This was one for those who don’t like cryptic definitions (there weren’t any) or double definitions (only one).
Some very good surfaces and misdirection but I had a feeling of déjà vu with a few of the clues, or at least parts of the wordplay, not that this detracted from the solving pleasure since it was made up for elsewhere.
Across
1 POPLAR POP[u]LAR (much-loved hollow)
4 HOBNOB N (new) in HOBO (vagrant) B (book)
8 UNEARTH EAR (audience) in *(HUNT)
9 PENSION PEN (write) SION (sacred city)
11 ACCOMPLISH CO (officer) in *(CALM SHIP)
12 RIDE R (river) IDE (fish)
13 JEANS JE (I, in French) ANS (briefly reply)
14 ENSEMBLE hidden in ‘womENS EMBLEm’
16 CHARCOAL CHAR (cleaner) COAL (fuel)
18 EGYPT GYP (suffering) in ET (classic film)
20 CARP R (river) in CAP (do better than)
21 METALLURGY MET (bumped into) URG[e] (endless lust) in ALLY (friend)
23 MAFIOSO SO (thus) IF (provided) reversed in MAO (dictator)
24 TITULAR TIT (bird) LA (modern city) in UR (ancient one)
25 STENCH S[ea] TENCH (fish)
26 THREAD H (husband) in TREAD (step)
Down
1 PANIC AN in PIC (photo)
2 PIANOLA IAN (boy) in POLA[r] (type of bear almost)
3 ANTIPASTO AN TIP (insider’s advice) AS TO (concerning)
5 OBEAH OBE (honour) A [witc]H
6 NOSTRUM NO ST (paragon anything but) RUM (strong drink)
7 BLOOD CLOT B (born) *(COLD) in LOOT (ill-gotten wealth)
10 SIDE-PLATE *(PEDESTAL I)
13 JOHN ADAMS *(HONDA) in JAMS (21 down sessions)
15 SHELLFISH ‘selfish’ (egotistical) as said by someone inebriated
17 REPRISE REP (seller) RISE (financial reward)
19 YOUTUBE OUT (old-fashioned) in BUY reversed (over-purchase) E[gg] (egghead)
21 MUSIC US (American) in MIC[e] (detailed vermin)
22 GRAND dd
Hi Gaufrid,
As you correctly allude, there are a few “tried and tested” mechanisms on display today, but I thought this was a much better puzzle overall than yesterday’s.
Re: 18A – It’s long been my (mis?)understanding that the word “gyp” derives ultimately from Egyptian, so maybe this clue is a little flawed, by way of the circular reference.
Hi smiffy
Unfortunately I have seen variations of 12a, 16a,
5d, 6d and 15d before so these didn’t entertain me as much as they might otherwise have done and ‘detailed vermin’ is becoming something of an old chestnut.
Regarding ‘gyp’, both Collins and COED indicate that this word came into being in the 19th century, probably as a contraction of gee-up.