Crossword

2354: Pioneering

Two unclued lights form a three-word phrase. Clues in italics are cryptic indications of partial answers; in each case, the indicated part must do as instructed by the thematic phrase to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Resulting entries (two of which consist of two words each) are defined by unclued

2353: Too many

The unclued lights, three of two words and four pairs are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.   Across 11    Arable plant making money, including capital – a grand (10, hyphened) 14    The occasion, we’re told, for tears (5) 15    Express excitement about the sun at start of evening (7) 17    Sound producer’s good

2352: Upright Characters

Of the unclued entries, three combine to form a phrase (five words) describing three more (four foreign-language words). The remaining three combine to form a sentence (seven words) given by Brewer as an example of one of them.   Across 1    It’s brimming, almost like an optimist’s view? Not half! (8) 8    Song or dance

2351: Triplets

Unclued lights form three sets of three, each set related in a different way to a theme-word which is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted.   Across 1    Keeping on certain subject, I am an unusual scientist (13) 9    A court’s brief shade (4) 14    Mount paintings an artist submitted (6) 15    In

2350: Pieces

The unclued lights, (two of two words), individually or as a pair, are of a kind and can be resolved into three separate trios. Ignore all accents and apostrophes throughout the puzzle. The highlighted squares, read in order row by row, reveal the sources of the trios.   Across 7/8   The whole capital of Hainaut

2349: Novel

Clockwise round the grid from 3 run the names (7,4,5,6,8,8,5,6) of four characters in a novel followed by the initials of its author. Two pairs of unclued lights (20/39 and 11/26) each combine to form an anagram of the novel’s title.   Across 8    Aged saint keeps working a long long time (5) 9    Weed

2348: It’s a trap

Clues are given according to alphabetical order of their answers. Each of thirty-two clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. When arranged in conventional clue order, the extras spell a character’s name and seven-word quotation (in ODQ). In the remaining seven clues, cryptic indications omit

2347: Capital letters

Each of the eight unclued lights is a series of letters in alphabetical order which can be formed into eight theme words. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.   Across 1    Book from Goon, having siesta disturbed (12) 10    Second-in-command’s deviant practice (4) 12    Gave permission and reportedly went under, getting ignored (10) 14/40     French pal, tense,

2346: The name of the game

The unclued entries (two hyphened) are all synonyms. Each of five clues contains a word that must be removed to enable the clue to be solved. These words can all be augmented by a letter (the five letters appear in sequence in the completed grid, and must be highlighted) to form five more words, which,

Counterclaim

The first line of a 4 (two words) consists of 7A and the puzzle’s 3 41; the second line is 7D 12 33 37 (six words in total). Cryptic indications in seven clues are incomplete; in each case, the answer is formed when the indicated part has 12 33.   Across 1    Fret about

2344: I’m away

A word suggested by the title can either precede or follow each of the unclued lights to form phrases listed in Brewer.   Across 10    5’s musical art on car plate (12) 11    Chosen the front bits of 40 (5) 13    Artwork showing most of red face cover turned over (7) 14    Crushes forms and

2343: Rats!

Round the perimeter clockwise is a 14-word quotation in ODQ, with its first word represented by a number in the grid. Other unclued lights are words of a kind (including four proper nouns and one of two words) which need treating before entry, as suggested by the final three words of the quotation. One of

solution

A beastly business The quote is 1A/92/18D from the poem ‘A Visit from St Nicholas’. The theme was the names of the eight reindeer in the poem. Three were highlighted whilst the others each suggested three unclued lights: Dasher (26, 63 and 83 — sprinters); Comet (12, 48 and 64 — astronomers’ names given to

2342: Decorative

Two unclued lights are terms for the same style. One, consisting of two words, forms a cryptic indication of each of two unclued lights. The other is a word that can be divided into three words; each of these defines each of two of the other unclued lights.   Across 1    Part of thesis

2341: Durum, Durum

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind.   Across   1    Confines at convenience stores (5) 4    Prison visitor, not in Rolls Royce, sadly places eggs for fertilization (9) 11    Over half the train to Dover isn’t broad-gauge (6) 14    Range of school note (5) 15    I left seafood dish for

2340: Booboos

3 1A (eight words in total, one apostrophe) and 41 23 32 36 (seven words, including two accents) give two quotations (in ODQ) by 17 (two words), which possibly contradict each other or themselves.   Across 10    With this cube, making something solid? (5) 11    Resolve to remove head of the BBC (5) 13    Old

A beastly business

Three unclued lights form a nine-word quotation from a thematic work. Remaining unclued lights, including one hyphened, are five trios of words of a kind, each suggested by a thematic word from the same work. Three further thematic words need highlighting in the completed grid.   Across   17    Sports day around squad’s compound (7) 18   

2339: Interesting

Cryptic indications in four clues are incomplete; in each case, the part not indicated is supplied by a 1D (two words). Two unclued lights and the 35 are synonyms of the first word of 1D; each of three unclued lights is defined by the second word of 1D, which is also the surname of a

2338: Fone

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 1    Unethical point of an Aesop fable (6) 11    Improve, making Oriel, accommodated by a fellow (10) 13    3 in Casablanca in the wet season (5) 14    This psychotherapist poor Leonard can’t take on (5) 15    Oration about province

2337: Millefeuille

Unclued lights are connected to a theme word (which does not appear), three in each of three different senses. Two clued lights form an anagram of a name associated with the theme and should be highlighted.   Across 8    Gulls escape through a hedge (4) 12    Manager almost cut American scientist (10) 13    Remove stain