Guardian Quiptic 1,379/Anto

Anto has this week’s Quiptic for us.

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 Complain when government’s head departs – it means trouble
RUMBLE
[G]RUMBLE

5 Extremists get a republican involved in terror
FAR RIGHT
An insertion of A and R in FRIGHT. The insertion indicator is ‘get … involved’.

9 Day in France is part of boy’s brief trips
SOJOURNS
An insertion of JOUR in SONS. The insertion indicator is ‘is part of’.

10 Toughen up old queen by adding additional edges
ANNEAL
A charade of ANNE and AL for the outside letters of ‘additional’.

11 Clothing for one providing party music initially
DINNER JACKET
The initial letters of the solution are DJ, who would be the one spinning discs at your party. A dinner jacket is also known as a DJ, so you could see it as a kind of dd.

13 Half of them fail to see this fellow
EMIL
A charade of thEM and faIL.

14 Wine in sample is most delicious
TASTIEST
An insertion of ASTI in TEST. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.

17 Wrong when unwell to have a flatbread
TORTILLA
A charade of TORT, ILL and A. TORT for ‘wrong’ is confined to legal language. It comes (like a lot of legal terms) from French.

18 Subtle film is not exalted initially
FINE
The initial letters of the second, third, fourth and fifth words of the clue.

20 Plaster bones when fractured – you’ve never done it better
PERSONAL BEST
(PLASTER BONES)* with ‘when fractured’ as the anagrind.

23 Take in the essence of fading legend Castro
DIGEST
The central letters of faDIng, leGEnd and caSTro.

24 Eventually agree to accept a freebie
GIVEAWAY
An insertion of A in GIVE WAY. The insertion indicator is ‘to accept’.

25 Intelligence about destroyed hound identifying culprit?
WHODUNIT
An insertion of (HOUND)* in WIT. The insertion indicator is ‘about’ and the anagrind is ‘destroyed’.

26 Turn off with this dense absorption of energy
THE ICK
An insertion of E in THICK. The insertion indicator is ‘absorption of’. THE ICK is a sudden, visceral feeling of disgust or repulsion toward a romantic partner, turning attraction into aversion, often over minor, trivial behaviours. It was apparently popularised by Love Island in 2017, which is why I’ve never heard of it.

Down

2 Strange sightings occur regularly in Gulf Coast
UFOS
The even letters of gUlF cOaSt.

3 Family fool is a potential killer
BLOOD CLOT
A charade of BLOOD and CLOT.

4 Go wrong taking on colony worker wandering around
ERRANT
A charade of ERR and ANT.

5 Starting the half playing at impossible speed
FASTER THAN LIGHT
(STARTING THE HALF)* with ‘playing’ as the anagrind.

6 Study what’s right and make further changes
READJUST
A charade of READ and JUST.

7 Sort of bond used in classical architecture
IONIC
A dd.

8 An event she worked on is miraculous
HEAVEN SENT
(AN EVENT SHE)* with ‘worked on’ as the anagrind.

12 Rogue finished up sort of bankrupt
IMPOVERISH
A charade of IMP, OVER and ISH.

15 Fat auntie dancing to inspire passion
INFATUATE
(FAT AUNTIE)* with ‘dancing’ as the anagrind.

16 Board not turning up for seafood
PLANKTON
A charade of PLANK and NOT reversed.

19 Soft material added to underground for old group
VELVET
Referencing VELVET UNDERGROUND, the American rock band from the 1960s.

21 Lay out odds before finale
SPEND
A charade of SP for Starting Price or ‘odds’ and END.

22 Drying material crystal clear to some extent
TALC
Hidden in crysTAL Clear.

Many thanks to Anto for this week’s Quiptic.