Cryptic Crossword 1-38

Theme: None

Across:

1. Apparel model left for Cuba in beret (6)

Cloche, clothe (apparel), x left for y (replacement of x with y), so replace T (model) with C

(Cuba) in clothe, beret (def)

5. Metaphysical manifestation? (8)

Abstract, DD

9. Coming last, in spite of expectations to the contrary (5,3)

  After all, DD as in “coming last” or “in spite of expectations to the contrary.”

10. Tough to run with baton

   Ramrod, tough (def), ram (run), rod (baton)

11. Leaving Pluto perhaps for this Olympic activity (4-8)

   Pole-vaulting, perhaps (anagram of) “leaving Pluto”, rest is def.

13. Same/different table? (4)

   Mesa, different (anagram of) same, table (def)

14. Root in engineers’ difficulty to understand

   Register, gist (root), in (insertion), RE (engineers), er (difficulty), understand (def)

17. Consequence for pal (8)

   Backwash, implicit meta, consequence (def), pal (target), one way to get pal is via reversal    

   (back) of lap (wash)

18. Either way you look at it, it’s the same pop group (4)

   Abba, read front to back or back to front it’s the same.

20. First lecture leads to mix-up in, ME, CE, PH, IE, and introduction to sociology? (6,6)

   Maiden speech, first lecture (def), mix-up (anagram of) “ME, CE, PH, IE, and” + S

   (introduction to i.e., first letter in) sociology.

23. Sign a letter with prisoners’ symbol (6)

   Signal, symbol (def), prisoners (hidden), rest is fodder.

24. Amateur securing win, waltzed around high (8)

   Advanced, A (amateur), securing (insertion of) v (win) inside danced (waltzed), high (def)

25. Disturb peacekeepers with silence?

   Unsettle, disturb (def), UN (peacekeepers), settle (silence)

26. The best play of Friday’s game? That has to be when the coach essentially quit (3,3)

   Lay off, essentially (hidden), quit (def), rest is fodder.

Down:

2. 51’ climb (4)

Lift, Li (51), ft (‘, i.e., feet), climb (def)

3. Popular sailor or bum (9)

Cheapjack, cheap (popular), jack (sailor), bum (def)

4. Prepare for the return of the Spanish curse (6)

Enable, prepare (def), return (reversal of) El (the in Spanish) + bane (curse)

5. Help Val relocate properly from far and near (3, 4, 3, 5)

All over the place, properly (anagram of) “help Val relocate”, far and near (def)

6. Mooch urges con in trouble (8)

Scrounge, mooch (def), in trouble (anagram of) “urges con”.

7. Pay for the cast on hand (5)

Remit, pay (def), emit (cast), on (juxtaposition x on y => xy or yx), r (hand)

8. Top bowler from China? (5,5)

Crown derby, crown (top), derby (bowler), China (def)

12. Damages caused by missing the first of training (10)

   Reparation, damages (def), missing the first (delete the 1st letter in) preparation (training)

15. Sailor’s traditional song about blue hooch? (3,6)

   Sea shanty, Sailor’s traditional song (def), sea (blue), shanty (hooch).

16. Relative held in gulf permit trial (8)

   Gauntlet, aunt (relative), held in (insertion), G (gulf), let (permit), trial (def)

19. African wildcat found in Fraser valley in SW British Columbia (6)

   Serval, African wildcat (def), found in (hidden), rest is fodder.

21. Packed house adjacent to London area (5)

   Dense, packed (def), den (house), adjacent to (juxtaposition), SE (London area)

22. Free cycling on barrier e.g. (4)

   Reef, cycling (letter circulation of) free, barrier e.g. (def)