Independent on Sunday 1249 Commoner

An enjoyable puzzle to tackle on a relaxing Sunday from Commoner, to whom goes thanks.  Definitions are underlined in the clues.  The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle. To post any answers/comments on them please click here.  Do not post below.  Thank you.  (Hopefully, this is an improvement on the [[ ]].)

Across

1 Bounder to wear an item of women’s underwear repeatedly for a spell it is declared (11)

ABRACADABRA : CAD(a bounder;a scoundrel) contained in(to wear) { [A BRA](an item of women’s underwear] twice(repeatedly) }.

Answer: A term said;declared during the incantation of a spell, supposedly warding off misfortune, harm, or illness.

9 Be agitated about the ultimate in violence and sex in seedy cinema (7)

FLEAPIT : FLAP(to be agitated;to be in a flap) containing(about) the last letter of(the ultimate in) “violence” plus(and) IT(sexual intercourse, as in “they were at it like rabbits”).

Answer: A rundown cinema, possibly complete with fleas and other creepy crawlies

10 Clear a cheque, admitting a minor complaint (7)

EARACHE : Hidden in(admitting) “Clear a cheque “.

11 More as an example, a Scottish man, surprisingly not about (5,6)

SAINT THOMAS : Anagram of(surprisingly)” , a Scottish man ” minus(not) “c”(abbrev. for “circa”;about;approximately at that time).

Answer: Sir Thomas More, author of “Utopia”, a Roman Catholic activist in opposition to the Protestant Reformation, and canonised by the Roman Caholics.

12 See 19 across

13 Backward drunkard taking overdose causes episodes of unrest (2-3)

TO-DOS : Reversal of(Backward) SOT(a drunkard) containing(taking) OD(abbrev. for an “overdoes”, say, of drugs).

14 A bulldog wildly consuming hot snack (9)

DOUGHBALL : Anagram of(wildly) A BULLDOG containing(consuming) H(abbrev. for “hot”).

16 Partner for health reforms (5,4)

OTHER HALF : Anagram of(reforms) FOR HEALTH.

17 Lightheaded, oddly grip daddy (5)

GIDDY : The 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th letters of(oddly) “grip daddy “.

19,12 Start university exam over (6)

OUTSET : OU(abbrev. for Oxford University or the Open University) + reversal of(over) TEST(an exam).

20 Before noon, live programme includes Catholic prayer (11)

BENEDICTION : N(abbrev. for “noon”) placed after(Before …, …) BE(to live;to exist) + EDITION(a particular instance of a television or radio programme that is broadcast, as in “in today’s edition of the evening news”) containing(includes) C(abbrev. for “Catholic”).

22 A warrior – one is a revolutionary besieging ancient city on Sunday (7)

SAMURAI : < { Reversal of(revolutionary) [I AM(“one is”, used to refer to oneself, as in “one is not amused”, if one doesn’t use the royal “we”) + A } containing(besieging) UR(a city in biblical times) > placed after(on, in an across clue) S(abbrev. for “Sunday”).

23 “Good boy,” I said, giving a friendly glance (4,3)

GLAD EYE : G(abbrev. for “good”) + LAD(a boy) + homophone of(said) “I “.

Answer: A friendly glance, perhaps more inviting and seductive than just friendly.

24 Teacher perhaps catches child that’s very loud, unendingly naughty (11)

MISCHIEVOUS : MISS(what schoolchildren might;perhaps call their female teacher) containing(catches) [ CH(abbrev. for “child”) + I.E.(abbrev. from Latin “id est”;that is;that’s) + V(abbrev. for “very”] + “loud ” minus its 1st and last letters(unendingly;without ends) ].

Down

1 Praise pet that’s ruined hors d’oeuvre (9)

APPETISER : Anagram of(that’s ruined) PRAISE PET.

2 Gag that woman holding court over all (5)

RETCH : Reversal of(over all) [ HER(that woman) containing(holding) CT(abbrev. for “court”).

Defn: and Answer: An involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting.

3 Buffet includes roasted edamame and mackerel pâté starters and a pastry dessert (5,4)

CREAM PUFF : CUFF(to slap;to buffet) containing(includes) 1st letters, respectively, of(starters) “roasted edamame and mackerel pâté “.

4 Fiddle about in pub game (5)

DARTS : Reversal of(about) STRAD(short for a “Stradivarius”, a fiddle;violin made by Antonio Stradivari or his family).

5 Meddling passenger‘s verdict, a brake’s misused (8,6)

BACKSEAT DRIVER : Anagram of(misused) VERDICT, A BRAKE’S.

6 Sailor throwing up coffee gets encouragement (7)

ABETTAL : AB(abbrev. for “able-bodied seaman”;a sailor) + reversal of(throwing up) LATTE(a drink of coffee with lots of milk).

7 Compensate for TV not being used (6)

OFFSET : OFF(describing an electrical appliance, eg. a TV, not being used) + SET(a TV set).

8 Old-fashioned, as Rupert Murdoch is? (6,3,5)

BEHIND THE TIMES : Cryptic defn: Reference to Murdoch, owner of the daily newspaper, The Times.

14 Pin diaper around a type of trouser (9)

DRAINPIPE : Anagram of(around) PIN DIAPER.

For young and old, and boys and girls too.

15 Posh girl first to be drugged up on cocaine (4-5)

HIGH-CLASS : LASS(a girl) placed below(first …, in a down clue) [ HIGH(to be drugged up;intoxicated on drugs) placed above(on, in a down clue) C(abbrev. for “cocaine”) ].

16 Emu’s so powerful, gobbling up little marsupial (7)

OPOSSUM : Hidden in(gobbling) reversal of(up) “Emu’s so powerful“.

18 American jerk, extremely excitable (6)

YANKEE : YANK(to jerk;to give a sudden pull) + the 1st and last letters of(extremely) “excitable “.

20 Bed delivery announced (5)

BERTH : Homophone of(announced) “birth”(delivery of a baby).

21 Out of sight, dead horse is consumed by ducks (5)

DOGGO : D(abbrev. for “dead”) + GG(abbrev. for “gee-gee”;a horse) contained in(is consumed by) 2 x O(letter representing 0;duck in cricket scores).

Answer: In hiding, as in “to lie doggo”.

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