e. a homophone, indicated by “audibly”, of CURSE, i.e. “damn” – I’m not keen on how this setter plays fast and loose with homophones, it must be said. Reading CURS on its own, you would pronounce it differently to CURSE) and NESS (i.e. “head”, as in the geographic feature, a headland) wrapped around I’VE (i.e. “the writer’s” – a sneaky bit of wordplay, this is a contraction of “the writer has” rather than the possessive “writer’s”. It doesn’t matter that the clue doesn’t scan in this form, so long as it disguises what the setter is playing at. From the point of view of setter, “the writer has” then equates to I HAVE, or I’VE), like so: CURS-(I’VE)-NESS. Ugh…

4. Agenda of revolutionary law lord brought up in Home Counties (8)

Answer: SCHEDULE (i.e. “agenda”). Solution is CHE Guevara (i.e. “revolutionary”, and catnip for Times setters) and LUD (i.e. “law lord”, as in a facetious form of “lord” used to address judges, m’lud), the latter reversed (indicated by “brought up” – this being a down clue). These are then placed “in” SE (i.e. “Home Counties”, basically the South East of England), like so: S(CHE-DUL)E.

5. Problem about entertaining at home less (5)

Answer: MINUS (i.e. “less”). Solution is SUM (i.e. “problem” – Chambers has this definition for SUM: “a problem in addition, or in arithmetic generally”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or “entertaining” IN (i.e. “at home”), like so: M(IN)US.

6. Increases desire for rise (7)

Answer: UPSURGE (i.e. “rise”). Solution is UPS (i.e. “increases”) followed by URGE (i.e. “desire”).

7. Ditch Berliner possibly, losing good hearty eater (11)

Answer: TRENCHERMAN (i.e. “hearty eater”). Solution is TRENCH (i.e. “ditch”) followed by GERMAN (i.e. “Berliner possibly”) once the G has been removed (indicated by “losing good” – G being a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: TRENCH-ERMAN. One I remembered from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest.

8. Bore keen to be heard (5)

Answer: EAGRE (i.e. “bore”, specifically “a bore or sudden rise of the tide in a river” (Chambers)). “To be heard” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of EAGER (i.e. “keen”).

9. Term in USA recollecting an agent of passive immunity? (9)

Answer: ANTISERUM (i.e. “agent of passive immunity” – basically a serum that contains antibodies. Topical!) “Recollecting” indicates an anagram. Solution is an anagram of TERM IN USA.

10. Accumulate work at university (3,2)

Answer: RUN UP (i.e. “accumulate”). Solution is RUN (i.e. to operate or “work” something) followed by UP (i.e. “at university” – another that’s catnip for Times setters).

11. Make brief visit, carrying short article, a piece of stage equipment (4,7)

Answer: DROP CURTAIN (i.e. “a piece of stage equipment”). Solution is DROP IN (i.e. “make a brief visit”) wrapped around or “carrying” CURT (i.e. “short” or impatient) and A (i.e. “article”, as in a word like a, an or the), like so: DROP-(CURT-A)-IN.

12. Diluted manoeuvres for an opponent of mechanisation (7)

Answer: LUDDITE (i.e. “opponent of mechanisation”). “Manoeuvres” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DILUTED.

18. Earth, possibly, about rear of large woody plant (5,4)

Answer: PLANE TREE (i.e. “woody plant”). Solution is PLANET (i.e. “Earth, possibly” – other planets are available) followed by RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and E (i.e. “rear of large”, i.e. the last letter of “large”), like so: PLANET-RE-E.

19. Asian girl in W African state briefly (7)

Answer: BENGALI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is GAL (i.e. “girl”) placed “in” BENIN (i.e. “W African state”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: BEN(GAL)I.

21. Figure teacher presented about a month back (9)

Answer: DODECAGON (i.e. a twelve-sided “figure”). Solution is DON (i.e. “teacher”) wrapped around or “presented about” DEC (i.e. “a month”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of December) and AGO (i.e. “back”), like so: DO(DEC-AGO)N. Another shape-related clue, following several others in recent weeks. Definitely a theme running here!

22. Body parts a murderer’s destroyed without hesitation (8)

Answer: EARDRUMS (i.e. “body parts”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “destroyed”) of A MURDERER’S once ER has been removed (indicated by “without hesitation”).

25. Determine position of old gallery accepting nothing French (9)

Answer: ORIENTATE (i.e. “determine position”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and TATE (i.e. “gallery” – another often-used play) wrapped around or “accepting” RIEN (i.e. “nothing French”, i.e. the French for “nothing”, like so: O-(RIEN)-TATE. (Attempts to sing Edith Piaf’s, Non Je Ne Regrette Rien.) (Quickly gives up.)

27. Woman in constant fury finding cost of storing goods (9)

Answer: CELLARAGE (i.e. “cost of storing goods”). Solution is ELLA (i.e. “woman” – basically a woman’s name) placed “in” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and RAGE (i.e. “fury”), like so: C-(ELLA)-RAGE.

28. French murder victim meeting death finally on race (8)

Answer: MARATHON (i.e. “race”). Solution is Jean-Paul MARAT, a key player in the French Revolution who was assassinated in his bathtub, i.e. “murder victim”, followed by H (i.e. “death finally”, i.e. the last letter of “death”) and ON, like so: MARAT-H-ON.

31. Pistol-case they regularly require at first after vacation (7)

Answer: HOLSTER (i.e. “pistol-case”). Solution is TE (i.e. “they regularly”, i.e. every other letter of THEY) and R (i.e. “require at first”, i.e. the first letter of “require”) both placed “after” HOLS (i.e. “vacation”, specifically a shortened form of “holidays”), like so: HOLS-TE-R.

33. Report of woman with a European husband leaving US city (11)

Answer: MINNEAPOLIS (i.e. “US city”). Solution is MINNE (i.e. “report of woman”, i.e. a homophone of MINNIE, a woman’s name – again the setter’s use of homophones is jarring. It’s bad enough when setters use non-existent words as homophones, but it’s something else when the homophone doesn’t work in isolation) followed by A and POLISH (i.e. “European”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “husband leaving” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: MINNE-A-POLIS.

34. Old lady with weapon pinches article? Keep quiet about it! (4,3,4)

Answer: MUMS THE WORD (i.e. “keep quiet about it”). Solution is MUM (i.e. “old lady”) and SWORD (i.e. “weapon”) wrapped around or “pinching” THE (i.e. “article”, as in a word like a, an and the), like so: MUM-S(THE)WORD.

35. Identify vocation, provoking verbal abuse (4-7)

Answer: NAME-CALLING (i.e. “verbal abuse”). Solution is NAME (i.e. “identify”) followed by CALLING (i.e. “vocation”).

37. Mail old S African province following delivery (9)

Answer: POSTNATAL (i.e. “following delivery” of a baby). Solution is POST (i.e. “mail”) followed by NATAL (i.e. “old S African province”, now called KwaZulu-Natal).

40. Dancer’s work in oil company limited by drink (8)

Answer: BEBOPPER (i.e. “dancer”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, as in a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) placed “in” BP (i.e. “oil company”, specifically British Petroleum), which is itself placed in or “limited by” BEER (i.e. “drink”), like so: BE(B(OP)P)ER.

42. Trembling female replacing Victor’s source of water (7)

Answer: AQUIFER (i.e. “source of water”). Solution is AQUIVER (i.e. “trembling”) with the V (“Victor” in the phonetic alphabet) replaced by F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), like so: AQUI(V)ER => AQUI(F)ER.

43. Agonises over wife cut by a carpentry tool (7)

Answer: FRETSAW (i.e. “carpentry tool”). Solution is FRETS (i.e. “agonises”) and W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) wrapped around or “cut by” A, like so: FRETS-(A)-W.

45. Behave like Bunter – indulge in mockery (5)

Answer: SCOFF. Solution satisfies “behaves like [Billy] Bunter” – who liked the odd snack – and “indulge in mockery”.

47. Peaceful woman, one associated with Descartes, possibly (5)

Answer: IRENE (i.e. “woman” – the “peaceful” bit hints at a play on the word irenic or irenical). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by RENE “Descartes”. Score one to Monty Python’s Philosophers Song, here.

48. Attempt to assimilate famous poem divided into two parts (5)

Answer: BIFID (i.e. “in two parts”). Solution is BID (i.e. “bid”) wrapped around or “assimilating” IF (i.e. “famous poem” by Rudyard Kipling), like so: B(IF)ID.

49. Rise for soldier’s mother, a character in Thessaloniki (5)

Answer: SIGMA (i.e. “a character in Thessaloniki” – basically a Greek letter, Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city). Solution is GIS (i.e. “[US] soldiers”) reversed (indicated by “rise for…” – this being a down clue) and followed by MA (i.e. “mother”), like so: SIG-MA.

A relatively gentle affair compared to last week’s stinker, and a decent puzzle to boot, offering some well worked clues and good progression throughout.

As ever, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. Over on my Just For Fun page you’ll find links to solutions for this and the previous 99 puzzles, which you might find useful. I’ve also got a bunch of book reviews and a story of mine, should any of that appeal.

Till next time, give thanks to the NHS and key workers everywhere, keep safe and all being well I’ll see you here for #101.

LP

Across clues

1. Short couple returning pawnbroker’s gem (9)

Answer: CARBUNCLE (i.e. “gem”). Solution is BRACE (i.e. “couple”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “returning”), followed by UNCLE (a slang word for a “pawnbroker”), like so: CARB-UNCLE.

6. Including a feature with note passed across counter (6,7)

Answer: ADDING MACHINE (i.e. “counter”). Solution is ADDING (i.e. “including”) followed ME (i.e. “note” in the doh-ray-me notation) once it has been wrapped around or “passed across” A and CHIN (i.e. “[facial] feature”), like so: ADDING-M(A-CHIN)E.

13. Rowed and yelled, losing head (5)

Answer: OARED (i.e. “rowed”). Solution is ROARED (i.e. “yelled”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “losing head”).

14. Imagined names to cover old area one’s set in (11)

Answer: NONEXISTENT (i.e. “imagined”). Solution is N and N (both recognised abbreviations of “name”) wrapped around or “covering” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and followed by EXTENT (i.e. “area”) once I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) been “set in”, like so: N(O)N-EX(I’S)TENT.

15. Assign many, about 50 (5)

Answer: ALLOT (i.e. “assign”). Solution is A LOT (i.e. “many”) wrapped “about” L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty), like so: A-(L)-LOT.

16. Love being in a strip club, dancing, hot and humid? (11)

Answer: SUBTROPICAL (i.e. “hot and humid”). Solution is O (i.e. “love”, being a zero score in tennis) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of STRIP CLUB, like so: SUBTR(O)PICAL.

17. One female detected hole in a jug, a Paris icon (6,5)

Answer: EIFFEL TOWER (i.e. “a Paris icon”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), FELT (i.e. “detected”) and O (i.e. “hole” – as in the letter’s resemblance to one) all placed “in” EWER (i.e. “jug”), like so: E(I-F-FELT-O)WER.

18. Alluring type in charge of cutting record (7)

Answer: ENTICER (i.e. “alluring type”). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”) placed in or “cutting” ENTER (i.e. “[to] record”), like so: ENT(IC)ER.

20. Mole spotted everyone grabbing European (7)

Answer: SEAWALL (i.e. “mole” – one of the various meanings of the word is “a massive breakwater”). Solution is SAW (i.e. “spotted”) and ALL (i.e. “everyone”) wrapped around or “grabbing European”), like so: S(E)AW-ALL.

21. A river by old US city yields gold ring (7)

Answer: AUREOLA (i.e. a halo, corona or “gold ring”). Solution is A followed by URE (i.e. “river”), then O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and LA (i.e. “US city”, specifically Los Angeles).

23. Implying convoluted legal nicety, maybe controversially engineered? (11,8)

Answer: GENETICALLY MODIFIED (i.e. “maybe controversially engineered”). Solution cryptically satisfies “implying convoluted legal nicety”, in that “legal nicety” is an anagram or MODIFIED form of GENETICALLY.

27. One who admires fine article (3)

Answer: FAN (i.e. “one who admires”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) followed by AN (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the).

28. What some casual readers do? Take drugs (3-3)

Answer: DOG-EAR. Solution satisfies “what some casual readers do” – referring to the abhorrent practice of folding the corner of a page to mark one’s place in a book – and, when written as DO GEAR, also satisfies “take drugs”.

29. Yell “Clear off!”, seizing tablet (6)

Answer: SCREAM (i.e. “yell”). Solution is SCRAM (i.e. “clear off!”) wrapped around E (street name of the drug ecstasy, often taken in “tablet” form), like so: SCR(E)AM.

31. Actor’s exit stumped old men packing circle (5,4)

Answer: STAGE DOOR (i.e. “actor’s exit”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stumped” used in cricket) followed by AGED (i.e. “old”) and OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) wrapped around or “packing” O (i.e. “circle”), like so: ST-AGED-(O)-OR.

34. Crossing lake, supports pale Oz bird (5,4)

Answer: BLACK SWAN (i.e. “Oz bird”). Solution is BACKS (i.e. “supports”) wrapped around or “crossed” by L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) and followed by WAN (i.e. “pale”), like so: B(L)ACKS-WAN.

35. Muscle oil company’s used to guard diamonds (6)

Answer: BICEPS (i.e. “muscle”). Solution is BP’S (i.e. “oil company’s”, specifically British Petroleum, made possessive) wrapped around or “guarding” ICE (i.e. “diamonds”), like so: B(ICE)P’S.

36. With bottle of mineral knocked back, resultant sound going about? (6)

Answer: HEROIC (i.e. “with bottle”). Solution is ORE (i.e. “mineral”) reversed (indicated by “knocked back”) and placed in, or having “about”, HIC (i.e. “resultant sound”, i.e. a hiccup, the implication being one has knocked something back a little too quickly), like so: H(ERO)IC.

39. Community gathering endless drink (3)

Answer: BEE (i.e. “community gathering”, like a sewing bee). Solution is BEER (i.e. “drink”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endless”).

40. Everything under discussion I’ve used with our forensics nuts (8,2,9)

Answer: UNIVERSE OF DISCOURSE (i.e. “everything under discussion”). “Nuts” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I’VE USED and OUR FORENSICS.

42. Popular teams showing guts (7)

Answer: INSIDES (i.e. “guts”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SIDES (i.e. “teams”).

43. Playwright’s very large book, one gripping queen (7)

Answer: John OSBORNE (i.e. “playwright”). Solution is OS (i.e. “very large”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “outsize”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) and ONE once it has been wrapped around or “gripping” R (a recognised abbreviation of Regina, Latin for “queen”), like so: OS-B-O(R)NE.

45. Weeds grow wild, eaten by rodent (7)

Answer: RAGWORT (i.e. “weeds”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wild”) of GROW placed on or “eaten by” RAT (i.e. “rodent”), like so: RA(GWOR)T.

47. Second service stops religious breaking with tradition (11)

Answer: MODERNISTIC (i.e. “breaking with tradition”). Solution is MO (shortened form of “moment”, i.e. “second”) followed by RN (i.e. “[armed] service”, specifically the Royal Navy) once it has been placed in or “stopping” DEISTIC (i.e. “religious”), like so: MO-DE(RN)ISTIC.

49. Title associated with range in US, I’d say? (11)

Answer: APPELLATION (i.e. “title”). “I’d say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of the APPALACHIAN mountain “range in US”.

51. Hotel in Med resort designed for specific market (5)

Answer: NICHE (i.e. “designed for specific market”). Solution is H (“Hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” NICE (i.e. “Med resort”), like so: NIC(H)E.

52. Encouraging cool strong drink in gallons (11)

Answer: INSPIRITING (i.e. “encouraging”). Solution is IN (i.e. “cool” or popular) followed by SPIRIT (i.e. “strong drink”), then IN and G (a recognised abbreviation of “gallons”).

53. Irish oddly acquit Arab (5)

Answer: IRAQI (i.e. “Arab”). Solution is IR (a recognised abbreviation of “Irish”) followed by every other letter (indicated by “oddly”) of ACQUIT, like so: IR-AQI.

54. A girl into maths briefly disputed term in it (13)

Answer: ANTILOGARITHM (i.e. “term in [maths]”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disputed”) of A GIRL INTO and MATHS once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”).

55. County dismisses charter (9)

Answer: YORKSHIRE (i.e. “county”). Solution is YORKS (i.e. “dismisses” a batsman in cricket with a yorker, a specific type of delivery) followed by HIRE (i.e. “[to] charter”).

Down clues

1. Like relaxed Buddhist, thwarted touring large cell (5-6)

Answer: CROSS-LEGGED (i.e. “like relaxed Buddhist”). Solution is CROSSED (i.e. “thwarted”) wrapped around or “touring” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and EGG (i.e. “cell”), like so: CROSS(L-EGG)ED.

2. Two groups of soldiers chewed toastie (7)

Answer: RAREBIT (i.e. “toastie”). Solution is RA and RE (i.e. “two groups of soldiers”, specifically the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by BIT (i.e. “chewed”).

3. Jack doesn’t start to shake milk container (5)

Answer: UDDER (i.e. “milk container”). Solution is JUDDER (i.e. “shake”) with the J removed (indicated by “Jack doesn’t start” – J is a recognised abbreviation of “Jack” used in playing cards).

4. Plot against second main crime (10)

Answer: CONSPIRACY (i.e. “plot”). Solution is CON (i.e. “against”, as in pros and cons) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and PIRACY (i.e. “main crime” – setters love referring to the sea as “main”).

5. Sultan’s guards regularly return such bananas (7)

Answer: EUNUCHS (i.e. “Sultan’s guards”). Solution is every other letter (indicated by “regularly”) of RETURN followed by an anagram (indicated by “bananas”) of SUCH, like so: EUN-UCHS.

6. Will should have three examples of this (9,4)

Answer: AUXILIARY VERB. “Three examples of this” are the auxiliary verbs “will”, “should” and “have”. These are verbs which add function or grammatical meaning to a clause, e.g. “she will do something”, “she should do something” or “they have done something”.

7. Outlaw some French and English in gallery (9)

Answer: DESPERADO (i.e. “outlaw”). Solution is DES (i.e. “some French”, i.e. the French for “some”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) once it has been placed “in” PRADO (i.e. Spain’s national art “gallery”), like so: DES-P(E)RADO.

8. End fuel supply that’s essential (7)

Answer: NEEDFUL (i.e. “essential”). “Supply” indicates anagram, as in something being supple – sneaky, eh? Solution is an anagram of END FUEL.

9. Rigorous man abridged inspiring article about subject (12)

Answer: MATHEMATICAL (i.e. “rigorous”). Solution is MALE (i.e. “man”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “abridged”) and the remainder wrapped around or “inspiring” A (i.e. “article”, as in a word like a, an or the) and THEMATIC (i.e. “subject”), like so: M(A-THEMATIC)AL.

10. Like some accountants about to be drafted outside (9)

Answer: CHARTERED (i.e. “like some accountants”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) with CHARTED (i.e. “drafted”) placed “outside” of it, like so: CHARTE(RE)D.

11. Relative’s trendy wife bagging French article (2-3)

Answer: IN-LAW (i.e. “relative”). Solution is IN (i.e. “trendy”) and W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) wrapped around or “bagging” LA (i.e. “French article”, i.e. the French for “the”), like so: IN-(LA)-W.

12. Register English church composer without top performer (11)

Answer: ENTERTAINER (i.e. “performer”). Solution is ENTER (i.e. “register”) followed by Sir John STAINER (i.e. “English church composer” – no, me neither. Chalk one to my Bradfords here) with the first letter removed (indicated by “without top”), like so: ENTER-TAINER.

19. Trim copper heading to seize book (3,4)

Answer: CUT BACK (i.e. “trim”). Solution is CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) followed by TACK (i.e. “heading” or course) wrapped around or “seizing” B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”), like so: CU-T(B)ACK.

22. Sick of quartet entertaining officer (3,6)

Answer: OFF COLOUR (i.e. “sick”). Solution is OF followed by FOUR (i.e. “quartet”) wrapped around or “entertaining” COL (i.e. “officer”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a colonel), like so: OF-F(COL)OUR.

24. Restricted zones in Genoa or Siena, extremely mysterious (2-2,5)

Answer: NO-GO AREAS (i.e. “restricted zones”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mysterious”) of GENOA OR and SA (i.e. “Siena, extremely”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Siena”).

25. Permit fifty-one churches to keep name (7)

Answer: LICENCE (i.e. “permit”). Solution is LI (i.e. “fifty-one” in Roman numerals) followed by CE and CE (i.e. “churches”, specifically the Church of England) wrapped around or “keeping” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: LI-CE-(N)-CE.

26. On reflection, sauce is not ideal at first, being tasteless (7)

Answer: INSIPID (i.e. “tasteless”). Solution is DIP (i.e. “sauce”) followed by IS, then N and I (i.e. “not ideal at first”, i.e. the first letters of “not” and “ideal”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “on reflection”), like so: I-N-SI-PID.

30. Grim CIA morons spread spore maybe (5-8)

Answer: MICRO-ORGANISM (i.e. “spore maybe”). “Spread” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GRIM CIA MORONS.

32. Spanish article about golf catches on soon (7)

Answer: ERELONG (i.e. “soon”). Solution is EL (for “Spanish article”, i.e. the Spanish for “the”), ON (i.e. “about”) and G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet) all wrapped about or “catching” RE (i.e. “on” or about – think email replies), like so: E(RE)L-ON-G. I’ve twisted over this one for a while, and this seems the best solution I can get, but I’m not exactly cock-a-hoop about it. Using ON for “about” only to then use RE for “on” feels weirdly off, like a circular reference in a spreadsheet or something. [Reads that back.] Bloody hell, I’m such a nerd…

33. Hoping to drink German wine that’s sublime (3-9)

Answer: AWE-INSPIRING (i.e. “sublime”). Solution is ASPIRING (i.e. “hoping”) wrapped around or “drinking” WEIN (i.e. “German [for] wine”), like so: A(WEIN)SPIRING.

34. I’m in Bilbao crazily nursing a passion for shelf-stacking? (11)

Answer: BIBLIOMANIA (i.e. “passion for shelf-stacking”, as in having a thing for books). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “crazily”) of I’M IN BILBAO wrapped around or “nursing” A, like so: BIBLIOM(A)NIA.

37. Helm saves energy, anxious about four covering same length (11)

Answer: COEXTENSIVE (i.e. “covering same length”). Solution is COX (i.e. “helm”) wrapped around or “saving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and followed by TENSE (i.e. “anxious”) once this has been wrapped around or “covering” IV (i.e. “four” in Roman numerals), like so: CO(E)X-TENS(IV)E.

38. Star analyst runs over diary penned by Daisy (10)

Answer: ASTROLOGER (i.e. “star analyst”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games), O (a recognised abbreviation of an “over” in cricket) and LOG (i.e. “diary”) all placed in or “penned by” ASTER (i.e. “daisy” – ignore the misleading capitalisation), like so: AST(R-O-LOG)ER.

40. Waterproof submarine, second in Clyde (9)

Answer: UNDERSEAL (i.e. “[to] waterproof”). Solution is UNDERSEA (i.e. “submarine”) followed by L (i.e. “second in Clyde”, i.e. the second letter of “Clyde”).

41. Small number possibly needing to edit screenplay perhaps (9)

Answer: SUBSCRIPT (i.e. “small number possibly” – subscripts can be text too). When read as SUB SCRIPT, the solution also satisfies “edit screenplay perhaps”.

43. Less intelligent old boy beginning to transform addict (7)

Answer: OBTUSER (i.e. “less intelligent”). Solution is OB (a recognised abbreviation of “old boy”, or alumnus) followed by T (i.e. “beginning to transform”, i.e. the first letter of “transform”) and USER (i.e. “[drug] addict”).

44. Bronte sister admits exercising with no effect (7)

Answer: EMPTILY (i.e. “with no effect”). Solution is EMILY (i.e. “Bronte sister”) wrapped around or “admitting” PT (i.e. “exercising”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Physical Training), like so: EM(PT)ILY.

46. Ring friend abroad about kit for art in Tokyo (7)

Answer: ORIGAMI (i.e. “art in Tokyo”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) and AMI (i.e. “friend abroad”, i.e. the French for “friend”) wrapped “about” RIG (i.e. “kit”), like so: O-(RIG)-AMI.

48. Old coin originally accepted in tube (5)

Answer: DUCAT (i.e. “old coin”). Solution is A (i.e. “originally accepted”, i.e. the first letter of “accepted”) placed “in” DUCT (i.e. “tube”), like so: DUC(A)T.

50. Section of program is simply wrong (5)

Answer: AMISS (i.e. “wrong”). “Section of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PROGR(AM IS S)IMPLY.

Stinker, in word, For the most part a good one, too, though there were a few clues that were a bit hmm-worthy. You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful.

Some housekeeping, as per: previous solutions to these things can be found here, I’ve got some book reviews there and a story of mine over thisaway.

Till next time, stay safe, give thanks to the NHS and all key workers, and if someone can track down the arsehole responsible for these “unseasonal” winds we’ve been getting every bloody week and give them a solid kick in the naughty bits, that would be lovely. My snapped and half-dead chilli plants thank you in advance.

Laters,

LP

Across clues

1. A certain doctor of mine, happy to celebrate (5,2,2)

Answer: WHOOP IT UP (i.e. “to celebrate”). Solution is WHO (i.e. “a certain doctor” – either BBC’s Doctor Who or from the World Health Organisation, take your pick) followed by O’ (a contraction of “of”, as in Sweet Child O’ Mine), then PIT (i.e. “mine”) and UP (i.e. “happy”).

6. Place for bluebottles in grass on top of hill? (7)

Answer: COPSHOP (i.e. “place for bluebottles” – bluebottles being a nickname for police officers). Solution is SHOP (i.e. to rat or “grass” on somebody) placed “on” or after COP (i.e. “top of hill” – one meaning of “cop” is “a top or head of anything” (Chambers). I guess the setter had to qualify that in some way to make the clue scan properly, but “top of hill” was an evil choice), like so: COP-SHOP.

10. One bachelor, if you ask me, can catch another dumb blonde? (5)

Answer: BIMBO (i.e. “dumb blonde”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”, e.g. BSc being a Bachelor of Science) followed by IMO (i.e. “if you ask me”, being a recognised abbreviation of “in my opinion”) once this latter has been wrapped around or “catching” B (i.e. “another” bachelor, within the context of the clue), like so: B-IM(B)O.

13. Augustus was one heading off moderate men (7)

Answer: EMPEROR (i.e. “Augustus was one”). Solution is TEMPER (i.e. to “moderate”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “heading off”) and followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army), like so: EMPER-OR.

14. International force cut – nothing to be sorry about (7)

Answer: EUROPOL (i.e. “international force”). Solution is LOP (i.e. “cut”) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”) and RUE (i.e. “to be sorry”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: EUR-O-POL.

15. Hit song playing at presentation (2,5)

Answer: ON SIGHT (i.e. “[upon or] at presentation”). “Playing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HIT SONG.

16. Advice not to ring us, perhaps, but keep calling? (4,4,2,3,3,3)

Answer: DON’T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB. Solution satisfies “advice not to ring us” (as in the old phrase “don’t call us, we’ll call you”, which never augured well for interviewees and auditionees) and “keep calling” – taking “calling” to mean one’s profession.

17. Left wingers for instance spouting Marxist doctrine (3)

Answer: ISM (i.e. “doctrine”). “Left wingers for…” indicates the solution is formed from the initial letters of “Instance Spouting Marxist”.

18. Spin surrounding our leading female jockey (6)

Answer: Pat EDDERY (i.e. “jockey”). Solution is EDDY (i.e. “spin”, think whirlpools or waterspouts, that kind of thing) wrapped around or “surrounding” ER (i.e. “our leading lady”, i.e. the Queen, officially Elizabeth Regina), like so: EDD(ER)Y. Chalk one to my Bradfords here. I’d heard of the guy, but horse racing is not my thing.

20. It has drawn some in place of austerity (6)

Answer: SPARTA (i.e. “place of austerity”). Solution is SA (i.e. “it”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “sex appeal” that’s used a hell of a lot more in crossword puzzles than in real life) wrapped around or having “drawn” in PART (i.e. “some”), like so: S(PART)A.

21. Leading couple in formation dance swapping places an awful lot! (9)

Answer: OCTILLION (i.e. “an awful lot” – you’re not kidding either, being 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 in modern money). Solution is COTILLION (i.e. “formation dance” – another nod to my Bradfords here) with the first two letters or “leading couple” “swapping places”, like so: (CO)TILLION => (OC)TILLION.

23. Scraps with CID officers? Sit quiet, mostly (8,2)

Answer: DISPOSES OF (i.e. “scraps”). Solution is DIS (i.e. “CID officers”, specifically Detective Inspectors) followed by POSE (i.e. “sit”) and SOFT (i.e. “quiet”) once its final letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: DIS-POSE-SOF.

25. At that point would thwart international movement (3,3,5)

Answer: THE RED CROSS (i.e. “international movement”). Solution is THERE’D (i.e. “at that point would”, specifically a contraction of “there would”) followed by CROSS (i.e. to “thwart”).

29. BBC releasing article for free (5)

Answer: UNTIE (i.e. “free”). Solution is AUNTIE (an affectionate name for the “BBC”) with the A removed (indicated by “releasing article” – an article is a word like a, an or the).

30. City gent maybe sustained briefly by kebab (8)

Answer: LONDONER (i.e. “city gent maybe” – the “maybe” acknowledging the other 52% of the population). Solution is LONG (i.e. “sustained”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by DONER (i.e. “kebab”), like so: LON-DONER.

31. Play wound up with Act I certainly would be (8)

Answer: ATYPICAL. “Wound up” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PLAY and ACT I. In the context of the clue, a play that ended after the first act would be at odds or atypical of its peers. Nicely worked.

34. Mild expletive following champion gymnast’s feat (8)

Answer: BACKFLIP (i.e. “gymnast’s feat”). Solution is FLIP (i.e. “mild expletive”) placed after or “following” BACK (i.e. “[to] champion”), like so: BACK-FLIP.

36. American’s brief rant – yet nothing gets sorted out (8)

Answer: ATTORNEY (i.e. “American’s brief” – a brief taken to mean a solicitor). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “gets sorted out”) of RANT YET and O (i.e. “nothing”).

37. Lay in cold, white shroud, close to ground (5)

Answer: HOARD (i.e. “lay in” – meaning “to get in a supply of” (Chambers)). Solution is HOAR (i.e. “cold, white shroud” – being a layer of frost) followed by D (i.e. “close to ground”, i.e. the last letter of “ground”).

39. Cut on head with stick, old sailor buckled at the knee (5,6)

Answer: BOBBY SHAFTO (i.e. “sailor buckled at the knee” – a reference to the song Bobby Shafto’s Gone To Sea, a line of which goes: “Bobby Shafto’s gone to sea, silver buckles on his knee…”. Bobby Shafto was an MP for County Durham in the eighteenth century and the rhyme was something sung at junior school, though I’ll confess only a few words survived into adulthood!) Solution is BOB (i.e. “cut on head”, specifically a hairstyle) followed by BY (i.e. “with”), then SHAFT (i.e. “stick”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”). After a succession of grids that were a bit London-London-London (which I get: The Times is a London newspaper after all), it was really refreshing to see a nod to the North East. Nicely worked too.

41. You and your endless anniversaries finally must stop – with this one? (10)

Answer: THOUSANDTH. Solution is THOU AND THY (i.e. “you and your”, ye olde style) with the last letter removed (indicated by “endless”) and the remainder wrapped around or “stopped” by S (i.e. “anniversaries finally”, i.e. the last letter of “anniversaries”), like so: THOU(S)-AND-TH. Within the context of the clue, a “thousandth” can be deemed an anniversary year.

43. Appearing in court after fine is increasing (7,2)

Answer: TOPPING UP (i.e. “increasing”). Solution is UP (i.e. “appearing in court” – a usage often used by setters in their clues) placed “after” TOPPING (i.e. “fine”, as in spiffing, top-hole, absolutely capital, old thing – other Wodehousean variations are available).

45. Dinosaur in Komsomol is so far to the left (6)

Answer: FOSSIL (i.e. “dinosaur”, probably taken to mean something or someone with outdated views than the creatures themselves). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “to the left” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being an across clue – like so: KOMSOMO(L IS SO F)AR.

47. Fabulous shot, mine, rebounding (6)

Answer: TIPTOP (i.e. “fabulous”). Solution is POT (i.e. a successful “shot” in snooker, pool etc) and PIT (i.e. “mine”) both reversed (indicated by “rebounding”), like so: TIP-TOP.

49. Character needed to get the measure of acid test? (3)

Answer: PHI (i.e. “character”, specifically the twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet). When read as PH 1, the solution satisfies “the measure of acid test” – the pH scale illustrates the acidity or alkalinity of solutions. Highly acidic solutions will see a pH approaching 1.

50. Undercover work of devious EU little concerning English (19)

Answer: COUNTERINTELLIGENCE (i.e. “undercover work”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “devious”) of EU LITTLE CONCERNING and E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”).

52. A flavour of how fan gets to feed (7)

Answer: ANISEED (i.e. “a flavour”). This took some twigging, but when read as “AN” IS “EED”, the solution satisfies “how fan gets to feed”, i.e. by replacing AN in “fan” with EED.

53. Wise lady lord had never tipped to become a dancer (7)

Answer: ISADORA Duncan (i.e. a “dancer” of old). “Never tipped” indicates the solution is derived by removing the first and last letters of WISE LADY LORD HAD.

54. Bishop getting sent up and smeared? (7)

Answer: BLOBBED (i.e. “smeared”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop”) followed by LOBBED (i.e. “getting sent up” or thrown).

55. Sailor following one inside port (5)

Answer: LAGOS (i.e. “port” of Nigeria). Solution is OS (i.e. “sailor”, specifically an Ordinary Seaman) placed after or “following” LAG (i.e. “one inside”, i.e. a prisoner), like so: LAG-OS.

56. Get kitted out in vain for Strictly (7)

Answer: RIGIDLY (i.e. “strictly” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is RIG (i.e. “get kitted out”) followed by IDLY (i.e. “in vain” – one definition of “idle” is “vain”).

57. Fixture for door – superior ones for Rev Spooner? (9)

Answer: LETTERBOX (i.e. “fixture for door”). “For Rev Spooner” indicates the solution is a Spoonerism, specifically for BETTER LOCKS (i.e. “superior [fixtures] for [door]”). Nicely worked.

Down clues

1. Observe light after word initially’s got round (8)

Answer: WHEEDLED (i.e. “got round”). Solution is HEED (i.e. “observe”) and LED (i.e. “light”, specifically a Light Emitting Diode) both placed “after” W (i.e. “word initially”, i.e. the first letter of “word”), like so: W-HEED-LED.

2. Expert in Belfast perhaps turned around plant (5)

Answer: ORPIN (i.e. “plant”). Solution is NI PRO (i.e. “expert in Belfast perhaps” – NI being a recognised abbreviation of Northern Ireland) reversed (indicated by “turned around”), like so: ORP-IN. One gotten purely from the wordplay, if I’m honest.

3. Dish of steaming porridge one had in gym (8,3)

Answer: PERIGORD PIE (i.e. “dish” – specifically “a pie of partridge flavoured with truffles” (Chambers). Not one that’s ever crossed my taste buds, but I’m game, so to speak.) Solution is an anagram (indicated by “steaming”) of PORRIDGE and I both placed “in” PE (i.e. “gym”, specifically Physical Education), like so: P(ERIGORDP-I)E. A bit of a weird one given PERIGORD was already an anagram of PORRIDGE.

4. With time and human resources, one has to do well (6)

Answer: THRIVE (i.e. “do well”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by HR (ditto “human resources”) and I’VE (a contraction of “I have”, i.e. “one has”).

5. Urgent to keep up, naval officer’s assuming (12)

Answer: PRESUPPOSING (i.e. “assuming”). Solution is PRESSING (i.e. “urgent”) wrapped around or “keeping” UP and PO (i.e. “naval officer”, specifically a Petty Officer), like so: PRES(UP-PO)SING.

6. Looking up schedule: old police superintendent (7)

Answer: CURATOR (i.e. “superintendent”). Solution is ROTA (i.e. “schedule”) and RUC (i.e. “old police”, specifically the now defunct Royal Ulster Constabulary) all reversed (indicated by “looking up” – this being a down clue), like so: CUR-ATOR.

7. Repair that stopped pipe getting inched out (6,2,3,4)

Answer: PIPPED AT THE POST (i.e. “inched out”). “Repair” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THAT STOPPED PIPE.

8. Trouble-making sextet? (4-1-5)

Answer: HALF-A-DOZEN (i.e. “sextet”). The setter’s gone off on their own here. My guess is there’s a well-known phrase out there that includes the words “trouble” and “dozen”, albeit one that has escaped me, my dictionaries and the internet at large. If a kind soul swings by to shed light on this then I’ll update the post.
[EDIT: Abadchap in the comments wins the internet with this one. The solution satisfies “sextet” as discussed above, but when read as HALF “ADOZEN” it also reads as an instruction, i.e. to halve the remainder of the solution, “ADOZEN”, to “make” ADO, which is another word for “trouble”. I doubt I would have ever twigged that one. Many thanks, Ab! – LP]

9. Judge involved in caress with call girl on aircraft (7)

Answer: PROPJET (i.e. “aircraft” – my Chambers suggests this ought to have been hyphenated). Solution is J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”) placed or “involved in” PET (i.e. “caress”), which is then preceded by PRO (i.e. “call girl”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “prostitute”), like so: PRO-P(J)ET.

10. Mean to get bouncer better headgear (8,3)

Answer: BASEBALL CAP (i.e. “headgear”). Solution is BASE (i.e. “mean”, both taken to mean “reprehensible, vile, etc”) followed by BALL (i.e. “bouncer”, as in something that bounces – could also be taken to mean a type of delivery in cricket) and CAP (i.e. “[to] better”).

11. No good getting upset if I see Chairman’s collared grandee (9)

Answer: MAGNIFICO (i.e. “grandee”). Solution is NG (a recognised abbreviation of “no good”, also individually recognised abbreviations of “no” and “good”) reversed (indicated by “getting upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by IF, I and C (one definition of “see” is simply the third letter of the alphabet). These are all then wrapped in or “collared” by “Chairman” MAO, like so: MA(GN-IF-I-C)O. Chalk another to my Bradfords as I could not see beyond “dignitary” at the time. Once this dropped, so did much of the surrounding corner.

12. Outrageous female going topless, displaying chest apparently? (7)

Answer: OTTOMAN (i.e. “chest apparently” – ottomans are backless seats that can sometimes include storage space). Solution is OTT (i.e. “outrageous”) followed by WOMAN (i.e. “female”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “going topless”), like so: OTT-OMAN.

19. In reasoned way, religious attitude is ticking boxes (7)

Answer: DEISTIC (i.e. “in a reasoned way, religious” – a deist is “a person who believes in the existence of God, but not in a divinely revealed religion” (Chambers)). “Boxes” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ATTITU(DE IS TIC)KING.

22. Henry left absorbed by exotic geisha girl (8)

Answer: ASHLEIGH (i.e. “girl” – basically a girl’s name). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry” – a unit of measurement we’ve seen a few times in previous puzzles) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) both placed in or “absorbed by” an anagram of GEISHA, like so: AS(H-L)EIGH.

24. Bow Street coming down on saucy hooker? (5-3,7)

Answer: FRONT-ROW FORWARD (i.e. a “hooker” in rugby). Solution is FRONT (i.e. “bow” of a ship) followed by ROW (i.e. “street”, as in a row of houses) both placed above or “coming down on” – this being a down clue – FORWARD (i.e. “saucy”). Nicely worked.

26. Infiltrator: hear one’s gaining access to hospital department (8)

Answer: ENTRYIST (i.e. “infiltrator”). Solution is TRY (i.e. “hear” in court) and I’S (i.e. “one’s” – with “one” represented by its Roman numeral, I) both placed in or “gaining access to” ENT (i.e. “hospital department”, specifically Ear, Nose and Throat – another pet play of setters everywhere), like so: EN(TRY-I’S)T.

27. Slashes note, one found beneath papers (6)

Answer: SOLIDI (i.e. “slashes” – a solidus is another name for a slash character ‘/’). Solution is SOL (i.e. “note” in the doh-ray-me style) followed by ID (i.e. “papers”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “identification”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed or “found beneath” it – this being a down clue – like so: SOL-ID-I.

28. Uproar when spouse gets reduced unemployment benefit at first (6)

Answer: HUBBUB (i.e. “uproar”). Solution is HUBBIE (i.e. “spouse”) with the last two letters removed (indicated by “gets reduced” – it’s not often you see multiple letters trimmed this way, it’s usually just the one) and the remainder followed by U and B (i.e. “unemployment benefit at first”, i.e. the first letters of “unemployment” and “benefit”), like so: HUBB-U-B.
[EDIT: Sue makes a good point in the comments, in that HUBBIE can also be spelled HUBBY, which means only one letter gets trimmed. Cheers, Sue! – LP]

32. Bird soaring over cape, then height almost halved (4,3)

Answer: COAL TIT (i.e. “bird”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of an “over” in cricket) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “cape”, as in the geographic feature) both reversed (indicated by “soaring” – this being a down clue) and followed by the first five letters of ALTITUDE (i.e. “height”), indicated by “nearly halved”, altitude being an eight letter word – and you thought the setter’s shenanigans in 28d were pushing it – like so: C-O-ALTIT.

33. A nation well beaten finally condemned aged Scottish defence (8,4)

Answer: ANTONINE WALL (i.e. “aged Scottish defence” – a bit like Hadrian’s Wall, but further north). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “condemned”) of A NATION WELL and N (i.e. “beaten finally”, i.e. the last letter of “beaten”).

35. Unlicensed traders throw in leaflets (11)

Answer: FLYPITCHERS (i.e. “unlicensed traders”). Solution is PITCH (i.e. “throw”) placed “in” FLYERS (i.e. “leaflets”), like so: FLY(PITCH)ERS.

37. Giving affection, being on intimate terms (4,2,5)

Answer: HAND IN GLOVE (i.e. “on intimate terms”). Solution is HANDING (i.e. “giving”) followed by LOVE (i.e. “affection”).

38. Start work on the Greens? That’s unpleasant (10)

Answer: OFFPUTTING (i.e. “unpleasant”). Solution is OFF (i.e. launch or “start”) followed by PUTTING (i.e. “work on the [golf] greens” – ignore the misleading capitalisation).

40. I go after book suitable for christening (9)

Answer: BAPTIZING (i.e. “christening”). Solution is I and ZING (i.e. “go”, as in having a bit of zest and zip) both placed “after” B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) and APT (i.e. “suitable”), like so: B-APT-I-ZING.

42. A very soft goal upset team, in addition (8)

Answer: APPENDIX (i.e. “addition” to the end of a book). Solution is A followed by PP (i.e. “very soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “pianissimo” in musical lingo), then END (i.e. an aim or “goal”) and XI (i.e. “team”, being the Roman numerals for eleven) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: A-PP-END-IX.

43. Trouble with polls bringing some superior canvassing? (7)

Answer: TOPSAIL (i.e. “superior canvassing” – the question mark is a riddly acknowledgement that the setter is referring to the “top sail” of a ship). Solution is AIL (i.e. “trouble”) placed after or “with” TOPS (i.e. “polls”, both taken to mean cutting the tops off of things, usually trees), like so: TOPS-AIL.

44. Awful case of gunge round sink (2,5)

Answer: GO UNDER (i.e. “sink”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of GE (i.e. “case of gunge”, i.e. the first and last letters of “gunge”) and ROUND.

46. In senior year, one’s out of touch etc (7)

Answer: SENSORY (i.e. “touch etc”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of ONE’S placed “in” SR (a recognised abbreviation of “senior”) and Y (ditto “year”), like so: S(ENSO)R-Y.

48. Just about to vacate local when neighbour’s come round (3,3)

Answer: ALL BUT (i.e. “just about”). Solution is LL (i.e. “vacate local”, i.e. the word “local” with all its middle letters removed) with ABUT (i.e. “[to] neighbour”) wrapped “round” it, like so: A(LL)BUT.

51. Rich fellow pupil no longer under arrest (5)

Answer: NABOB (i.e. “rich fellow”). Solution is OB (a recognised abbreviation of “old boy” or alumnus, i.e. “pupil no longer”) placed “under” NAB (i.e. “arrest”) – this being a down clue – like so: NAB-OB.