Crosaire No 16572 by Crossheir – Wednesday, February 21st, 2018

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:

8 Where one may paint a picture (STUDIO) of where someone is living (STUDIO),

9 Discovers (UNEARTHS) a hunter’s (a hunters = UNEARTHS) mobile (= anagram indicator),

10 Part of backlog repudiated (part of ‘backlog repudiated’ = OGRE) by pantomime villain (OGRE),

11 Ransom fees (ransom fees  = FREEMASONS) negotiated (= anagram indicator) by secret society (FREEMASONS),

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12 Use an (use an = NAUSE-) ingredient (= anagram indicator) to find a (-A) (NAUSEA) feeling of sickness (NAUSEA),

14 They take flight (RUNAWAYS) from strip (RUN-WAY-) around a (-A-) school (-S) (RUNAWAYS),

15 Produces music (WHISTLE -) at bar (bar/ban = - STOP) for soldiers dutifully going overseas (TOUR of duty) (WHISTLE-STOP TOUR) for a quick overview of the local attractions (WHISTLE-STOP TOUR),

18 To go hell for leather (FLY) after (= positional indicator) being in a jam (FRUIT) (FRUIT FLY) can be a pest on a date (FRUIT FLY is a pest on a date/fruit),

20 Repeated (ECHOED) to the local paper (ECHO-) journalist (-ED) (ECHOED),

22 Excited (TITILLATED) by a little (a little = -TILLATE-) redevelopment (= anagram indicator) in revolutionary (= reversal indicator) institute (Dublin Institute of Technology = DIT = TI-D) (TITILLATED),

24 Takeaway (take away/deduct = DOCK) in harbour (DOCK),

25 Showing off  (= anagram indicator) nudity is (nudity is = DISUNITY) causing friction (DISUNITY),

26 Muscles (BICEPS) in on state (= homophone indicator) seafood (“mussels” = “muscles” = BICEPS).

Down:

1 Pragmatist will have no part (‘pragmatist’ will have no ‘ part’ = gmaist = STIGMA) in disgraceful sign (STIGMA),

2 Some old-fashioned general (some ‘old-fashioned general’ = EDGE) has the advantage (has the EDGE),

3 Of course (GOLF BALL), the swingers address this (GOLF BALL),

4 Sides with Jules Verne (sides with ‘Jules Verne’ = JUNE) during the summer (JUNE),

5 Never mind some characters concealed (‘never mind’ some characters concealed = VERMIN) the pests (VERMIN),

6 Joint (WRIST) taken by spy (-WATCH) (WRISTWATCH) presumably passes the time (WRISTWATCH),

7 Whip (= anagram indicator) out hanky (out hanky = THANK YOU), as it shows some gratitude (THANK YOU),

13 Dishonest-looking (SUSPICIOUS) suspect (SUSPICIOUS),

14 Dodgy (RISKY) teacher (sir = RIS-) goes back (= reversal indicator) to Kerry (-KY) (RISKY),

16 Dreadful (HORRIFIC) Irish men (Irish ‘men’ = fir = -RIF-) going around (= reversal indicator) in travelling (= anagram indicator) choir (choir = HOR-IC) (HORRIFIC),

17 Need to pay (OWE A DEBT) Jones’ partner (Dow Jones) heading off (‘Dow’ without ‘d’ = OW-) to prepare (= anagram indicator) debate (debate = E A DEBT) (OWE A DEBT),

19 Offend (off end = F-) in a bad way (-ILL) at home (IN) (FILL IN) under study? (understudy = FILL IN),

21 This is two points, in one sense (two compass points = east + south = E+S = ES-), followed by a third in a different sense? (point/headland = -CAPE) (ESCAPE) Getaway! (ESCAPE),

23 Upbeat leaving beauty spot (‘upbeat’ leaving ‘beauty spot’ = ysot = TOYS) popular with number of children (TOYS),

24 Passage (DUCT) from document dismisses The Omen (‘document’ dismisses the ‘omen’ = dcut = DUCT).

crosswordeditor@irishtimes.com