The solved grid
1P
A
2U
P
3E
R
S
4B
O
5M
B
6S
U
V
X
I
W
7T
R
U
M
P
U
8P
9P
O
S
S
E
A
L
L
A
U
H
D
10W
H
A
M
O
11R
U
M
M
A
G
E
A
R
A
I
P
Y
12D
E
A
D
L
O
C
K
S
13A
E
T
E
E
L
14D
I
M
M
I
N
G
15S
N
16A
R
L
E
A
O
A
T
L
A
17B
E
G
A
N
18L
O
O
K
I
N
G
U
O
N
B
O
19T
O
G
A
S
20S
E
E
K
I
N
G
Across
1 Across Poor people muddle a supper (7) → PAUPERS Anagram
Anagram of “a supper”.
4 Across Flops, even shells (5) → BOMBS Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
7 Across Fabricate time with backside up (5,2) → TRUMP UP Charade
T + RUMP + UP.
9 Across Sheriff's band model swallowing south (5) → POSSE Container
S inside POSE.
10 Across Presto! West's bad actor with nothing (5) → WHAMO Charade
W + HAM + O.
11 Across Drink with sorcerer to ransack (7) → RUMMAGE Charade
RUM + MAGE.
12 Across Shaken docks lead to stalemates (9) → DEADLOCKS Anagram
Anagram of “docks lead”.
14 Across Fading found in mad I'm mingling (7) → DIMMING Hidden word
Hidden inside “mad I'm mingling”.
15 Across Leaders of seven nasty angry rival lions growl (5) → SNARL Initialism
First letters of: seven, nasty, angry, rival, lions.
17 Across Started with head clutching gram (5) → BEGAN Container
G inside BEAN.
18 Across Gazing as lavatory and family get good (7) → LOOKING Charade
LOO + KIN + G.
19 Across Roman robes worn by crazy goats (5) → TOGAS Anagram
Anagram of “goats”.
20 Across Pursuing bishop's area with chess piece (7) → SEEKING Charade
SEE + KING.
Down
1 Down Veer with a ram rising to stow (3,4) → PUT AWAY Reversal
YAW A TUP reversed.
2 Down Throat dangler from starts of uncle visits university last autumn (5) → UVULA Initialism
First letters of: uncle, visits, university, last, autumn.
3 Down Old flame, quiet, behold allowance for survey (11) → EXPLORATION Charade
EX + P + LO + RATION.
5 Down Accidents as young lady holds onto luck (7) → MISHAPS Container
HAP inside MISS.
6 Down Was wed eventually concealing root vegetable (5) → SWEDE Hidden word
Hidden inside “was wed eventually”.
8 Down Standard beer and girl for lawyer's aide (9) → PARALEGAL Charade
PAR + ALE + GAL.
9 Down Volcanic rock from impetus once remodelled (6,5) → PUMICE STONE Anagram
Anagram of “impetus once”.
12 Down Rabble-rouser reworking god game (7) → DEMAGOG Anagram
Anagram of “god game”.
13 Down Excited returning in Hugo gallantly (3,4) → ALL AGOG Hidden backwards
Hidden backwards inside “Hugo gallantly”.
14 Down Liability embracing turn for first appearance (5) → DEBUT Container
U inside DEBT.
16 Down Excuse kept by canal ibis (5) → ALIBI Hidden word
Hidden inside “canal ibis”.
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.
