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plutocrat

23rd November 2025, 00:15
My browser is displaying the crossword without word counts, which makes things a bit tricky. I copied these from the PDF version. All others are single words.
Across
8 Detective’s helper having gang sign; family’s worried (10,5)
16 Explain away, before stint of bowling, England’s third defeat (5,4)
21 Confronted with a puzzle - for no monetary gain (2,1,4)
22 Small, almost bald, with dignity regularly stripped, that man: tell-tale treacherer (5,2,3,5)

Down
3 Exhibits floors (4,3)
7 Besides a balloon (2,4)
9 Spicy mix: Frenchmen embraced by Australians: sadly, tabloid up for describing them? (5,6)
10 Dancer crashed a van twice; Opel (not electric) (4,7)
16 Adult joke, curt oath, good to recall (5-2)
17 For fun, circle that guy that’s eaten pasty up (2,1,4)
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brendan

23rd November 2025, 00:45
Hi Plutocrat,

Same here. It's a bit of a good news bad news situation: the puzzle is out early but you have to count the number of letters yourself and make a best guess at word count.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy this and would definitely recommend it.

There's a rhyming pair that might prove helpful, hiddens, acronyms (that's not a spoiler, the first word of the clue is actually "acronymic") - although I did have to look up its meaning and, of course, a healthy dose of anagrams.

COD: I'm going for 8a closely followed by 22a and 24a.

Thanks to Everyman for a great way to kick off Sunday.

Stay safe:-)
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darla

23rd November 2025, 03:56
Thanks, plutocrat. That was helpful.

I had to look up 9, and I still don't have an explanation for 4. Other than that, fairly standard Everyman. But re 20, too early for Christmas.
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brendan

23rd November 2025, 04:11
Hi Darla, 4d or 4a, perhaps I can give you a hint?
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clarkgwent

23rd November 2025, 04:11
Re 4. I didn't either until I read it upwards
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clarkgwent

23rd November 2025, 04:14
Ignore this I misread!
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brendan

23rd November 2025, 05:09
Good news for later solvers is the missing letter and word counts have now been added.
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jono

23rd November 2025, 06:09
Very good I thought. The crossing 4a/4d were my LOIs, both good clues when the tuppence drops.

No technical issues today for us “later solvers” which was a welcome change.
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phil10000

23rd November 2025, 08:05
Not sure 1A entirely works - 'lying' doesn't seem to signify anything.
Similarly, aren't we missing some company in 11A?
Otherwise, though, loved the rhyming pair, but 4D/4A have to be the standouts. Both brilliant.
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brendan

23rd November 2025, 08:11
Hi Phil,

1a - the "lying about" signifies that "the French" is reversed, I think.
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