The solved grid
1T
O
2P
I
3C
4A
N
5A
R
6C
H
7Y
U
S
L
M
A
I
8S
N
A
F
U
9C
L
E
A
N
S
E
S
L
T
O
N
O
L
10L
I
M
I
T
11M
A
S
O
N
E
D
E
I
E
M
D
12C
A
R
R
O
T
13T
O
14P
15W
T
U
L
A
16M
A
17F
I
18O
S
I
19R
O
A
D
S
A
I
N
O
M
Y
H
20S
T
E
P
S
O
N
21O
V
I
N
E
K
N
E
I
N
R
22S
E
D
A
T
E
S
23L
O
G
O
S
Across
1 Across Subject, optic scrambled (5) → TOPIC Anagram
Anagram of “optic”.
4 Across Lawlessness hidden in Milan arch yodel (7) → ANARCHY Hidden word
Hidden inside “Milan arch yodel”.
8 Across Mess, fauns run wild (5) → SNAFU Anagram
Anagram of “fauns”.
9 Across Roman hundred tips east to purify (7) → CLEANSE Charade
C + LEANS + E.
10 Across Restriction from note, mil, recalled (5) → LIMIT Reversal
TI MIL reversed.
11 Across Daemons, disturbed, built in stone (7) → MASONED Anagram
Anagram of “daemons”.
12 Across Redhead's incentive to surpass (6-3) → CARROT-TOP Charade
CARROT + TOP.
16 Across Mobsters buried backwards in Paris oi family (7) → MAFIOSI Hidden backwards
Hidden backwards inside “Paris oi family”.
19 Across Highways, rowdy officers arrest drunk suspects, initially (5) → ROADS Initialism
First letters of: rowdy, officers, arrest, drunk, suspects.
20 Across Pace ahead of boy for spouse's child (7) → STEPSON Charade
STEP + SON.
21 Across Sheep-like, love with climbing plant (5) → OVINE Charade
O + VINE.
22 Across Calms down, as steed bucks (7) → SEDATES Anagram
Anagram of “as steed”.
23 Across Brand symbols, diary entry, computer system (5) → LOGOS Charade
LOG + OS.
Down
1 Down Wrestled, hidden in cactus sledge (7) → TUSSLED Hidden word
Hidden inside “cactus sledge”.
2 Down Clamps I adjusted, hymn-like (7) → PSALMIC Anagram
Anagram of “Clamps I”.
3 Down Litter left in ship's boat (7) → CLUTTER Container
L inside CUTTER.
5 Down Diagram ensues, hiding affirmations (5) → AMENS Hidden word
Hidden inside “Diagram ensues”.
6 Down Church law is a big gun, by the sound of it (5) → CANON Homophone
Sounds like “cannon”.
7 Down Give way while delivering produce (5) → YIELD Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
9 Down Icon, moot, one thousand mixed up, uproar (9) → COMMOTION Anagram
Anagram of “icon moot m”.
13 Down Disorder from toil, rum jumbled (7) → TURMOIL Anagram
Anagram of “toil rum”.
14 Down Performing ballad within sharp ring (7) → PLAYING Container
LAY inside PING.
15 Down Sealing rings from tangled hawsers (7) → WASHERS Anagram
Anagram of “hawsers”.
16 Down Leaders of many angry sailors kept smiling, disguises (5) → MASKS Initialism
First letters of: many, angry, sailors, kept, smiling.
17 Down One held inside fend, a demon (5) → FIEND Container
I inside FEND.
18 Down Beginning lurks in upon settling (5) → ONSET Hidden word
Hidden inside “upon settling”.
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
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corrections policy.
