Crosaire No 17708 by Crossheir – Monday, October 18th, 2021

Blog explanations available at 10pm on the day of publication

Across:
8 Got along (MADE DO) with party (DO) after (= position indicator) hearing (= homophone indicator) hotel worker ('maid' = 'MADE') (MADE DO),

9 Contaminates (POLLUTES) with most (e) European (Pole) (‘Pole’ without ‘e’ = POL-) instruments that are no longer fashionable (-LUTES) (POLLUTES),

10 Set off strikes (‘set’ off ‘strikes’ = riks = RISK) with uncertainty (RISK),

11 The volume of the foreigners coming to Ireland (the volume/book of the foreigners ... = PHRASE BOOK) completely dismissed by the locals on a staycation (PHRASE BOOK)

READ MORE

12 Investigates (PROBES) The Last Word (postscript = P-S) over cover-up (-ROBE-) (PROBES),

14 Key (music key B-) in building (= anagram indicator) – ransack (ransack = SNACK -AR) (SNACK BAR) for fast food (SNACK BAR),

15 One of those taking a chance, on balance (TIGHTROPE WALKER), performing on The Wire (TIGHTROPE WALKER),

18 Setting up (= reverse indicator) racket (din = -NID-) in gangster’s organisation (Triad = TRI-AD) (TRINIDAD) from island (TRINIDAD),

20 After hours, cuts tofu (‘after hours’ cuts ‘tofu’ = aerhrs = RASHER) and piece of bacon (RASHER),

22 Employed by Stockholders’ (stock holders = stables employ STABLE LADS) Board (-TABLE) to find the French (the = LA-) diamonds (-D) in ship (SS = S- -S) (STABLE LADS),

24 Watering holes (BARS) for both sides at Battle of Poitiers (both sides at ‘BAttle of poitieRS’  = BARS),

25 Workers (men) heading off (m) (‘men’ without ‘m’ = EN-) for what sounds like (= homophone indicator) days (‘days’ = ‘daze’ = -TRANCE) (ENTRANCE) to lobby (lobby/way in = ENTRANCE),

26 Old (O-) biographies (-LIVES) (OLIVES) of those in the oil business (OLIVES).

Down:
1 Posing less difficulty (EASIER) for loner from Sierra Leone ('loner' from 'Sierra Leone' = sierae = EASIER),

2 Holding up the barbecue (DECK) with sides of devils on horseback (sides of ‘DEvils on horsebaCK’ = DECK),

3 Writer doing his writing in bars (COMPOSER) produced Morse cop (morse cop) novel (= anagram indicator) (morse cop = COMPOSER),

4 Cross Swords (SPAR) with those characters from drinks party (those characters from ‘drinkS PARty’ = SPAR),

5 State (ALASKA) of a (A-) petition (-ASK-) in American city  (LA = -L-A) (ALASKA),

6 More than shocked (NUMB-) by Halloween decorations (-SKULLS) (NUMBSKULLS) produced by deadheads? (NUMBSKULLS),

7 Look (DECOR-) at (-AT-) Oriental (East = -E) (DECORATE) paper (DECORATE),

13 Where you might find the publicans (BEHIND BARS) or corrupt landlords that have been put away? (landlords BEHIND BARS),

14 Serving up (= reverse indicator) hummus and salsa (dips = S-PID) around appetising starter  (‘Appetising’ starter = -A-) (SAPID) that’s tasty (SAPID),

16 Two of the Kings of Ireland (two Irish kings = Rí + Rí), one upset (= reversal indicator) (Rí = IR + Rí = RI = IRRI-) by heartless (u) taunt (‘taUnt’ without ‘u’ = -TANT) (IRRITANT) that’s a thorn in someone’s side (IRRITANT),

17 Study group (WORKSHOP) with Labour’s (labours = WORKS-) Spring (-HOP) (WORKSHOP),

19 Cutting out (dying) reports (= homophone indicator) (‘dying’ = ‘DYEING’) or adding a colourful feature (DYEING),

21 It’s lax from Alexander (‘lax’ from ‘Alexander’ = eander = EARNED) – a reputation perhaps acquired deservedly (EARNED),

23 Some revolutionary (= reverse indicator) renegade wasn’t (some revolutionary ‘renegaDE WAsn’t’ = dewa = AWED) lost for words (AWED),

24 Spot (pimple = BOIL) barrister (B-L) ringing to attract local attention (Oi! = -OI-) (BOIL).

IN THIS SECTION