2684: Romans 5

Five three-word phrases (in both Brewer and Chambers) have something in common. The unclued lights, correctly paired, form the second and third words of these. The first five words are hidden in the grid (across or down) and should be shaded.

Across

1               Material two monarchs contribute to law suit (8)

5               Over-decorated cook eats badly (6)

9               Undecided originally to cross a certain part of Norfolk (2,3,5)

14            A sort of card for donation (3)

16            Back injuries firm in plaster (6)

17            Passage for all: shame it’s rejected (5)

18            Fragrant substance laurel emits when cut down (5)

22            Withdraws from clubs? Entirely wrong (5,2)

24            Ruin travel bag? (7)

25            Sort of fund second drink (5)

26            Is hanged, not with squeals (5)

28            Meadow visible in forbidden scene (7)

31            One taken camping to speak wittily (7)

33            Transparent material unknown in knitted angora (7)

37            Spicy concoction one gushingly swallows (5)

38            Cricket employs electronic scorer (5)

39            Boy reporter in shade at the start (6)

41            Hesitating to speak as part of shoe fastened (6-4)

42            Where to drive in India? A hairy proposition (6)

Down

1               Acquaintance with variant animals makes for bruising encounters (7,6)

4               Come back lean, full of power (5)

6               Goes back and puts on fresh clothes? (7)

7               Find the Scots adore keeping a pet (6)

10            Part of eye twisted in two directions, a blemish (6)

12            Contents of home, nothing less, that protect family (9,4)

13            Question not so tricky, but internally more unsettled (8)

21            Bad splinters around crack cleared (8)

23            Concerned with support for artists, put pounds upfront for new film (7)

27            Muslim tunes in to broadcast (7)

29            A poor paper on Queen Catherine’s origin (6)

30            You look for an audience in the country (6)

32            Equivalent of getting on for three marathons, the third one torture (6)

34            Ram and goat oddly go for tree fern (5)

35            Call Vatican City, could it be? (5)

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