Another pleasing puzzle from Everyman with the usual trademark clues. I have the sense from comments in recent weeks that some of our solvers outside the UK are having difficulty accessing the Everyman puzzle, but I hope they have found a way round that so that they can contribute their thoughts on this one.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Biff’s one that’s odd when alone
SOCK
A dd. The second definition refers to ‘an odd sock’: the one that loses its partner in a remote part of the laundry cycle and then is mysteriously reunited with it several weeks or months later.
3 Dig in pit – bone part fragments – run away
BON APPÉTIT
(PIT BONE PA[R]T)* with ‘fragments’ as the anagrind. A reflection perhaps of British attitudes to food that the French have Bon appétit, the Spanish have ¡Que aproveche!, the Dutch have Eet smakelijk, and we have ‘dig in’.
9 Research – but seemingly no development – in S African money?
RAND
This is referencing the fact that Research and Development is often abbreviated to R&D; so this parses as R AND [D].
10 Date skin: it’s cooked for restrictive regimens
ATKINS DIET
(DATE SKIN IT)* with ‘[i]s cooked’ as the anagrind.
12 Taking forever?
KLEPTOMANIA
A cd.
15 Total including seabird’s bone
STERNUM
An insertion of TERN in SUM. The insertion indicator is ‘including’.
16 About 50 wanted to be annoyed
NEEDLED
An insertion of L in NEEDED. The insertion indicator is ‘about’.
17 Relative mostly visible with snake – let go!
UNCLASP
A charade of UNCL[E] and ASP.
19 Idolater almost concealing cunning manner of thinking
LATERAL
Hidden in IdoLATER ALmost.
20 Comic actor Rod: you led me astray
DUDLEY MOORE
(ROD YOU LED ME)* with ‘astray’ as the anagrind. A comic actor, an often profane double act with Peter Cook, but also a very gifted pianist.
23 No help – that’s scuppered contest
HEPTATHLON
(NO HELP THAT)* with ‘[i]s scuppered’ as the anagrind.
24 Fantasias describing most of humanity
ASIA
Hidden in FantASIAs.
25 Starts off nine optics
INCEPTIONS
(NINE OPTICS)* with ‘off’ as the anagrind.
26 Slice of memory: snack picked up
BYTE
Aural wordplay/soundalike (‘picked up’) for BITE.
Down
1 Deletes with a sweep of the pen – or leaves
STRIKES OUT
A dd.
2 Summit where you find a pear
CONFERENCE
Another dd. Conference is a variety of pear.
4 ‘Best’? ‘Select’? Everyman is!? Um …
OPTIMUM
A charade of OPT, I’M and UM.
5 French city’s answer: their refusal, German setter Victor rebuffed
AVIGNON
A charade of A and NON, G, I and V for the NATO alphabet ‘Victor’ all reversed.
6 Stopgap team’s assembled: it’s stuck in the corner
POSTAGE STAMP
(STOPGAP TEAMS)* with ‘assembled’ as the anagrind. Expensive business this year for those that still stick these on the corner of their Christmas cards.
7 Dog story related
TAIL
Aural wordplay/soundalike (‘related’) of TALE.
8 Lacking shred of compassion, twice cut up ballerina’s clothing
TUTU
[C]UT[C]UT reversed (‘up’, since it’s a down clue).
11 Classic song – hit – source of illumination
STANDARD LAMP
A charade of STANDARD and LAMP. SOCK in 1 across and now LAMP in this clue. There’s a bit of hitting going on today.
13 Sir, you’ll go off in magnificent style
GLORIOUSLY
(SIR YOULL GO)* with ‘off’ as the anagrind.
14 With no hint of nervousness, taunt leader that’s corrupt, corrupt
ADULTERATE
(TAU[N]T LEADER)* with ‘that’s corrupt’ as the anagrind.
18 Unwisely, I had most of pâté stir-fry
PAD THAI
(I HAD PAT[E])* with ‘unwisely’ as the anagrind.
19 Act dishonestly, getting stuffing for duvet – then do this?
LIE DOWN
A charade of LIE and DOWN, with the definition alluded to in the first part of the clue.
21 Primarily cinnamony, hot Asian infusion?
CHAI
The initial letters of the last four words of the clue and a cad.
22 Huge eerie deathcap fungi: panic, ultimately
EPIC
The last letters of the second, third, fourth and fifth words of the clue.
Many thanks to Everyman for this week’s puzzle.