The solved grid
1B
I
2B
L
E
3R
A
4M
B
5L
E
6R
R
E
A
I
E
7E
R
R
O
8R
9C
L
I
M
B
O
N
A
Y
E
H
N
E
E
10K
I
L
O
S
11O
U
T
G
R
O
W
T
R
E
A
A
12S
13E
R
O
S
I
O
N
A
L
L
E
F
R
S
A
14R
E
F
R
A
C
T
15N
O
16I
R
17S
V
E
T
E
C
M
T
18I
T
C
H
I
E
R
19E
V
A
D
E
C
T
O
G
I
20E
S
S
E
N
C
E
21C
L
E
A
N
Across
1 Across Dribble catcher, left, east for holy book (5) → BIBLE Charade
BIB + L + E.
3 Across Right marble spilled for hiker (7) → RAMBLER Anagram
Anagram of “marble r”.
7 Across Writer Rory harbours slip (5) → ERROR Hidden word
Hidden inside “writer Rory”.
9 Across Swindle holding branch to board (5,2) → CLIMB ON Container
LIMB inside CON.
10 Across Sun, one, thousand returning weights (5) → KILOS Reversal
SOL I K reversed.
11 Across Get too big for absent, gram, spat (7) → OUTGROW Charade
OUT + G + ROW.
13 Across Of weathering, Cupid with particle, ace, litre (9) → EROSIONAL Charade
EROS + ION + A + L.
14 Across Umpire, right, play to deflect (7) → REFRACT Charade
REF + R + ACT.
15 Across Tops of nasty office intrigue, rival spies for gloomy thrillers (5) → NOIRS Initialism
First letters of: nasty, office, intrigue, rival, spies.
18 Across Crave, one, hesitation, more scratchy (7) → ITCHIER Charade
ITCH + I + ER.
19 Across Night before holding advert to dodge (5) → EVADE Container
AD inside EVE.
20 Across Wrecked scenes, east, extract (7) → ESSENCE Anagram
Anagram of “scenes e”.
21 Across Hundred, thin, spotless (5) → CLEAN Charade
C + LEAN.
Down
1 Down Nose gripping right, rest (5) → BREAK Container
R inside BEAK.
2 Down Gem in amber ylang (5) → BERYL Hidden word
Hidden inside “amber ylang”.
4 Down Upkeep alimony (11) → MAINTENANCE Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
5 Down Generous, rising in flare bills (7) → LIBERAL Hidden backwards
Hidden backwards inside “flare bills”.
6 Down Revival found in spare new ale (7) → RENEWAL Hidden word
Hidden inside “spare new ale”.
8 Down Reinstatement of mangled iron toaster (11) → RESTORATION Anagram
Anagram of “iron toaster”.
9 Down Singer within much or is terse (9) → CHORISTER Hidden word
Hidden inside “much or is terse”.
12 Down Ritual favour (7) → SERVICE Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
13 Down Outcomes belongings (7) → EFFECTS Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
16 Down Picture, that is, round glossy (5) → IMAGE Container
MAG inside IE.
17 Down Mug from hearts of easel, otter, sheep, hairy pines (5) → STEIN Middle letters
Middle letters of: easel, otter, sheep, hairy, pines.
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.
