Boxing Day
Hello fellow-cruciverbalists. I hope you're enjoying the festive season.
We finished this deletionfest, but don't fully understand some of the answers. Please can anyone help with parsing the following?
23a: Really trying to ascend? (8,2)
STRAIGHT UP? What does it have to do with "trying"?
39a: Amid endless work, stir drink (11)
Looks like AMONTILLADO (a type of dry sherry). But why?
5d: Regulars in Athens unload lots including one mosaic (12)
TESSELLATION (= mosaic)? Regulars in Athens could be T E S, but how does the rest of it work?
9d: Swimmer - cheat - ultimately dropped back under record (7)
Could it be DOLPHIN (= swimmer)? Cheat could be DO; record could be LP - but what about the rest?
37d: Beer maker runs through mug and pitcher, sat on by bug? (11)
Looks like MICROBREWER (= beer maker). Bug could be MICROBE, runs could be R, and pitcher could be EWER - but how do we put them together?
All help gratefully received!