The solved grid
1O
C
2C
U
3R
T
O
4E
A
5S
E
D
B
L
U
I
N
6S
H
O
E
P
A
7C
8G
R
I
E
9F
T
S
E
R
H
F
R
10R
O
U
S
E
11A
N
T
I
F
L
U
U
R
C
H
S
12C
E
E
13M
A
K
E
S
14A
N
T
T
O
D
B
R
15I
N
16F
E
R
N
O
17P
L
A
Y
A
O
A
S
W
A
L
T
18N
A
I
V
E
19N
E
G
R
O
N
I
N
L
E
N
O
20M
I
T
T
S
21S
U
R
G
E
O
N
Across
1 Across Cur and coot scrambled, spring to mind (5,2) → OCCUR TO Anagram
Anagram of “cur coot”.
4 Across Relieved, hidden in lease deed (5) → EASED Hidden word
Hidden inside “lease deed”.
6 Across Footwear, page, current, heavy boot (7) → SHOEPAC Charade
SHOE + P + AC.
8 Across Greece and force holding Ireland, sorrow (5) → GRIEF Container
IE inside GRF.
10 Across Wake, hidden in zero use (5) → ROUSE Hidden word
Hidden inside “zero use”.
11 Across Opposed to bug, protective against contagion (7) → ANTIFLU Charade
ANTI + FLU.
12 Across Initially curious elephant eyes letter after B (3) → CEE Initialism
First letters of: curious, elephant, eyes.
13 Across Produces brands (5) → MAKES Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
14 Across Grade A New Testament insect (3) → ANT Charade
A + NT.
15 Across Raging blaze from deducing a figure (7) → INFERNO Charade
INFER + NO.
17 Across Desert lake bed hidden in play attracts (5) → PLAYA Hidden word
Hidden inside “play attracts”.
18 Across Unsophisticated, a vein disturbed (5) → NAIVE Anagram
Anagram of “a vein”.
19 Across Negative, Romania, Northern Ireland, bitter aperitif (7) → NEGRONI Charade
NEG + RO + NI.
20 Across Musical note holding non-drinkers, then south, thick gloves (5) → MITTS Container
TT inside MIS.
21 Across Operating doctor from caviar fish minus time (7) → SURGEON Deletion
STURGEON without T from the middle.
Down
1 Down Barrier from muddled robust tonic (11) → OBSTRUCTION Anagram
Anagram of “robust tonic”.
2 Down Shutdown from litre and course, rearranged (7) → CLOSURE Anagram
Anagram of “course l”.
3 Down Group peered at intervals for South Asian currency (5) → RUPEE Alternate letters
Every other letter of “GROUP PEERED”, starting with the second.
4 Down Quavers from highest, in disarray (7) → EIGHTHS Anagram
Anagram of “HIGHEST”.
5 Down Whiff from middles of use, sandy, flirt, offer, off (5) → SNIFF Middle letters
Middle letters of: use, sandy, flirt, offer, off.
7 Down Jest with feathers brings a clampdown (9) → CRACKDOWN Charade
CRACK + DOWN.
9 Down Exasperation from tin, four arts, mixed up (11) → FRUSTRATION Anagram
Anagram of “tin four arts”.
13 Down Tidbits buried in tumors elsewhere (7) → MORSELS Hidden word
Hidden inside “tumors elsewhere”.
14 Down Marine mollusk from jumbled nab aloe (7) → ABALONE Anagram
Anagram of “nab aloe”.
16 Down Dizzy from overweight trapping trendy (5) → FAINT Container
IN inside FAT.
17 Down Message device from regarding opening, returning (5) → PAGER Reversal
RE GAP reversed.
How this puzzle was checked
Every clue in this crossword was verified against its own wordplay by
software, then the finished puzzle was read and edited by hand before
publication: definitions, indicators, enumerations and surface readings
all get looked at, and clues that don't hold up are rewritten. The
editorial standards set out what that
covers.
Spotted something wrong here? Email
badclues@decryptic.app and
this page will be corrected. See the
corrections policy.
