Crosaire No 17145 by Crossheir – Friday, December 27th, 2019

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

8 Commentators dismiss Castro (‘commentators’ dismiss ‘Castro’ = omment = MOMENT) for short time (for the MOMENT),

9 Private (PERSONAL) trains (= anagram indicator) or planes (or planes = PERSONAL)

10 Matt (DULL) sides with Duke of Argyll (sides with ‘DUke of ArgyLL’  = DULL),

READ MORE

11 Cite a visit (cite a visit) planned (= anagram indicator) (cite a visit = ACTIVITIES) with things to do (ACTIVITIES),

12 Fit in (BELONG) with a follower (‘a’ follower = B-), for example (e.g. = -E-G), consuming port (port/left = -L-) that’s not off (not off is ‘on’ = -ON-) (BELONG),

14 Monitor (OBSERVE-) resistance (-R) (OBSERVER) from witness (OBSERVER),

15 Briefly loses it (MOMENT OF MADNESS) in 8 across (‘moment’ = MOMENT) going around (O-) France (-F) – a state of confusion (MADNESS) (MOMENT OF MADNESS),

18 Funny (STRANGE-) writing (from 3Rs = -R) (STRANGER) in The Outsider (STRANGER),

20 Got a flavour of (TASTED) oils no longer in solid state (‘oils’ no longer in ‘solid state’ = dstate = TASTED),

22 Still (MOTIONLESS) got nothing to raise at the meeting? (no motion = MOTIONLESS),

24 Brunette left Buster Keaton (‘brunette’ left ‘Buster Keaton’ = skao = SOAK) to relax in the bath (SOAK),

25 Criminal (= anagram indicator) snipers (snipers = PRIN-ESS) caught (-C-) inside (PRINCESS) might still have a shot at the monarchy perhaps? (PRINCESS),

26 Did some pressing work (IRONED) for Oscar (-O-) in new (= anagram indicator) diner (diner = IR-NED) (IRONED).

Down:

1 Sound (VOLUME) of the bookmaker (VOLUME),

2 Put in the picture (TELL) on both sides of ten dollar bill (on both sides of ‘TEn dollar biLL’ = TELL),

3 Frank (STRAIGHT) Blunt? (STRAIGHT),

4 Catch sight of (SPOT) The Borders’ tourist traps (the borders ‘TOurist traPS’ = tops) coming back (= reversal indicator) (tops = SPOT),

5 Finishing beer (finishing ‘beeR’ = -R-) in seedy bar (D-IVE-), skinhead (‘Skin’ head = -S) (DRIVES) takes to the road (DRIVES),

6 The types likely to walk all over (FOOTPRINTS) part of crime scene that the police consider as evidence (FOOTPRINTS),

7 Casual (CARELESS) mini (CAR-) with elegant top (‘Elegant’ top = -E-) is reduced (-LESS) (CARELESS),

13 Into (into = -TION-) pop? (= anagram indicator) Consumed by musical dramas? (operas =  (OPERA-S) (OPERATIONS) You’ll see these all in the theatre! (OPERATIONS),

14 Proposal (OFFER) for volunteer? (OFFER),

16 A way (away = OUT-) for opening (-DOOR-) beers at the foundation (‘beerS’ at the foundation = -S) (OUTDOORS) exposed to the elements (OUTDOORS),

17 Creative (ARTISTIC) awful (= anagram indicator) racist (racist = ARTIS-C) admits twisting (= reversal indicator) it (it = -TI-) (ARTISTIC),

19 Take sign from sniggering (take ‘sign’ from ‘sniggering’ = gering= GINGER) local red head (GINGER),

21 Cleared (ERASED) out of Red Sea (red sea) craft (= anagram indicator) (red sea = ERASED),

23 Is not demanding (is EASY) a piece of cake (EASY),

24 Outlet (SHOP) for posh (posh) model (= anagram indicator) (posh = SHOP).