Crossword

2257: A spree

An excerpt from a poem (-eleven words, one hyphened, in ODQ) reads clockwise in the perimeter from the top left corner. Each of four clues contains a superfluous word; these words combine to give the poet’s name. The poem’s title, which is concealed in the grid and must be highlighted, indicates the action required to

2256: 11 x 11

The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or paired, are of a kind, with 1 Down as a plural. Two of these unclued lights do double duty to reach the number indicated in the title. Ignore one apostrophe and, elsewhere, an acute accent. Chambers does not confirm 25A.   Across   1    What a

2255: In the pink

Four unclued lights (eight words in all) form a phrase describing an activity. The other unclued lights give the author, and names of three participants   Across   9    Grow variable and impressionable (4) 10    Country in bad state, one further reduced (9, two words) 17    Watch acceleration in speed, say, when reversing (5) 18   

2254: Ecofriendly

Answers to clues in italics must become 15 (hyphened) to create grid entries. Definitions of these entries are supplied by unclued lights, one of which consists of two words. Elsewhere ignore two accents.   Across   1    Convince court without question, wearing dark blue (8) 11    Endless praise in resort prepared for sharks

2253: Your starter for ten

One ‘unclued’ light, as the title suggests, can be paired (on one occasion twice) with each of the other unclued lights, (one of two words), all verifiable in Brewer. Alphabetical order takes priority in the unclued solution at 36A.   Across   1    Builders’ aid marketed outside greasy spoon in Gabon (11) 7    Chap who’s

2252: Writer deploys me

11/22, 36/1D, 48/2, 9/30 and 17/46 combine to form anagrams of the titles of five works (four of two words, one of three) by a writer whose name will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded.   Across   1    Moll producing sauce or gravy (5) 6    Jolly sister shampooing (7) 12    Small

2251: Animal track

In eight clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal the title (two words) of a track on 1D (two words) by the 12 (two words). The title in question defines the other unclued lights.   Across   1    Drain ground in place behind square architectural

2250: Knavish

The unclued lights (one of two words, and one of three) when preceded by the same word (which has to be discovered) reveal words (in one case, a non-word which is almost a foot) or phrases all of which are listed in Brewer, with some also listed in Chambers. Ignore all hyphens.   Across 7   

2249: Transformation

The transformation is 10A (three words), which suggests the other unclued lights, including one of two words and one hyphened. Across 1    Similar object I really change (8) 6    Hot dog including everything (6, two words) 12    Duck, bloody, that is sent back (5) 13    Bending law welcomed by fellow in government (7) 15    Make

2248: In the stars

In the clues, the 9 stars represent omitted words (one of which is a dialect variant of another). Those 9 words, along with 12 others which form a set, must be used to complete the 11 unclued entries, which include four two-word phrases and four hyphened words, and are all in Chambers.   Across  

2247: Commoners II

The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as three pairs, are of a kind.   Across   9    Aussie’s error with fine paintbrush. Correct! (10, hyphened) 11    Ten-nil reverse. That’s rare (5) 12    Publicly accuse having arrived in Georgia, drunk (7) 14    Zest for two-thirds of the month before October 1st (5) 15   

2246: Where’s Maggie?

Unclued lights (including one of two words and three pairs, 37 doing double duty) are characters in a play. A representation (fourteen letters) of its title appears in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across   12    Short of money Rameau composed airs (5) 13    Understanding uni, long historic, admitting pupil teacher (6)

2245: Fair and square

Each of eleven clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell the source (three words) of a message reported by a 23 whose surname is an unclued light. The message in question (eighteen words, in ODQ) occupies the perimeter – reading clockwise from the top left corner – and two

2244: Faithful

The unclued lights, one of two words, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer.   Across   1    After the outskirts of Barnsley, overtake on road round town (6) 7    Series for bikers? (6) 13    Regularly burn options and release (5) 14    Like a Peruvian, having completed filming? (5) 15   

Christmas crossword: The winners | 14 January 2016

The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Dictionary of Great Quotations (2015) go to the following. The first four prizewinners also each receive a bottle of champagne. First prize Andrew Dymond, London SE24 Runners-up Mrs P. Bealby, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland; David Norwood, Puddletown, Dorset; Roderick Burgess, Cantsfield, Carnforth

2243: Obit III

Last year we lost a popular 39 of stage and screen. 18A/16 (four words in total) and 10/18A/15 (five words in total) are titles linked with the 39. 25 is the name16, while the remaining unclued lights give the name of the 39. A closely linked name (two words) will appear diagonally in the grid

2242: Defeated

Clues in italics are cryptic indications of partial answers. In each case, the indicated part must be 5 39 (five words in all) to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Definitions of the resulting entries are supplied by unclued lights.   Across   1    Film second struggle (5) 6   

2241: Customary

The unclued lights, (two of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer 19th edition. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.   Across   11 Jersey, perhaps, one’s left with (6) 12 Bangers for men like Ben Gunn (7) 14 Poor Ben repressing shout of joy for girl shedding tears (5)

The works

Along the top and bottom rows of the grid runs a seasonal quotation of 11 words. 81 clues contain a superfluous word; the initial letters of these words in clue order spell out another seasonal quotation of 21 words; ignore the apostrophe. Other unclued lights (five of two words, one of three), singly or linked,

2240: Various sources

In each of eight clues, one letter has been cut from the definition part; the cut letters spell a word that defines each of four unclued lights. In each of five clues, one letter has been added to the definition part; the added letters spell a word that defines each of four unclued lights. The