Crosaire No 17449 by Crossheir – Thursday, December 17th, 2020

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

1 Boutiques losing out (‘boutiques’ losing ‘out’ = biques = BISQUE) to one of those from fish restaurant (BISQUE),

4 Humpty Dumpty (EGGHEAD-) goes to school (-S) (EGGHEADS) with local clever people (EGGHEADS),

9 Made up (UNTRUE) with a foreign (‘a’ French = UN-) tenor (-T-) on French street (French ‘street’ = -RUE) (UNTRUE),

10 Amazing (= anagram indicator) alert, but (alert but = REBUTTAL) that can’t be for the Confirmation! (not confirmation = denial / REBUTTAL),

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12 Provides access to pin money (pin number at CASHPOINT) for the bread producer? (CASHPOINT produces money/bread),

13 Extreme fear (terror) removing top (t) (‘terror’ without ‘t’ = ERROR) and slip (ERROR),

14 Director (-D) after (= position indicator) 25 across (‘reduce’ = REDUCE-) and 23 down (‘speed’ = SPEED) (REDUCED SPEED) slowed down (REDUCED SPEED),

18 Dropped costs (REDUCED PRICE) at the start of 14 across (start of ‘reduced speed’ = REDUCED) for first pint (first ‘Pint’ = P-) for that wedding shower? (-RICE) (REDUCED PRICE),

21 Make adjustments (TWEAK) in time (T-) in firm? (‘in firm’ = ‘infirm’ = -WEAK) (TWEAK),

22 Bulk (BEEF-) sales primarily (‘Sales’ primarily = -S-) for hardwood (-TEAK) (BEEFSTEAK) cut on a butcher’s block (BEEFSTEAK),

24 Intensely thoughtful (PROFOUND) tips for pursuing rescue operation (tips for ‘Pursuing Rescue Operation’ = PRO-) finding lost partner (“lost and found” = -FOUND) (PROFOUND),

25 Edit (REDUCE) crude (crude) novel (= anagram indicator) (crude = REDUC-) giving it direction (East = -E) (REDUCE),

26 Turns up (= reversal indicator), American college (Massachusetts Institute of Technology = MIT = -TI-M) admits school (-S-) is accessible to everyone (open = NEPO-) (NEPOTISM) looking after their own family (NEPOTISM),

27 Model (= anagram indicator) said no (said no = ADONIS) to handsome old guy from Greece (ADONIS).

Down:

1 Spring (BOUNCE-) on the banks of the River Thames (on the banks of the ‘River thameS’ = -RS) (BOUNCERS) with club employees (BOUNCERS),

2 One of those from the stage (SET) heard by the audience (aside = ASIDE) (SET ASIDE) is put away (put away = SET ASIDE),

3 Commandeer (USURP) marketing concept (Unique Selling Point = US-P) about old city (-UR-) (USURP),

5 Violent (= anagram indicator) Stooge (Stooge = GOES TO) taking guns (PIECES) (GOES TO PIECES) loses control (GOES TO PIECES),

6 Manage the budget at home (HOUSEKEEP) for theatre audience (HOUSE-) to set aside (-KEEP) (HOUSEKEEP),

7 Points (factors) dropped from the start (f) (‘factors’ without ‘f’ = ACTORS) by the players (ACTORS),

8 Pay (SALARY) for Express (SA-Y) covering link (-L-) to a (-A-) royal (-R-) (SALARY),

11 Roll (roll/twist = WIND) with salad (= anagram indicator), brie, nuts (brie nuts = TURBINES) (WIND TURBINES) provides energy in a new way (WIND TURBINES),

15 Leaves hotel (CHECKS OUT) for European’s (Czechs) speech (= homophone indicator) (‘Czechs’ = ‘CHECKS’) on holiday (OUT) (CHECKS OUT),

16 Part of the face (SIDEBURN), lip (rim = SIDE-) top, bottom (top ‘Bottom’ = -B-) on vase? (-URN) (SIDEBURN),

17 Fondness (WEAKNESS) for most (e) small (‘wee’ without ‘e’ = WE-), wild (= anagram indicator) snakes (snakes = -AKNESS) (WEAKNESS),

19 Pesto (pesto), crackers (= anagram indicator) (pesto = STEP O-), and centre (‘aNd’ centre = -N) (STEP ON) of squash, in a way (STEP ON),

20 Get back (RECOUP) from Puerto Rico without taking in riot (Puerto Rico’ without taking in ‘riot’ = pueroc = RECOUP),

23 The going rate (SPEED) for drugs? (SPEED).