Cryptic Crossword 1-39

Theme: None

 Across:

8. Implore an intellectual novice (8)

Beginner, beg (implore), inner (intellectual), novice (def)

9. Head journalist recalled (6)

Minded, mind (head), ED (journalist), recalled (def)

10. Barely right (4)

   Just, DD

11. After losing love, an unorthodox votary got into a scrap over the tip (5,5)

   Gravy train, losing (deletion of) O (love) from unorthodox (anagram of) votary, got into

      (insertion), grain (scrap), tip (def)

12. Sound of 17 to attract model without getting caught? (3-3)

   Rat-tat, sound of 17 i.e., knocker (def), model (anagram of) attract, without getting (deletion

   of) c (caught).

14. Upset at undisguised casket? (8)

   Overturn, upset (def), overt (undisguised), urn (casket)

15. A free standing abstract structure in style of mobile but rigid/stationary yet sturdy, seen

   around Italy (7)

   Stabile, “A free standing ... stationary” (def), stable (sturdy), seen around (container), I

   (Italy)

17. Breast critic? (7)

   Knocker, DD

20.  This type of punch in boxing is the topmost offense (8)

   Uppercut, type of punch in boxing (def), upper (topmost), cut (offense)

22. Blew off prison? Not an odd trend (6)

   Jilted, blew off (def), jail (prison), not (delete) a (an), ted (odd letters in trend)

23. 360-degree kayak manoeuvre at sea kills Romeo (6,4)

   Eskimo roll, 360-degree kayak manoeuvre (def), at sea (anagram of) “kills Romeo”

24. Leaders fight over criminal incarceration centers (4)

   Foci, leaders (first letters in) “fight over criminal incarceration”, centers (def)

25. Maiden followed by a crushing sixer led to soirees (6)

   Mixers, M (maiden), followed by (juxtaposition), crushing (anagram of) sixer, soirees (def)

26. Ask Flip about his introduction to container for personal supply of spirits on the go (3,5)

   Hip flask, about (anagram of) “ask Flip” + introduction to (1st letter in) his, rest is def.

Down:

1. Contrary take on American worker (8)

Recusant, contrary (def), rec (take), on (juxtaposition), US (American), ant (worker)

2. Bottom line? Put soldier on street (4)

Gist, bottom line (def), GI (soldier), on (juxtaposition), St (street)

3. Dictator’s black horse (6)

Knight, dictator’s (homophone of) night (dark), horse (def as in chess game)

4. Massacre at Oregon state university, shakes one’s belief in Almighty (7)

Creator, in (hidden), almighty (def), rest is fodder.

5. Rotten men repay for bliss (8)

Empyrean, rotten (anagram of) “men repay”, bliss (def)

6. Innocent reviewer captured by international gangster (10)

Uncritical, innocent (def), critic (reviewer), captured by (insertion), UN (international), Al

(gangster)

7. First person in rhythm has the thing (6)

   Métier, I (first person), in (insertion), meter (rhythm), thing (def)

13. Suitable range in vacuous yellowish-brown color for napery (5,5)

   Table linen, able (suitable), line (range), in (insertion), vacuous (delete middle letters in) tan

   (yellowish brown color), napery (def)

16. Game where the Spanish betray the English (8)

   Lacrosse, game (def), La (the in Spanish), cross (betray), E (English)

18. Difficulty getting into tax practice (8)

   Exercise, er (difficulty), getting into (insertion), excise (tax), practice (def)

19. Decline an award (7)

   Atrophy, decline (def), a (an), trophy (award)

21. Transmit instant messages here and there (6)

   Passim, pass (transmit), IM (instant messages), here and there (def)

22. Japanese carrier’s operation yard for Junker (6)

   Jalopy, JAL (Japanese carrier), op (operation), y (yard), Junker (def)

24. Saw segment of documentary based on Eiffel tower (4)

   Felt, saw (def), segment of (hidden), rest is fodder.