The number of cds and dds is reminiscent of another setter’s style. Thanks to Anto. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
8 You can’t order it in a strange pub (3,5)
THE USUAL : Cryptic defn: Reference to what you’d say to the barman when asked “What’s yours?” in the pub you frequent.
9 Dull specialist clothing (6)
ANORAK : Double defn: 1st: A person whose specialty hobby is considered dull and boring; and 2nd: The hooded jacket invented by Eskimos (anoraq in their language), and then typically worn by trainspotters, thus leading to the 1st defn.
10 Joined by kids wanting to see a picture (4)
DOTS : Cryptic defn: Reference to the puzzle for children which requires them to join a sequence of dots to reveal a picture.
11 Show up long defective clearing mechanism (10)
SNOWPLOUGH : Anagram of(… defective) SHOW UP LONG.
12 Comedy slam? How fashionable! (4,2)
WITH IT : WIT(speech or writing that provides humour and amusement;comedy) + HIT(slam;strike).
14 Got off with a thin English duke (8)
ALIGHTED : A + LIGHT(thin, said of liquids with low density, say, of soup) + E(abbrev. for “English”) + D(abbrev. for “duke”).
15 Keep at deregulator to hold back bureaucracy (3,4)
RED TAPE: Hidden in(… hold) reversal of(… back) “Keep at deregulator”.
17 Any envelope for a record correspondence? (7)
ANALOGY : ANY containing(envelope for) [A + LOG(a record of events)].
20 Criminal had a nice estate in Spain (8)
HACIENDA : Anagram of(Criminal) HAD A NICE.
22 Keep half of cake star left (6)
CASTLE : The 1st 2 letters, respectively, of(half of) “cake star left”.
Defn: Strictly speaking, a keep is the main tower in a castle.
23 Principal meal, picked up on tray (4,6)
MAIN COURSE : In American usage chiefly, the principal dish of a meal is an entrée[Homophone of(picked up) “on tray“].
24 It originally died out twice (4)
DODO : The 1st letters, respectively, of(originally) “died out” x 2(twice). A WIWD (wordplay intertwined with definition) clue.
25 Quiet! Nora’s backed another girl (6)
SHARON : SH!(interjection asking for quiet!) + reversal of(…’s backed) Nora.
26 Must ripe bananas become the least wholesome? (8)
IMPUREST : Anagram of(… bananas) MUST RIPE.
Down
1 Doctor is here to speculate on … (8)
THEORISE : Anagram of(Doctor) IS HERE TO.
2 … those kitted out for the bench (4)
SUBS : Cryptic defn: Substitute players in a sporting team all dressed up and sitting on the sidelines.
3 Angry Central American group provides material reinforcement (6)
GUSSET : The central letter of(… Central) “Angry” + US(abbrev. for things American) + SET(a group of things or people).
4 Too controlled to be a nonentity (4-3)
ALSO RAN : ALSO(too;in addition) + RAN(controlled, say, an organization).
5 Drunk, pacing around all morning, becomes offensive (8)
CAMPAIGN : Anagram of(Drunk) PACING containing(around) AM(abbrev. for “ante meridiem” the morning period).
Defn: As a noun, and used commonly in a military sense.
6 Do they love all the words in this clue? (10)
LOGOPHILES : Cryptic defn: The rhetorical question of a clue referring to persons who appreciate and enjoy words.
7 Manipulate Western opinion (6)
WANGLE : W(abbrev. for “Western”) + ANGLE(a way of looking at an issue; an opinion).
13 Food critics have had more of them than you (3,7)
HOT DINNERS : Cryptic defn: Figuratively, part of the phrase that signifies having had more experience doing, seeing, had, etc. something. Literally, what food critics have eaten more than you, supposedly.
16 Identify standard measure of accuracy (8)
PINPOINT : Double defn: 1st: To identify exactly; and 2nd: The adjective that commonly describes (standard measure of) accuracy.
18 Its rare to find good evidence of poor housekeeping (8(sic))
GOLD DUST : G(abbrev. for “good”) + [OLD DUST](that which collects on household surfaces, as evidence of poor housekeeping).
19 Bend you can’t take at a clip! (7)
HAIRPIN : Double defn: 1st: A type of bend in the road that you can’t negotiate at speed (can’t take at a clip!); and 2nd: A pin used to clip;secure a hairdo or headdress.
21 No interest in a walk by close (6)
APATHY : A + PATH(a walk or walkway) + the last letter of(… close) “by”.
22 Shoddy lot stocked by company (6)
CHEAPO : HEAP(a lot;a pile) contained in(stocked by) CO(abbrev. for “company”, a commercial firm).
24 Stride endlessly over ground (4)
DIRT : Reversal of(… over) [“Stride” minus the 1st letter and last letters of(endlessly)].
Thanks Anto and scchua
Anto is improving – quite a lot of good clues here. I particularly liked the clue for RED TAPE for its semi &lit quality.
I completely missed the Americanisms “entree” and “dirt” for “ground” (presumably in the sense of “soil”?). I remember once being in a British audience of alpine plant enthusiasts being baffled by an American speaker recommending “cinders” in the compost. He meant “gravel”.
I liked this and am warming to Anto but my first shot at 6d was LEXOPHILES (is that not equally valid?)
That led to a problem with 9a.
Otherwise fine as is the blog. Ta.
Thanks Anto and sschua. I didn’t catch the entree/on tray homophone – an indication that it was an American reference could have been helpful … but I got it, so I guess it’s fair. Otherwise, a pleasant puzzle showing Anto is getting in tune with the quiptic level.
Thank you Anto and scchua.
A really enjoyable Quiptic. I also failed to get entrée/on tray, and even if I had MAIN COURSE would not have come to my mind (it might have if I were a vegetarian).
Too many good clues to list, but RED TAPE, ALSO RAN and HAIRPIN stood out.
Thank you Anto and scchua.
Much improved on Anto’s last puzzle.
As I started to work my way through the across clues without any entries, I thought this was going to be another misjudged Quiptic from Anto, but I was wrong. Once a couple went in, the rest of the puzzle flowed nicely. I was puzzled by the last part of the clue for MAIN COURSE as I too didn’t spot the “entrée” sound-alike. Favourites include RED TAPE, HACIENDA, ALSO RAN, CAMPAIGN and GOLD DUST.
Thanks, Anto and scchua.
Thanks to both Anto and sschua. There were a lot of clever clues here. I particularly liked DODO and GOLD DUST.
Don’t feel bad, muffin. I completely missed “entrée” as well, although I was the apparent target. I’m surprised about cinders. To me, cinders are remnants of a fire and gravel is small bits of rock. Presumably it’s the same for you? Must be a regionalism.
By the way, sometimes I’m BlueDot, sometimes not. BleuDot was the original since I like the affectation. It comes from Sylvania Blue Dot because, being the world’s most unphotogenic person, any photo taken in the sun makes my bald head look disturbingly like a glowing light bulb. It’s very, very sad.
An improvement but still not much cop. Full of errors, too, unless you are VERY forgiving.