Crosaire No 16913 by Crossheir – Friday, March 29th, 2019

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

8 Not a large (MEDIUM) person sent for the messages (MEDIUM),

9 Ran wings (ran wings = WARNINGS) badly (= anagram indicator) getting a number of cautions (WARNINGS),

10 Donald (Donald DUCK) is out for nothing in particular (cricket out for nothing/nought = DUCK),

11 Stories ire (stories ire = ROTISSERIE) butchers (= anagram indicator) specialising in roasting cuts of meats (ROTISSERIE),

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12 Ship (VESSEL) liar out of Versailles (‘liar’ out of ‘Versailles’ = vesles = VESSEL),

14 Run away (TURN TAIL) from convert, spy (convert spy = TURN) and detective (TAIL) (TURN TAIL),

15 Put on one’s guard by sportsmanship (GIVE FAIR WARNING) in 24 across (‘give’ = GIVE) impartial (FAIR) to most of 9 across (most of ‘warnings’ = WARNING) (GIVE FAIR WARNING),

18 Typical case (INSTANCE) of popular (IN-) attitude (-STANCE) (INSTANCE),

20 Wild (= anagram indicator) nectar (nectar = CRETAN) from a foreign island (CRETAN),

22 Points out problems (CRITICISES) to one (-I-) jerk (-TIC-) in major emergencies (CR-ISES) (CRITICISES),

24 Be generous (GIVE) to some revolutionary (= reversal indicator), authoritative vignette (some ‘authoritative vignette’ = evig = GIVE),

25 Most likely to get all steamed up (ANGRIEST) moving (= anagram indicator) inert gas (inert gas = ANGRIEST),

26 Lift lid off (d) casual drugs (‘downers’ without ‘d’ = OWNERS) for those legally in possession (OWNERS).

Down:

1 Be on the safe side (SECURE) with breakdown (= anagram indicator) rescue (rescue = SECURE),

2 Part of the column (DISK) is kid’s (kids = DISK) play (= anagram indicator),

3 Handy personal cover (UMBRELLA) is something to put away for a rainy day (UMBRELLA),

4 Powerful blow (SWAT) found in Washington’s Watergate (found in ‘Washington’s Watergate’ SWAT),

5 For removing the flaws, on paper (ERASER), of Harris Tweed with no width (‘Harris Tweed’ with no ‘width’ = arrsee = ERASER),

6 Old writer (Dante = D-ANTE) welcomes novel (= anagram indicator) title (title = -ILETT) (DILETTANTE) produced by one with superficial knowledge (DILETTANTE),

7 This will give you a start (IGNITION) or get you fired? (IGNITION),

13 Top actress (top actress = SPECTATORS) playing (= anagram indicator) to the audience (SPECTATORS),

14 Slice of dessert or tea brack (slice of ‘dessert or tea brack’ = TORTE) or rich cake (TORTE),

16 Unaware (IGNORANT) of upsetting (= reversal indicator) soldier (GI = IG-) by bringing up (= reversal indicator) broadcast (on = -NO-) with the sound off? (sound off = -RANT) (IGNORANT),

17 Forerunner (ANCESTOR) of crest on a (crest on a = ANCESTOR) dress (= anagram indicator),

19 McKinley releases my (‘McKinley’ ‘ releases ‘my’ = ckinle = NICKEL) overseas capital (US five-cent coin = NICKEL),

21 Sets up (= reversal indicator) last shot (last ‘shot’ = -T) for a couple of fathers (Rev + Da = revda = ADVER-) (ADVERT) in commercial (ADVERT),

23 Puts the building blocks in place (SETS) as witnessed in court (SETS witnessed in tennis court),

24 Warm (snug = GUNS) review (= reversal indicator) of pieces (GUNS).