Crosaire No 16822 by Crossheir – Monday, December 10th, 2018

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

8 Best offer (best offer = BO-) for mature wine, for instance (aged = -DEGA), knocked over (= reversal indicator) (BODEGA) by a Rioja producer (BODEGA),

9 Intense dislike of (LOATHING) Goliath (Goliath = LOATHI-G) confused (= anagram indicator) over final confrontation (final ‘confrontation’ = -N-) (LOATHING),

10 Pretender (FAKE) gets to speak for missing pros (‘speak for’ missing ‘pros’ = eakf = FAKE),

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11 Afterwards (LAT- -ER), caught Clio, for one (Clio, one of the Muses = muse), reversing (= reversal indicator) (muse = -E SUM-) on motorway (-M-) (LATE SUMMER) in August (LATE SUMMER),

12 Tried (HAD A GO) to hold-up first (‘hold-up’ first = H-) bill (-AD-) from government lawyer (attorney general = -A G-) and it came to nothing (-O) (HAD A GO),

14 Ran to men (ran to men = ORNAMENT) working (= anagram indicator) in The Cabinet (ORNAMENT),

15 Mini (DRESS) show trials perhaps (REHEARSALS) (DRESS REHEARSALS) for those in various outfits preparing to make a play at this stage (DRESS REHEARSALS),

18 Opening for The Aviator (AIRSPACE) – broadcasts (AIRS-) from March (march = -PACE) (AIRSPACE),

20 Type of fence (PICKET fence) useful to those in 25 across (PICKET useful to those ‘on strike’),

22 It’s breathtaking (INHALATION) for one (I-) hothead (‘hot’ head = -H-) in national (national = -N-ALATION) struggle (= anagram indicator) (INHALATION),

24 Fragment of dogma technically (fragment of ‘dogma technically’ = MATE) derived from partner (MATE),

25 Position batsman takes perhaps (batsman facing bowler is “on strike” = ON STRIKE) is not working (ON STRIKE),

26 Stems from investments (‘stems’ from ‘investments’ = invent = INVENT) by design (INVENT).

Down:

1 Hub off the autobahns (‘hub’ off the ‘autobahns’ = atoans = SONATA) coming from the concert hall (SONATA),

2 Goes around getting the job done (‘getting the job done’ = GENE) – it’s a character builder (GENE),

3 Has a fair share of knockers (HALL DOOR) standing in front of The House (HALL DOOR),

4 Reviews (= reversal indicator) part of the hospital faculty (part of the ‘hospital faculty’ = talf  = FLAT) where the nurses might be sharing (FLAT),

5 Leader of the mob (D-ON) conceals a (-A-) manuscript (-MS-) (DAMSON) by Deep Purple (DAMSON),

6 When other team (THEM-) at the end of the game (end of ‘game’ = -E) score (MUSIC) (THEME MUSIC), they play this at the start of Match of the Day (THEME MUSIC),

7 Recruit (INTERN-) a (-A-) novice (learner = -L) (INTERNAL) in-house (INTERNAL),

13 Aid (ASSIST-) workers (-ANTS) (ASSISTANTS) are not managing but might in the future (ASSISTANTS),

14 Hate leaving each other (‘hate’ leaving ‘each other’ = echor = OCHRE) in the autumnal shade (OCHRE),

16 What’s the main man in The Palace doing (REIGNING) with ginger in (ginger in = REIGNING) brew? (= anagram indicator),

17 One may have to have it out (APPENDIX) in the book (APPENDIX),

19 Bill (AD-) is at the bar (Attorney General = -AG-) before ten (10 = -IO) (ADAGIO) – that’s slow for a musician (ADAGIO),

21 The Chair’s (seating) lost the head (s) (‘seating’ without ‘s’ = EATING) and it’s all consuming perhaps (EATING),

23 Aide-de-camp camped out (‘aide-de-camp’ ‘camped’ out = aide = IDEA)– someone with notions/ideas came up with that! (IDEA),

24 Inspire (MOVE) change of direction by the bishop on the board (change of direction by the bishop on the chess board = MOVE).