While this puzzle has a varied selection of types of clue, I was unhappy with a few of them.
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. CH(ild). Definitions are underlined in the clue and only included in explanations where further information is given.
Across
5a Grumpy teetotaller grabs last of lemonade before child’s yet started (6)
TETCHY – the abbreviation for TeeTotaller around (grabs) the final letter (last) of lemonadE then followed by CH(ild) anf the initial letter (started) of Yet
6a Fool accepting credit note has trouble (6)
SCRAPE – A three-letter word for a fool around CR(edit) and followed by the third note of the diatonic scale of C
9a Church‘s help with tip-off to London police backfired (6)
TEMPLE – (H)ELP without (off) its initial letter (tip) followed by the three-letter abbreviation for the London police, all reversed (backfired)
10a Limb gets number inside after stretch (8)
LENGTHEN – a limb around N(umber) and followed by a word meaning after
11a Bird left eggs with partner (4)
LOON – L(eft) followed by two of the egg-shaped letters and a bridge “partner” – I know egg = O is used a lot, but I still don’t like it and I particularly don’t like a single bridge partner being used, rather than partners representing N & S or E & W
12a Kirk’s craft project? (10)
ENTERPRISE – two definitions – Captain Kirk’s starship and a project
13a Stay and stand some drinks (5,6)
STICK AROUND – a verb meaning to stand or tolerate followed by some drinks (1,5)
18a Bring back jelly roll for street kid (10)
RAGAMUFFIN – reverse a type of jelly and follow it with a savoury, round, breadlike cake
21a Pacific centre revolved around shellfish (4)
CLAM – Start with an adjective meaning pacific and reverse (revolved around) the middle (centre) letters – should this kind of indirect reference be used in a Quiptic?
22a Waste money on fancy sedan to carry queen with king (8)
SQUANDER – an anagram (fancy) of SEDAN around (to carry) QU(een) and followed by the Latin abbreviation for Rex (king)
23a Frighten betrayer, then let off (6)
RATTLE – a betrayer or informer followed by an anagram (off) of LET
24a Diet or bust for newspaper man! (6)
EDITOR – an anagram (bust) of DIET OR
25a Smart bird grasps cracked nut (6)
JAUNTY – A bird around (grasps) an anagram (cracked) of NUT
Down
1d Speed up set point serve (4,2,2)
STEP ON IT – an anagram (serve) of SET POINT
2d Word to photographer gets husband’s picture put up in church (6)
CHEESE – H(usband) and the reversal (put up in a down clue) of a verb meaning to picture inside the abbreviation for the Church of England
3d Story line of Arsenic and Old Lace? (8)
SCENARIO – an anagram (lace) of ARSENIC and O(ld)
4d Stumble with key change (6)
FALTER – a musical key followed by a verb meaning to change
5d Quake with a bit of honest remorse (6)
TREMOR – hidden (a bit of) inside the clue
7d Very much always thus (4,2)
EVER SO – a charade of words meaning always and thus
8d Wind up in vintage car bound for cricket ground (3,8)
OLD TRAFFORD – a slang word meaning to break wind reversed (up in a down clue) between an adjective meaning vintage and a make of car
14d Pot‘s about to get gold lid, one cut out by Potter’s mate (8)
CAULDRON – The single-letter Latin abbreviation for about followed by the chemical symbol for gold, L(I)D without (cut out by) the I (one) and the first name of Master Weasley, Harry Potter’s mate,
15d Get into tripping in pleasant surroundings with drug that’s legal (8)
NICOTINE – an anagram (tripping) of INTO inside (in … surroundings) an adjective meaning pleasant
16d Sunbathe, say, in sexy bodice (6)
BASQUE – sounds like (say) a verb meaning to sunbathe
17d Yay! Law punished ambush (6)
WAYLAY – an anagram (punished) of YAY LAW
19d Bush has accounts with international capital agencies (6)
ACACIA – a apir of abbreviations for AC(counts) followed by I(nternational and the initial letter (capital) of Agencies
20d Student’s pursuing wife of major general (6)
NORMAL – the abbreviation for a student or L(earner) follows the first name of John Major – while it is generally acceptable to capitalise letters to improve the surface reading of a clue, in my opinion the reverse is not acceptable: especially as Major General would have worked
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!
I thought this puzzle was slightly harder than today’s Rufus.
In the clue for LOON I wasn’t too bothered by “OO” for eggs but I was very surprised by the use of “N” for partner when there was no corresponding “S” in the clue or answer.
In the clue for NORMAL I thought the lower-case “major” was very naughty.
CLAM was my LOI and was a clue worthy of a regular cryptic.
I too thought this harder than both today’s Rufus puzzles – agree with the ‘solo’ partner quibble.
Thanks to Hectence and BD.
Hmm. Managed to give up with 6 to go. 🙁