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Quite a bit of word searching today, especially in the NW. Is everyone aware you can often find hyphenated words on this site by adding 1 to the letter count? That's how I got 19a.

A meaning in 9a was new to me.

5d and 20a were neat.

Hi all. Enjoyed, though def on the harder side. I can’t parse 8D or 11D, though I’m sure the latter is clever. And shouldn’t 15 read “speeches”?
Thought 10A was clever.
Happy Sunday

Hi Barry,
8d parses 2,2 the first two are a two letter acronym, the second two are something you might say.

11d first two letters are party, then read the next four letters as 1,3, being top, then a 7 letter word missing the first letter.

11 - party = 1st 2 letters, top = next 4, then (final 6) a word for substantial less the w (for woman). * - band = definition; 2-letter expression for (sexual) appeal + 2 letters for "be quiet"

Am about 60% through. But also stuck on 11d. Think my 3rd word starts with a vowel, because of the crosser, but then I can't see how the second word in 11d would work in a phrase - given there's only two choices. Any other pointers for 11d, would be appreciated.

Crossed in the post Prospero! Thank you

Thanks, Jono & Prospero. All clear now

I must be out of practice, as I found this one rather hard. But finished it in two goes

After mulling for a couple of hours I'm still not entirely sure about 14d. Is 'down' really synonymous with the first word, or am I missing some other explanation?
A couple of suggestions for an alternative universe 19a and d:
I hear this is how you prepare Parmesan for a songbird
Gets a director general on the inside to make devices

Very good Phil! You should join the clue setting challenges on the forum - three each week… Clueless, Peer Review and Weekend Peer Review. They’re good fun.