Guardian Quiptic 710 / Nutmeg

My third Nutmeg puzzle in a row!  I must be getting used to her style as I found this one to be fairly easy.

Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with the unused letters in brackets e.g. L(eft). Definitions are underlined in the clue and only included in explanations where further information is given.

 
Across

7a Dickens’ little heroine’s back, arresting a retainer in flight (5,3)
STAIR ROD – reverse the name of the eponymous heroine of Little Dorrit and insert (arresting) the A from the clue to get a retainer in a flight of stairs

9a I take to the air, crossing key pressure line (6)
ISOBAR – I followed by a verb meaning to take to the air around a musical key to get a  line of equal pressure on a weather map

10a Approached gym, somewhat ill at ease (4)
EDGY – hidden (somewhat) inside the clue

11a A firm, briefly in Gulf, fixed internal problem (7,3)
GASTRIC FLU – the A from the clue and most of (briefly) an adjective meaning firm or stern inside an anagram (fixed) of GULF

12a Spooner’s playful race produces lethal weapon (3,3)
RAY GUN – swap the initial letters to get a Spoonerism meaning playful (gay) race (run)

14a Left in charge during chaotic staff strikes (8)
AFFLICTS – L(eft) and the abbreviation of In Charge inside an anagram (chaotic) of STAFF

15a Loving mother heading off politician (7)
AMATORY – (M)AMA, another word for mother, without its initial letter (heading off) followed by a Conservative politician

17a Porters carrying a king’s glasses (7)
BEAKERS – porter is a type of beer, so put BEERS around the A from the clue and K(ing)

20a Got rid of duodenal upset (8)
UNLOADED – an anagram (upset) of DUODENAL

22a Constant conflict killing first farm animals (6)
CATTLE – the constant that represents the speed of light in mathematical equations followed by a conflict without its initial B (killing first)

23a Calculated number of restricted books brought in for learner (10)
QUANTIFIED – start with an adjective meaning restricted or limited and insert the abbreviation for a collection of books in the bible in place of the L(earner)

24a Allowed back, having bagged a duck (4)
TEAL – a verb meaning allowed reversed (back) around (having bagged) the A from the clue

25a Tone down beginning of speech quite a lot (6)
SOFTEN – the initial letter (beginning) of Speech followed by an adverb meaning quite a lot

26a Don’t mention it, never! (3,2,3)
NOT AT ALL – two definitions

Down

1d Breeding place for those in a stable relationship? (4,4)
STUD FARM – a cryptic definition of a horse-breeding establishment

2d Flower girl’s literally heartless (4)
LILY – This flower is also a girl’s name – drop most of the inner letters (heartless) from LI(teral)LY

3d Base old equipment at home (6)
ORIGIN – A charade of O(ld), some equipment and a two-letter word meaning at home

4d Bearing top removed from toy firearm (3,5)
AIR RIFLE – a bearing or manner followed by a verb meaning to toy from which the initial T has been removed

5d Exclusive attempt to identify insect’s unfair (3,7)
NOT CRICKET – this could be a laborious attempt to identify an insect by excluding just one variety, leaving over 900,000 other!

6d Young winger‘s much below par, with temperature (6)
EAGLET – a score of two strokes below par in golf followed by T(emperature)

8d Poor quality manuscript in set rejected (6)
DISMAL – the abbreviation for ManuScript inside a verb meaning set, all reversed (rejected)

13d Buy second lot of drinks, not having will initially? (3,5,2)
GET ROUND TO – if the initial letter of Will is inserted into the answer it could mean to buy the second lot of drinks – the definition is loosely define by the whole clue, making it an &Lit clue

16d Huge star treading unsteadily (3,5)
RED GIANT – an anagram (unsteadily) of TREADING

18d Sound engineers exposed to risk (8)
RELIABLE – this adjective meaning sound or xxx is a charade of the Royal Engineers followed by an adjective meaning exposed to risk

19d Flirty Diana captures right man (6)
ADRIAN – an anagram (flirty) of DIANA around (captures) R(ight)

21d Gas protecting nucleus of pure nerve cell (6)
NEURON – a gaseous element around the inner letters (nucleus) of pURe

22d Musical gathering of French youngsters in training (6)
CADETS – an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical around (gathering) the French for of

24d What’s worn on stage in trades union get-together? (4)
TUTU – One Trade Union followed by another

Comments from solvers who are new to cryptic puzzles are more than welcome – and that doesn’t mean the usual suspects can’t add their thoughts as well!