‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 809 – May 11, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

8ac   UMBRAGE   (offence taken)
Anagram of ‘rumba’ & ‘eg’ [for example]         (anagram pointer being ‘mangled’)

9ac   CHEERIO   (a word of farewell)
Cheer = applause, io = ten     (ten follow the applause)       (a charade clue)

10ac   TALON   (a claw)
Found in the word ‘Catalonia’        (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘into’)

11ac   TRADE NAME   (brand)
Trade = swap, name = handle            (a charade clue)

12ac   COCKSCOMB   (crest)
Cocks = birds, comb = search            (a charade clue)

15ac   ECLAT   (splendour)
Found backwards in the words ‘coastal ceremony’        (a reversed hidden word clue, pointer being ‘returned in’)

16ac   COUNTER-ATTACK   (retaliation)
Counter = bar, attack = charge             (a charade clue)

20ac   TENOR   (a singer)
Found in the last letters of ‘at home in disco fever’       (a last letters clue, pointer being ‘at last’)

21ac   SIDE ISSUE   (not the main point)
Si = ‘South Island’, de = ‘ed’ [journalist] backwards, issue = edition          (a charade clue with a reversal)

23ac   OPERATORS   (wheeler-dealers)
Anagram of ‘a troopers’          (anagram pointer being ‘disturbed’)

25ac   BULLS   (crest)
Anagram of ‘bus’ & ‘L’ [left] & ‘L’ [50]         (anagram pointer being ‘quaking’)

27ac   BABY DOC   (was a Caribbean ruler)
Baby = tot, doc = dwarf        (dwarf is after a tot)          (a charade clue)

28ac   AIRPORT   (O’Hare)
Air = song, port = left             (a charade clue)

Down clues:

1d   JUSTICE   (equity)
Just = only, i = one, ce = church         (a charade clue)

2d   ABEL   (first victim)
Ab = first letters of ‘act bravely’, el = last letters of ‘be successful’          (a charade clue with initial letters & last letters)

3d   PAINTS   (depicts)
Paints;  ‘i’ [initial letter of ‘Iranian’] inside ‘pants’ [trousers]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

4d   DESTROYERS  
Destroyers = they demolish & ships           (a double definition clue)

5d   TENEMENT   (apartment building)
Tenement;  ‘men’ [males] inside ‘tenet’ [principle]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

6d   DREADLOCKS   (do [hairstyle])
Dreadlocks;  ‘dead’ [late] around ‘r’ [right], locks = some rugby players      (a charade clue with a container)

7d   MOLESTS   (abuses)
Molests;  ‘moles’ [secret agents] around ‘st’ [street]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘around’)

9d   CHA   (tea)
Last letter removed from ‘chap’ [guy]         (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘mostly’)

13d   CROWN DERBY   (china)
Cr = King Charles, own = initial letter missing from ‘town’, derby = horse race          (a charade clue)

14d   BRANDY SNAP   (a sweet)
Brandy = a drink, snap = speak sharply       (speak sharply after a drink)       (a charade clue)

17d   NORMANDY   (a French region)
Norman = Norman Kirk, dy = first and last letters of Dahomey       (a charade clue)

18d   STOODY BY  
Stood by = morally supported & did nothing to help        (a double definition clue)

19d   TEASETS   (items of crockery)
Anagram of ‘estates’        (anagram pointer being ‘reorganised’)

22d   INBORN   (natural)
Inborn;  ‘rob’ upwards [a down clue] inside ‘inn’ [pub]        (a container clue with a reversal)

24d   ORC   (Tolkien’s villain)
Last letter removed from ‘Orca’ [marine creature]      (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘almost’)

26d   LOOM  
Loom = emerge & a textile machine          (a double definition clue)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 808 – May 4, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

1ac   STRAPS   (flogs)
Straps;  ‘trap’ [gin] inside ‘ss’ [ship]       (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)

4ac   OCTAVE   (series of eight notes)
Anagram of ‘covet a’       (anagram pointer being ‘sadly’)

8ac   GALLOPS   (moves very fast)
Gal = girl, lops = cuts it off            (a charade clue)

9ac   PO-FACED   (humourless-looking)
Pof = initials of ‘people of faith’, aced = served successfully       (a charade clue with initials)

11ac   WESTERLIES   (winds)
Wester = last letter removed from ‘western’ [movie genre], lies = doesn’t tell the truth          (a charade clue with a deletion)

12ac   IOTA   (a small amount)
Io = ten, ta = thanks          (a charade clue)

13ac   BOSUN   (seaman)
Anagram of ‘bonus’       (anagram pointer being ‘organised’)

14ac   LAS VEGAS   (American city)
Anagram of ‘salvages’       (anagram pointer being ‘dubiously’)

16ac   NEEDLING   (provoking)
Need = miss, ling = fish        (a charade clue)

18ac   OFTEN   (frequently)
Found within the words ‘waterproof tents’           (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘found in’)

20ac   SKUA   (bird)
S = last letter of ‘serious’, kua = first letters of ‘keep up appearances’         (a charade clue with a last letter & initial letters)

21ac   PENNY BLACK   (a stamp)
Penny = money, black = Cilla Black       (Cilla is after money)        (a charade clue)

23ac   LOGGING   (forestry work)
First letter removed from ‘flogging’ [stealing]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘don’t start’)

24ac   MINIMUM   (the smallest amount)
Mini = iconic car, mum = mother         (mother is after an iconic car)        (a charade clue)

25ac   NUTTER   (crazy person)
N = first letter of ‘nervously’, utter = speak           (a charade clue)

26ac   WEIGHT   (heaviness)
Anagram of ‘the wig’       (anagram pointer being ‘is adjusted’)

Down clues:

1d   STAGE   (carriage)
Anagram of ‘gates’       (anagram pointer being ‘repaired’)

2d   RELATES   (identifies with)
First letter removed from ‘prelates’ [churchmen]        (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘losing the opener’)

3d   PAPARANGI   (in Wellington)
Papa = father, rang = phoned, i = one         (a charade clue)

5d   CROSS  
Cross = get over & burden         (a double definition clue)

6d   AVARICE   (an extreme desire for wealth)
Ava = Ava Gardner, Rice = Sir Tim Rice       (a charade clue)

7d   EYESTRAIN   (complaint)
Eyes = watches, train = public transport          (a charade clue)

10d   PILLAGING   (plundering)
Pill = the bore, aging = getting older             (a charade clue)

13d   BREAK DOWN  
Break down = period of play in rugby & a mental health crisis      (a double definition clue)

15d   STORYLINE   (a plot)
S = first letter of ‘socially’, tory = conservative, line = rank         (a charade clue)

17d   DRAUGHT  
Draught = a measure of medicine & cold air        (a double definition clue)

19d   TELLING  
Telling = narration & convincing          (a double definition clue)

21d   PENCE   (small change)
Pen = writer, ce – first & last letters of ‘competitive’        (extremely competitive after the writer)           (a charade clue)

22d   COUNT  
Count on = to trust & count out = to exclude         (a same word, different adverb clue)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 807 – April 27, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

7ac   SCHOOL   (academy)
Anagram of ‘solo’ around ‘ch’ [church]         (a container clue with an anagram)

8ac   ROLY-POLY  
Roly-poly = plump & a pudding              (a double definition clue)

10ac   SPONGERS   (bludgers)
Spongers;  ‘sponges’ [cakes] around ‘r’ [middle letter of ‘afternoon’         (a container clue, pointer being ‘around’)

11ac   WAIATA   (song)
Anagram of ‘await a’          (anagram pointer being ‘reworked’)

12ac   GO TO THE DOGS   (become ruined)
Play on words;  go to the dogs = visit the racetrack

14ac   HASHISH   (dope)
Hashish;  ‘ash’ [tree] inside ‘his’,  h = last letter of ‘dish’      (a container clue with a charade)

16ac   REACTED   (responded)
Anagram of ‘dead cert’ without ‘d’ [five hundred]         (anagram pointer being ‘hapless’)

19ac   DOUBLE CROSS   (betray)
Double = a bet, cross = grumpy        (grumpy after a bet)        (a charade clue)

22ac   SPRANG   (recoiled)
S = first letter of ‘school’, prang = accident      (accident after start of school)     (a charade clue)

23ac   CIRCULAR  
Circular = ring-shaped & letter         (a double definition clue)

24ac   BLOOMERS  
Bloomers = mistakes & underwear        (a double definition clue)

25ac   SWEETS   (confectionary)
Sweets;  ‘saints [sts] around ‘wee’ [very little]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘consume’)

Down clues:

1d   SCAPEGOAT   (a person to blame)
Scape = first letter removed from ‘escape’ [flee], goat = kid perhaps        (a charade clue with a deletion)

2d   TOP-NOTCH   (first-rate)
Top = toy, notch = nick          (a charade clue)

3   CLIENT   (customer)
Anagram of ‘cent’ & L [left] & i [one]          (anagram pointer being ‘mistakenly’)

4d   CROSSED  
Crossed = thwarted & passed over           (a double definition clue)

5d   SLOWPOKE   (dawdler)
Slow = tardy, poke = sack          (a charade clue)

6d   SPRIGS  
Sprigs = twigs & found underfoot        (a double definition clue)

9d   LOTS   (plenty)
Lo = look, ts = last letters of ‘pit bulls’            (a charade clue with last letters)

13d   SEA SHANTY   (air)
Sea = the main, shanty = cabin            (a charade clue)

15   SMUGGLES   (sneakily conveys)
Smuggles;  ‘muggle’ [person with no charms] inside ‘ss’ [on board]          (a container clue)

17d   CHORUSES   (musical groups)
Choruses;  ‘us’ [American] inside ‘chores’ [jobs]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘included in’)

18d   ALECOST   (a herb)
Found within the words ‘sale costumes’           (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘feature a’)

19d   DRAGON   (Tolkien creature)
Dr = doctor, agon = last letter removed from ‘agony’ [suffering]         (a charade clue with a deletion)

20d   CERISE   (colour)
Anagram of ‘cries & ‘e’ [first letter of ‘earthy’]          (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

21d   OPAL   (birthstone)
Found backwards within the words ‘full apology’          (a reversed hidden word clue, pointer being ‘returned as part of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 805 – April 13,2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

6ac   BUNKER   (a trap)
Bunk = to flee, er = a Queen          (a charade clue)

8ac   FLAT RACE   (jumpers wouldn’t be well-suited)
Flat = home, race = people       (people after a home)         (a charade clue)

9ac   FAST FOOD   (meals)
Play on words; lent is a time for fasting

10ac   ASSAIL   (to attack)
Ass = idiot, ail = feel unwell          (a charade clue)

11ac   ADHERED   (stuck to)
Anagram of ‘redhead’           (anagram pointer being ‘flighty’)

13ac   URSINE   (bearlike)
Anagram of ‘nurse’ & ‘i’           (anagram pointer being ‘awkwardly’)

14ac   SPIRIT LEVEL   (this ensures it’s true)
Spirit = a drink, level = even        (even after a drink)         (a charade clue)

19ac   ARDENT   (passionate)
Ardent;  ‘art’ [Garfunkel] around ‘den’ [study]           (a container clue, pointer being ‘outside’)

21ac   RUSTLER   (a criminal)
Rustler;  ‘ruler’ [sovereign] around ‘st’ [saint]          (a container clue, pointer being ‘embracing’)

23ac   AVERSE   (opposed to)
A = a, verse = part of the Bible           (a charade clue)

24ac   CARDRONA   (NZ winter resort)
Car = vehicle, dr = doctor, on  = on, a = a        (doctor goes after the vehicle)          (a charade clue)

25ac   STRUTTED   (walked proudly)
St = street, rutted = pot-holed            (a charade clue)

26ac   CREEPS   (weirdos)
Anagram of ‘recipes’ without ‘i’ [one]          (anagram pointer being ‘arranged’)

Down clues:

1d   PUT AWAY  
Put away = consume & keep in reserve            (a double definition clue)

2d   ARBOUR   (shady retreat)
Anagram of ‘a burro’              (anagram pointer being ‘in distress’)

3d   MALAMUTE   (dog)
Ma = scholar, L = left, a = a, mute = dumb           (a charade clue)

4d   CRISES   (emergencies)
‘U’ [upper-class] removed from ‘cruises’ [ocean voyages]            (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘leaving’)

5d   ACTIONS   (lawsuits)
Initial letter ‘f’ removed from ‘factions’ [dissenting groups]       (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘head off’)

7d   KETCHUP   (sauce)
Ketch = boat, up = initial letters of ‘under par’        (a charade clue)

8d   FAD   (fashion)
Fad;  ‘Fd’ [FD Roosevelt] around ‘a’        (a container clue, pointer being ‘embraced’)

12d   DETER   (discourage)
De = ‘ed’ [journalist] backwards, te r = the Maori King [te = ‘the’ in Maori, r = king]          (a charade clue with a reversal)

15d   RETREATS   (goes back)
Double definition/play on words; retreats = re-treats [ministers to, again]     

16d   ENLARGE   (magnify)
Anagram of ‘general’              (anagram pointer being ‘disruption’)

17d   PRIVATE   (top-secret)
Private;  ‘prate’ [talk] around ‘iv’ [four]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

18d   GRANDPA   (family member)
Grand = impressive, pa = personal assistant         (a charade clue)

20d   EARFUL   (a reprimand)
Found within the words ‘yesteryear fullbacks’          (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some’)

22d   SPRUCE  
Spruce = dapper & an evergreen           (a double definition clue)

24d   COD   (something to eat)
Found in the initial letters of ‘Carry On Doctor’           (an initial words clue, pointer being ‘leading characters of’)

‘Your Weekend’ Crossword 802 – March 23, 2024 – Explanations

Across clues:

8ac   PAPER CUT   (small wound)
Paper = first anniversary, cut = slashed          (a charade clue)

9ac   YEARLY   (regular intervals)
Yearly;  ‘earl’ [aristocrat] inside ‘yy’ [first and last letters of ‘Yardley]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘appears in’)

10ac   TENDERFOOT   (beginner)
Tender = make an offer, foot = part of a yard         (a charade clue)

11ac   LAG  
Lag = fall behind & convict        (a double definition clue)

12ac   STOUSH   (fight)
Anagram of ‘shouts’           (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

14ac   PORT SAID   (Egyptian city)
Port = left, said = ‘sad’ [unhappy] around ‘i’ [one]           (a charade clue with a container)

15ac   TORPEDO   (missile)
Anagram of ‘trooped’           (anagram pointer being ‘around’)

17ac   FOREIGN   (from overseas)
Foreign;  ‘feign’ [pretend] around ‘or’ [gold]        (a container clue, pointer being ‘holding’)

20ac   SCARCITY   (shortage)
Scar = mark, city = Hamilton, perhaps         (a charade clue)

22ac   TIPPED  
Tipped = predicted to win & capsized        (a double definition clue)

24ac   OWL   (Pooh’s friend)
Found in the last letters of ‘Otago Law School’         (a last letters clue, pointer being ‘at last’)

25ac   DEAD RINGER   (looks like someone)
Dead = late, ringer = campanologist          (a charade clue)

27ac   GETS ON  
Gets on = boards & on friendly terms          (a double definition clue)

28ac   TREVALLY   (fish)
Trevally;  ‘tally’ [correspond] around ‘rev’ [vicar]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘about’)

Down clues:

1d   LAMENT   (regret)
Found within the words ‘formula mentioned’       (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘some of’)

2d   SEND  
Send up = to make fun of & send off = to order a player from the field         (a same word, different adverb clue)

3d   SCORCHED   (burnt)
Scorched;  ‘scored’ [gained points] around ‘ch’ [church]         (a container clue, pointer being ‘outside’)

4d   STROPPY   (bolshie)
Stroppy;  ‘spy’ [secret agent] around ‘trop’ [‘port’ upwards, a down clue]         (a container clue with a reversal)

5d   OYSTER   (shellfish)
Anagram of ‘story’ & ‘e’ [last letter of ‘valuable’)           (anagram pointer being ‘about’)

6d   FALL ASLEEP   (drop off)
Fall = autumn, a = a, sleep = last letter removed from ‘Sleepy’ [dwarf]         (a charade clue with a deletion)

7d   FLOGGING  
Flogging = punishment & stealing          (a double definition clue)

13d   UPPER CLASS   (high-quality)
Upper = part of a shoe, c = conservative, lass = girl      (conservative girl is after part of a shoe)            (a charade clue)

16d   ONCE-OVER   (survey)
Once = formerly, over = finished         (a charade clue)

18d   OUTCRIES   (protests)
Anagram of ‘curio sets’           (anagram pointer being ‘damaged’)

19d   DYNASTY   (1980s soap opera)
Dy = first & last letters of ‘Denny’ [points are removed], nasty = unpleasant        (a charade clue with a deletion)

21d   IODINE   (symbolically ‘I’ [I is the symbol for iodine])
Io = ten, dine = eat      (eat after ten)         (a charade clue)

23d   EVENLY   (equally)
Anagram of ‘Evelyn’           (anagram pointer being ‘distributed’)

26d   NEAT  
Neat = well-groomed & cattle           (a double definition clue)

‘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 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 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’)