| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | PIKESTAFF: as plain as a, and ‘fishing rod’ |
| 6 | FOCAL: anagram of CALF O (love) |
| 10 | MARIJUANA: JUAN (John) in MARIA (Miriam) |
| 11 | GRUB STREET: GRUBS (foods) + TREET (sounds like treat) |
| 14 | INFIDEL: INF (start of inferno) + anagram of LIED |
| 15 | SOUPCON: SOUP (starter) + CON (trick) |
| 17 | SHELLAC: SHELL AC (account) |
| 19 | HECKLER: HECK (hell) + LE + R |
| 22 | UNRAVISHED: anagram of UNDER SHAVI |
| 25 | CHARLEROI: anagram of ARCH + anagram of ORIEL |
| 27 | OVERT: OVER + T (time) |
| 28 | LEGALISED: anagram of IS ALLEGED |
| Down | |
| 1 | PRANG: P (soft) + RANG (used bell) |
| 2 | KERFUFFLE: KE (King’s English) + F (French leader) in RUFFLE |
| 3 | SIDE-SADDLE: SIDES + ADDLE |
| 4 | ADMIRAL: anagram of DIM in ARAL |
| 5 | FORCEPS: FOR CEPS (mushrooms) |
| 6 | FIJI: sounds like ‘fee gee’, payment for horse |
| 8 | LEAF MINER: LEA (field) + FM (field marshall) + IN (at home) + ER (monarch) |
| 13 | FUNCTIONAL: FUN (sport) + anagram of CAT LION |
| 14 | IPSO FACTO: SOFA in I PC + TO |
| 16 | COLD HANDS: C (a number) + OLD HANDS (veterans) |
| 18,19 | CENTRAL HEATING: anagram of RENTAL in CHEATING |
| 23 | DREAD: hidden in minD READing |
| 24,20 | FLATFISH: anagram of FIT in FLASH; sole is a flatfish. |