Crosaire No 17317 by Crossheir – Thursday, July 16th, 2020

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

1 Pick up local (pick up ‘locally’ = ARREST) American (A-) charger from the foundation (‘chargeR’ from the foundation = -R-) to recharge one’s batteries (-REST) (ARREST),

4 A looming (a looming) problem (= anagram indicator) (a looming = MONGOLIA) between Russia and China? (MONGOLIA),

9 Take up residence in the clubhouse perhaps (MOVE IN) as Masters’ leader (‘Masters’ leader = M-) goes onto range (oven = -OVE- -N) holding iron initially (‘Iron’ initially = -I-) (MOVE IN),

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10 Not complaining about (AGREEING) reggae in (reggae in) medley (= anagram indicator) (reggae in = AGREEING),

12 It’s the end for (= position indicator) Frank (frank = OPEN) Baker (baker) Rock (= anagram indicator) (baker = BREAK) (BREAK OPEN) RIP (rip/tear = BREAK OPEN),

13 Sharp mountain ridge (ARÊTE) going around (= reverse indicator) bit of diverse Terai-Duar savanna (bit of ‘diversE TERAi duar savanna’ = etera = ARÊTE),

14 Traditional meal (SHEPHERD’S PIE) for those characters from The Nativity Scene (shepherds = SHEPHERD’S) and On the Waterfront (pier), for the most part (r) (‘pier’ without ‘r’ = PIE) (SHEPHERD’S PIE),

18 Heard talking to the typist (DICTATOR-) from despatch (-SHIP) (DICTATORSHIP)  – as a rule it’s absolutely awful (DICTATORSHIP),

21 Tested partner (TRIED and tested), terrified, putting out fire (‘terrified’ putting out/without ‘fire’ = tried = TRIED),

22 High regard (ADORATION) for a (A-) party (-DO-) reaching quota (-RATION) (ADORATION),

24 Breakdown (ANALYSIS) of Asians (Asians) out (= anagram indicator) (Asians = ANA-SIS) around central Ireland (central ‘ireLand’ = -L-) with foreign currency (yen = -Y) (ANALYSIS),

25 Good advice if you want to allow one of those in cellar to breathe (DECANT) – produce jerkin from dinner jacket? (‘jerkin’ from ‘dinner jacket’ = dneact = DECANT),

26 In retrospect (= reversal indicator), small (-S) march (Mar = -RAM-) is great (-G-) for backing (aid = DIA-) (DIAGRAMS) representations (DIAGRAMS),

27 Look for the flighty type (look + flighty type = GANDER) of characters from Zweig – and Erasmus of Rotterdam (in characters from ‘zweiG AND ERasmus of rotterdam’  = gander = GANDER).

Down:

1 Private space (ARMY BASE) for major employer (ARMY BASE),

2 Took another look at (REVIEWED) state (= homophone indicator) study (‘read’ = ‘reed’ = RE-ED) including judgement (view = -VIEW-) (REVIEWED),

3 Dodge (SHIRK) beer from Berkshire (‘beer’ from ‘Berkshire’ = rkshi = SHIRK),

5 Group of newspapers (organs = ORGAN-S-) covering one (-I-) country (nation) with no leader (n) (‘nation’ without ‘n’ = -ATION) (ORGANISATION) in administration (ORGANISATION),

6 Foreign soldier (GRENADIER) reading (reading) novel (= anagram indicator) reading (reading = GRENADI-) about (re) Rising (= reversal indicator) (re = -ER) (GRENADIER),

7 Strange (= anagram indicator) role – it (role it = LOITER) is what you’d expect a lounge lizard to do (LOITER),

8 Reasons (ARGUES) Irish love (Irish ‘love’ = ‘grá’) giving up (= reverse indicator) (grá = ARG-) university (-U-) and finishing college (finish ‘collegE’ = -E-) from leading survey? (leading ‘Survey’ = -S) (ARGUES),

11 Is capable of opening channels to those in hellish places (SPIRITUALISM) encouraging mediators of late (SPIRITUALISM),

15 Henry (H-) is put on a line (air dry = -AIR DRY-) in hospital (-ER) (HAIR DRYER) – presumably it’s supposed to remove moisture from above his temple (HAIR DRYER),

16 Politician (Teachtaí Dála  = T-D) welcomes salute (hail = -HAIL-) from a (-A-) new (-N-) (THAILAND) country in Asia (THAILAND),

17 One of those not in The Union (SPINSTER) rotates (spins = SPINS-) with the heartless (‘the’ heartless = TE-) Head of Religion (head of ‘Religion’ = -R) (SPINSTER),

19 Behind supporter (behind ‘supporteR’ = -R-) in part of the stadium (ST-AND) (STRAND) in maroon (maroon/leave behind = STRAND),

20 Secretary (PA = P-A) takes in country in Middle East (-IRAN-) (PIRANA) with those in Predator Tanks with a reputation for devouring people? (PIRANA),

23 Set off from near east (‘set’ off from ‘near east’ = neara = ARENA) for the courts (for the tennis courts = ARENA).