‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 799 – March 2, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

8ac   GUTTED  
Gutted = bitterly disappointed & fish is prepared        (a double definition clue)

9ac   HOW’S THAT  
How’s that = what’s your opinion & a bowler’s appeal [in cricket]       (a double definition clue)

10ac   BLATHERS   (talks)
Blathers;  ‘L’ [apprentice] in ‘bathers’ [togs]           (a container clue, pointer being ’in’)

11ac   NOGGIN  
Noggin = the head & a little alcohol        (a double definition clue)

12ac   REPORT   (assessment)
Found within the words ‘meagre portions’         (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

13ac   LEFTOVER   (superfluous)
Left = port, over = finished         (a charade clue)

15ac   REPENTS   (laments)
Anagram of ‘present’          (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

17ac   CURFEWS   (time limits)
Curfews;  ‘curs’ [mongrels] around ‘few’ [some]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘get around’)

20ac   PLAY BALL   (co-operate)
Play = dramatic work, ball = dance      (dance after the dramatic work)       (a charade clue)

22ac   DAHLIA   (garden flower)
Anagram of ‘Ali had’          (anagram pointer being ‘hybridised’)

23ac   HOBNOB   (socialise)
Hob = pixie, nob = bigwig          (a charade clue)

25ac   STRUMPET   (hussy)
S = first letter of ‘school’, trumpet = musical instrument       (a charade clue)

26ac   PACK MULE   (an ass)
Pack = rugby forwards, mule = drug smuggler     (drug smuggler following the rugby forwards)    (a charade clue)

27ac   EARWAX   (a possible hearing problem)
Anagram of ‘aware’ & x [ten]          (anagram pointer being ‘affected)

Down clues:

1d  BULLSEYE   (a sweet)
Bulls = Manawatū-Whanganui town, eye = look     (look after Manawatū-Whanganui town)         (a charade clue)

2d  STATIONERY   (calendars)
Sounds like stationary [still]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘read aloud’)

3d  ADVENT   (arrival)
Ad = commercial, vent = flue         (a charade clue)

4d  THISTLE   (a Californian or Scotch perhaps)
This = this, t = first letter of ‘team’, le = ‘the’ in French     (the French following this …)    (a charade clue)

5d  SWINE FLU   (a disease)
Swine = scoundrel, flu sounds like ‘flew’ [went by air]         (a charade clue with a homophone)

6d  STAG   (kind of party)
Found in the initial letters of ‘seems twice as good’         (an initial letters clue, pointer being ‘at first’)

7d  MARINE   (soldier)
Anagram of ‘remain’          (anagram pointer being ‘upset’)

14d  OFF THE MARK  
Off the mark = made a start & not on target         (a double definition clue)

16d  TEAL BLUE   (a shade)
Teal = duck, blue = unhappy      (unhappy following the duck)       (a charade clue)

18d  WHINERAY   (an All Black captain)
Whine = grumble, ray = fish    (unhappy over the fish, a down clue)     (a charade clue)

7d  SLASHED   (cut)
Slashed;  ‘ash’ [tree] inside ‘sled’ [sleigh]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

14d  LOOFAH   (a bathroom item)
Loof = ‘fool’ [dope] upwards [a down clue], ah = first letters of ‘after hours’     (a charade clue with a reversal)

16d  DARKEN   (add more shading)
Darken;  ‘ark’ [boat] inside ‘den’ [study]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

18d  NIKE   (a Greek deity)
Ni = first letters of ‘nose into, ke = last letters of ‘track shoe’         (a charade clue with initial letters and last letters)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 798 – February 24, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

9ac   TOUCHING  
Touching = making contact & poignant        (a double definition clue)

10ac   SCULLING  
Sculling = rowing & having a drink            (a double definition clue)

11ac   COWBOY   (wrangler)
Cow = frighten, boy = child           (a charade clue)

12ac   HINDER   (impede)
Found within the words ‘within Derby’             (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

13ac   NEEDLESS   (unnecessary)
Anagram of ‘sends Lee’          (anagram pointer being ‘anyway’)

15ac   UNCLEAR   (vague)
Uncle = pawnbroker, ar = first letters of ‘abuse rights’           (a charade clue with initial letters)

17ac   INANELY   (foolishly)
Anagram of ‘Yale inn’          (anagram pointer being ‘redesign’)

20ac   SWAYBACK   (horse’s deformity)
S = first letter of ‘suspected’, wayback = long ago        (a charade clue)

22ac   OBJECT   (protest)
‘Ive’ removed from the end of ‘objective’ [goal]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘dropped off’)

23ac   ASPIRE   (hanker)
Anagram of ‘praise’          (anagram pointer being ‘in a bad way’)

25ac   PICK-ME-UP   (a fillip)
Pick-me-up;  ‘pick-up’ [truck] around ‘me’          (a container clue, pointer being ‘carrying’)

26ac   RESETTLE   (move)
Re = engineers, settle = bench     (bench behind the engineers)          (a charade clue)

27ac   REEFER  
Reefer = a jacket & dope              (a double definition clue)

Down clues:

1d   FRICTION   (conflict)
Friction; ‘fiction’ [literary work] around ‘r’ [first letter of ‘Russian’] (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

2d   DILLY-DALLY   (dawdle)
Dill = fool, yd = yard, ally = friend        (fool a yard ahead of the friend)        (a charade clue)

3d   UGLIER   (less attractive)
Ugli = fruit, er = Queen Elizabeth          (Queen Elizabeth after fruit)         (a charade clue)

4d   STAGING   (arranging)
Staging;  ‘gin’ [alcohol] inside ‘stag’ [male event’]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

5d   PUNCHEON   (cask)
Punch = strike, eon = a long time        (a charade clue)

6d   CHOW  
Chow = food & a dog         (a double definition clue)

7d   ENVOYS   (messengers)
Anagram of ‘nosey’ & ‘v’ [five]          (anagram pointer being ‘incredibly’)

14d   LONG JUMPER   (athlete)
Long = prolonged, jumper = sweater           (a charade clue)

16d   AMARETTO   (liqueur)
Am = in the morning, a = a, retto = ‘otter’ [river mammal] backwards          (a charade clue with a reversal)

18d   LECTURES   (speeches)
Anagram of ‘cruelest’          (anagram pointer being ‘form of’)

19d   SKIPPER   (master)
S = first letter of ‘steam’, kipper = fish       (a charade clue) 

21d   WASHER  
Play on words/double definition;  washer = a home appliance & the nut is next to this [the washer]

22d   OCCURS   (happens)
Oc = ‘company’ upwards [a down clue], curs = dogs          (a charade clue with a reversal)

24d   IDEA   (concept)
Id = last letters of ‘Kapiti Island, ea = first letters of enquire about’          (a charade clue with last letters and initial letters)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 797 – February 17, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

7ac   TAPIR   (hoofed mammal)
Anagram of ‘prat’ & ‘i’ [one]             (anagram pointer being ‘spoiled’)

8ac   SUPER BOWL   (American championship)
Super = ‘p’ [quietly] removed form ‘supper’ [meal], bowl = dish       (a charade clue with a deletion)

10ac   PACKET  
Packet = a fortune & a boat           (a double definition clue)

11ac   LOTHARIO   (ladies’ man)
Anagram of ‘Horatio’ & ‘L’ [left]             (anagram pointer being ‘upset’)

12ac   NOWADAYS   (in these times)
Anagram of ‘Dons away’             (anagram pointer being ‘by arrangement’)

13ac   HIDE  
Hide = disguise & leather           (a double definition clue)

15ac   VILLAGE   (settlement)
Village;  ‘vile’ [despicable] around ‘lag’ [convict]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘imprisoning’)

16ac   ABALONE   (seafood)
Ab = sailor, alone = one one’s tod      (one one’s tod after the sailor)           (a charade clue)

19ac   SCAT  
Scat = quickly leave & droppings           (a double definition clue)

21ac   ESSAYIST   (a writer)
Essay = try, i = one, st = saint           (a charade clue)

23ac   LYING LOW   (keeping out of sight)
Lying = telling untruths, low = sad        (sad after telling untruths)         (a charade clue)

24ac   EMBERS   (evidence of fire)
Found within the words ‘December survey’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘found in’)

25ac   POPPY SHOW   (glimpse of the bloomers [knickers])
Play on word; a poppy show is at a flower exhibition)

26ac   TURNS   (spins)
Anagram of ‘runts’         (anagram pointer being ‘around’)

Down clues:

1d   CATATONIC   (in a stupor)
Cat = maybe Garfield, a = a, tonic = pick-me-up       (a charade clue)

2d   SICK CALL   (a doctor’s visit)
Sick = tasteless, call = phone conversation          (a charade clue)

3d   CUTLASS   (a blade)
Cut = nick, girl = lass          (a charade clue)

4d   BEAT THE BUSHES   (search everywhere)
Beat = assault, the = the, bushes = American president’s family          (a charade clue)

5d   ABOARD   (on the train)
Aboard;  ‘ad’ [advertisement] around ‘boar’ [swine]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘includes’)

6d   TWAIN  
Twain = Mark Twain & two     (a double definition clue)

9d   STRAIGHT FLUSH   (card hand)
Straight = neat, flush = go red       (go red following the neat …)        (a charade clue)

14d   ON A STRING   (under complete control)
Play on words/double definition;  on a string = where you’ll find the puppet

17d   LAYABOUT   (loafer)
Lay = song, about = concerning         (a charade clue)

18d   REDWOOD   (part of Christchurch)
Red = embarrassed, wood = deal      (embarrassed over the deal)      (a charade clue)

20d   CANOPY   (awning)
Anagram of ‘company’ without ‘m’ [Bond’s boss]        (anagram pointer being ‘distressed’)

22d   BYRON   (English poet)
Anagram of ‘born’ & ‘y’ [end of ‘July’]         (anagram pointer being ‘deformed’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 796 – February 10, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   WINTON   (in Southland)
‘S’ [first letter of ‘sprinkler’] removed from ‘winston’ [Winston Peters]        (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘dropped’)

4ac   ROASTS   
Roasts = criticises & joints        (a double definition clue)

8ac   UPRIGHT  
Upright = just & vertical            (a double definition clue)

9ac   DECAMPS   (absconds)
Anagram of ‘campbeds without ‘b’ [first letter of ‘bounce’]             (anagram pointer being ‘makeshift’)

11ac   SMEAR TEST   (medical check)
Smear test;  smartest [cleverest] around ‘e’ [eastern]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘getting round’)

12ac   DROP  
Drop in = to visit & drop off = to fall asleep           (a same word, different adverb clue)

13ac   MATAI   (conifer)
Ma = mother, ta = thanks, i = one           (a charade clue)

14ac   SINGLETS   (clothing items)
Singlets;  ‘sings’ [tells all] around ‘let’ [poor service]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

16ac   BASEMENT   (cellar)
Base = immoral, men = guys, t = first letter of ‘trash’       (a charade clue)

18ac   WIPED   (sponged)
Anagram of ‘pew I’d’              (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

20ac   TWEE   (quaint)
Last letter removed from ‘tweed’ [cloth]           (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘shortened’)

21ac   PREVALENT   (widespread)
Prevalent;  ‘prevent’ [avoid] around ‘al’ [aluminium]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘holding’)

23ac   WITHERS  
Withers = part of the horse & shrivels         (a double definition clue)

24ac   STAY PUT   (don’t move)
Stay = guy [guy rope], put = last letter removed from ‘putt’         (a charade clue with a deletion)

25ac   ERNEST   (Mr Rutherford)
Sounds like ‘earnest’ [serious]          (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘pronounced’)

26ac   PEDDLE   (flog)
Sounds like ‘pedal’ [part of the organ]           (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘audibly’)

Down clues:

1d   WIPES   (cleaning cloths)
Anagram of ‘spew I’d’         (anagram pointer being ‘scattered’)

2d   NAIVEST   (least sophisticated)
Anagram of ‘natives’         (anagram pointer being ‘could be’)

3d   OTHERWISE   (if not)
Otherwise;  ‘or’ [gold] around ‘the’, wise = sage            (a charade clue with a container)

5d   OVERT   (it’s not hidden)
Found within the word ‘hovertrain’              (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘in’)

6d   SCANDAL   (an outrage)
Scandal;  ‘c’ [carbon] inside ‘sandal’ [footwear]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘inside’)

7d   SUPPORTED   (endorsed)
Sup = dine, port = fortified wine, ed = editor          (a charade clue)

10d   BEDSITTER   (accommodation)
Bedsitter;  ‘bitter’ [sour] around ‘ed’ [journalist]            (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

13d   MEANWHILE   (at the same time)
Mean = stingy, while = sounds like wile [trick]        (a charade clue with a homophone)

15d   NEWCASTLE   (Australian port)
New = novel, castle = found on the board        (found on the board behind the novel …)     (a charade clue)

17d   EREWHON   (satirical novel)
Anagram of ‘nowhere’         (anagram pointer being ‘came from’)

19d   PIE-EYED   (drunk)
Pie = tart, eyed = looked         (looked after the tart)         (a charade clue)

21d   PARIS   (capital)
Par = par, is = is       (is below par, a down clue)           (a charade clue)

22d   TRUCE   (a cease-fire)
Anagram of curate’ without ‘a’        (anagram pointer being ‘troubled’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 795 – February 3, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   DECAMP   (abscond)
Dec = December, amp = small amplifier       (small amplifier after December)        (a charade clue)

4ac   LANCES   (weapons)
Anagram of ‘cleans’              (anagram pointer being ‘carelessly’)

9ac   GIBBONS   (apes)
Anagram of ‘sobbing’              (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

10ac   FLORIDA   (state)
Florid = flushed, a = a         (a charade clue)

11ac   TARPAULIN   (waterproof cloth)
Tar = jack, paul = a pope, in = at home            (a charade clue)

12ac   MOBS   (gangs)
M = first letter of ‘market’, obs = last letters of ‘to pub owners’        (a charade clue with initial letters & last letters)

13ac   TSETSE   (fly from Africa)

Found within the words ‘jet set seating’             (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

15ac   COBBLERS  
Cobblers = nonsense & they who work at a last         (a double definition clue)

17ac   SLAPDASH   (sloppy)
Slap = ‘pals’ [friends] backwards, dash = small amount         (a charade clue with a reversal)

19ac   LATEST   (most up-to-date)
Latest;  ‘last’ [endure] around ‘te’ [T.E. Lawrence]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘embracing’)

21ac   PEST   (nuisance)
Last letter removed from ‘pesto’ [sauce]         (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘unfinished’)

22ac   JELLYFISH   (feeble person)
Jelly = a dessert, fish = angle     (angle after a dessert)        (a charade clue)

24ac   WEARILY   (in a tired manner)
Anagram of ‘lawyer’ & ‘i’ [one]              (anagram pointer being ‘vacillates’)

25ac   OLD LADY   (a mother or wife)
Anagram of ‘odd ally’              (anagram pointer being ‘potentially’)

26ac   ESSAYS  
Essays = attempts & compositions         (a double definition clue)

27ac   SPATES   (floods)
Spates;  ‘spats’ [arguments] around ‘e’ [first letter of ‘English’]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

Down clues:

1d   DRIFT   (be carried along)
Dr = doctor, i = one, ft = foot     (one foot behind the doctor)         (a charade clue)

2d   CABARET   (floor show)
Cabaret;  ‘cat’ [Garfield perhaps] around ‘bare’ [nude]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘admits’)

3d   MANGAWEKA   (in the Manawatū-Whanganui region)
Man = guy, ga = half of ‘gaga’, weka = native bird        (a charade clue)

5d   ALL-IN   (exhausted)
All = everyone, in = not out          (a charade clue)

6d   CARAMEL   (a sweet)
Caramel;  ‘camel’ [desert traveller] around ‘ra’ [gunners]      (a container clue, pointer being ‘taking in’)

7d   SIDEBURNS   (mutton chops)
Side = team, burns = overcooks         (a charade clue)

10d   FLOCK HILL   (Canterbury high country station)
Flock = group of sheep, h = first letter of ‘head’, ill = unwell          (a charade clue)

14d   SILVEREYE   (bird)
Eye = look, silver = the Lone Ranger’s horse     (look after the Lone Ranger’s horse)       (a charade clue)

16d   BELLYFLOP   (it’ll cause a splash)
Belly = stomach, flop = failure          (a charade clue)

18d   PETARDS   (small bombs)
Anagram of ‘departs’              (anagram pointer being ‘in confusion’)

20d   TRIPLET   (one of the three)
Trip = tour, let = permit         (a charade clue)

22d   JOLLY  
Jolly = cheerful & a ship’s boat         (a double definition clue)

23d   HADES   (hell)
Found in the odd letters of ‘headdress’           (an alternate letters clue, pointer being ‘odd bits of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 794 – January 27, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   WHITBY   (skill)
W = first letter of ‘wildcat’, hit = strike, by = gutless boy     (gutless boy is behind the beginning of the wildcat)       (a charade clue)

4ac   WADERS   (waterproof garments)
Guards [warders] without ‘r’ [right]             (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘missing’)

9ac   TACK   (long stitch)
Last letter removed from ‘tacky’ [tawdry]          (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘almost’)

10ac   CRICKET BAT   (it can be used to drive [a cricket shot])
Play on words;  cricket & bat = two winged creatures      

11ac   NADIR   (lowest point)
Anagram of ‘drain’           (anagram pointer being ‘incorrectly’)

12ac   OINTMENT   (a cream)
Anagram of ‘mint tone’           (anagram pointer being ‘fresh’)

13ac   STALEMATE   (no-win situation)
Stale = old, mate = friend         (a charade clue)

15ac   ITCH   (irritation)
It = last letters of ‘Jedi knight, ch = first letters of ‘carefully heal’      (a charade clue with initial letters and last letters)

16ac   COVE  
Cove = chap & a small bay           (a double definition clue)

17ac   PETERSHAM   (ribbon)
Peters = Winston Peters, ham = over-actor          (a charade clue)

21ac   FLORENCE   (Italian city)
Florence;  ‘L or’ [L = left, or = gold] inside ‘fence’ [wall]        (a container clue with a charade)

22ac   HAITI   (Caribbean country)
Haiti;  ‘ait’ [island] inside ‘hi’ [informal greeting]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘griped by’)

24ac   DISPIRITED   (discouraged)
Dispirited;  ‘died’ [departed] around ‘spirit’ [hard stuff]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘concealing’)

25ac   DAHL   (author)
Dah = ‘had’ backwards, L = pound       (a charade clue with a reversal)

26ac   RETYPE   (enter again)
Found within the words ‘surety penalties’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

27ac   SALADS   (dishes)
Salads;  ‘lad’ [boy] inside ‘sas’ [Special Air Service]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

Down clues:

1d   WHATNOT   (piece of furniture)
What = eh, not = half of notice          (a charade clue)

2d   IRKED   (annoyed)
Found within the words ‘Dannevirke dairies’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

3d   BUCKRAM   (coarse fabric)
Buck & ram = two male animals          (play on words/a double definition clue)

5d   ASKING   (enquiring)
As = as, king = sovereign         (a charade clue)

6d   ESTIMATES   (calculates)
Estimates;  ‘im’ [one million] inside ‘estates’ [properties]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘getting into’)

7d   STAUNCH  
Staunch = very loyal & to stop the flow         (a double definition clue)

8d   SIX OF THE BEST   (a thrashing)
Play on words;  six of the best = a bowler’s great over [six balls in an over]

14d   LIVER SPOT   (a blemish)
Liver = organ, spot = notice     (notice after the organ)        (a charade clue)

16d   COLLIER   (underground worker)
Collie = dog, r = right        (right behind the dog)         (a charade clue)

18d   ECHIDNA   (anteater)
Anagram of ‘chained’           (anagram pointer being ‘wrongly’)

19d   ALIGHTS   (settles on)
Alights;  ‘light’ [match] inside ‘as’ [first and last letters of ‘Athens’]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

20d   ENTRAP   (snare)
Anagram of ‘parent’           (anagram pointer being ‘flighty’)

23d   INDIA   (country)
In = at home, dia = aid [assistance] upwards, a down clue         (a charade clue with a reversal)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 793 – January 20, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   PROWESS   (skill)
Prowess;  ‘press’ [newspaper] around ‘ow’ [town centre]     (a container clue, pointer being ‘framing’)

5ac   POOREST   (lowest quality)
Poorest;  ‘ore’ [mineral] inside ‘post’ [mail]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

9ac   OVERLAY   (protective cover)
Over = finished, lay = song        (a charade clue)

10ac   ABUSERS   (those mistreating others)
Anagram of ‘use bars’        (anagram pointer being ‘indiscriminately’)

12ac   ALL THE BEST   (good wishes)
Play on words; all the best = nothing deficient

13ac   EYE   (watch)
Found in the last letters of ‘movie Holy Smoke’            (a last letters clue, pointer being ‘last of)

14ac   BADGE   (brownie award)
Last letter removed from ‘badger’ [pester]          (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘almost’)

15ac   TRAILING   (dropping behind)
T = first letter of ‘Tory’, railing = complaining         (a charade clue)

17ac   COMPOSER   (a musician)
Anagram of ‘cop Morse’        (anagram pointer being ‘becomes’)

19ac   BARES   (uncovers)
Anagram of ‘sabre’        (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

21ac   KEN  
Ken = knowledge = a Topp Twins’ character            (a double definition clue)

22ac   SCALLYWAGS   (scamps)
Sc = first & last letters of ‘sarcastic, ally = friend, wags = jokers    (jokers follow the extremely sarcastic …)        (a charade clue)

24ac   PERIDOT   (gemstone)
Peri = fairy, dot = little Dorothy           (a charade clue)

25ac   ANTIGUA   (Caribbean Island)
Anti = against, gua = half of ‘guards’          (a charade clue)

26ac   ADHERED   (stuck to)
Anagram of ‘red-head’        (anagram pointer being ‘untidy’)

27ac   FEIGNED   (faked)
Anagram of ‘feeding’        (anagram pointer being ‘arrangements)

Down clues:

2d   RAVEL   (a composer)
Found within the word ‘travelogue’         (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘appearing in’)

3d   WORSTED   (fabric)
Worse = most dreadful, ed = journalist       (a charade clue)

4d   STATELESS   (without a passport)
Play on words; stateless = don’t say so much

6d   ORBIT   (circle)
Or = gold, bit = piece       (a charade clue)

7d   RUSSELL   (North Island town)
R = first letter of ‘request’, us = American, sell = market        (a charade clue)

8d   SERGEANTS   (soldiers)
Serge = material, ants = workers          (a charade clue)

11d   YESTERDAY   (not long ago)
Yes = roger, te = ‘the’ in Māori, k = king, day = period      (period under the Maori King, a down clue)          (a charade clue)

14d   BLOCKHEAD   (a twit)
Block = prevent, head = boss      (a charade clue)

16d   AMBULANCE   (a vehicle for emergencies)
A = a, mb = doctor, u = first letter of ‘uncertain’, lance = Mr Lance Armstrong         (a charade clue)

18d   PENSIVE   (sensitive)
Pens = writers, I = I, ve = first letters of ‘video eagerly’        (a charade clue)

20d   ROWLING   (author)
Block = prevent, head = boss      (a charade clue)

22d   STOLE  
Stole = nicked & vestment         (a double definition clue)

23d   GAUZE   (item in the first aid kit)
Gauze;  ‘gaze’ [look] around ‘u’ [upper class]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘around’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 792 – January 13, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   CLAIMS   (maintains)
Claims; ’i’ [first letter od ‘Italians’] inside ‘clams’ [shellfish]  (a container clue, pointer being ‘into’)

4ac   SHADES   (sunglasses)
S = first letter of ‘sundown’, hades = hell      (hell after the start of sundown)     (a charade clue)

8ac   ALLEGRO   (it’s a brisk movement)
Anagram of ‘legal or’          (anagram pointer being ‘otherwise’)

9ac   OARSMAN   (crew member)
Anagram of ‘a ransom’          (anagram pointer being ‘arranged’)

11ac   CONTRIBUTE   (chip in)
Contribute;  ‘contrite’ [feel remorseful] around ‘bu’ [half of ‘buck’]     (a container clue, pointer being ‘holding’)

12ac   AXED   (sacked)
A = a, x = kiss, ed = editor       (editor after a kiss)        (a charade clue)

13ac   HEDGE  
Hedge = prevaricate & a windbreak         (a double definition clue)

14ac   PICKFORD   (silent film actress)
Pick = select, ford = a make of car           (a charade clue)

16ac   PROPOSER   (person making the suggestion)
Proposer;  ‘proper’ [correct] around ‘os’ [sailor]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

18ac   ARROW   (weapon)
Remove ‘sp’ [first & last letters of ‘sharp’] from ‘sparrow’ [Robin’s killer]   (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘drops’)

20ac   ABEL   (Biblical character)
Ab = initial letters of ‘abide by’, el = last letters of ‘sensitive control’           (a charade clue with initial letters & last letters)

21ac   SWEEPSTAKE   (a form of gambling)
S = last letter of ‘losers’, weep = cry, stake = post         (a charade clue)

23ac   SLEDGES   (makes taunting remarks)
‘Ledge’ [shelf] inside ‘ss’ [ship]      (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

24ac   AGENDAS   (programmes)
Anagram of ‘Dan ages’          (anagram pointer being ‘terribly’)

25ac   SENTRY   (guard)
Sent = dispatched, ry = initial letters of ‘royal yacht’         (a charade clue with initial letters)

26ac   RECEDE   (fall back)
Re = again, cede = surrender          (a play on words)

Down clues:

1d   CELLO   (musical instrument)
Found upwards [a down clue] within ‘collector’         (a reversed hidden word clue, pointer being ‘holds up’)

2d   ABETTED   (aided)
A = a, bet = wager, Ted = Edward      (Edward going after a wager)      (a charade clue)

3d   MARTINETS   (disciplinarians)
Martins [Martin Crowe & Martin Sheen] around ‘et’ [alien]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘frame’)

5d   HEAVE   (lift)
Found within the word ‘sheaves’         (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

6d   DISTAFF   (it’s women’s work)
Di = I’d backwards [I would], staff = rod          (a charade clue with a reversal)

7d   SCARECROW   (it’s purpose is to frighten)
S = first letter of ‘suspiciously’, care = worry, crow = brag              (a charade clue)

10d   SUPPORTER   (the fan)
Su = US [American] backwards, porter = beer          (a charade clue with a reversal)

13d   HORNBILLS   (birds)
Hornbills;  ‘bill’ [invoice] inside ‘horns’ [brass instruments]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘tuck into’)

15d   CHAMPAGNE   (something to drink)
Champ = victor, agne = last letter removed from ‘Agnes’        (a charade clue with a deletion)

17d   PALADIN   (knight)
Anagram of ‘I’d a plan’          (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

19d   RETINUE   (royal attendants)
Anagram of ‘entire’ & ‘u’ [upper class]          (anagram pointer being ‘changed’)

21d   SWEAR  
Swear by = to have faith in & swear off = to promise to give up         (a same word, different adverb clue)

22d   KNAVE   (jack)
Sounds like ‘nave’ [found in the church]            (a homophone clue, pointer being ‘reportedly’)