Author name: crosswordanswers

1-across – Italian city with much-visited tower : PISA

3-across – Citrus fruit or language : MANDARIN

9-across – First in new field of enterprise : PIONEER

10-across – Arched roof or ceiling – leap : VAULT

11-across – Bellini opera – ___ Jean : NORMA

12-across – Catch in e.g. snare : ENTRAP

14-across – Fear of spiders : ARACHNOPHOBIA

17-across – Art of growing dwarf trees : BONSAI

19-across – Gentle push : NUDGE

22-across – More frosty : ICIER

23-across – Flat pie : FLEAPIT

24-across – Chest rub : SCHUBERT

25-across – Artificially coloured : DYED

1-down – Conceited,excessively talkative person : POPINJAY

2-down – Scrub hard – search thoroughly : SCOUR

4-down – Politely accept opposing views : AGREETODIFFER

5-down – Small piece of turf removed by golf club : DIVOT

6-down – Stalks cooked like fruit,often with custard : RHUBARB

7-down – Bolts’ partners : NUTS

8-down – Unfasten and remove : DETACH

13-down – Naturally gifted; particularly skilled : TALENTED

15-down – Put an end to permanently : ABOLISH

16-down – Gretel’s brother in fairy tale : HANSEL

18-down – Bush : SHRUB

20-down – Groggy – one of seven? : DOPEY

21-down – Sound made by disapproving audience or snake : HISS

1-across – Catty sin : SANCTITY

5-across – Hermit or soft-shell : CRAB

9-across – : DITTO

10-across – Civilian soldiers : MILITIA

11-across – Unintelligible official jargon : GOBBLEDYGOOK

13-across – : UPKEEP

14-across – Place to watch films : CINEMA

17-across – Classic British takeaway : FISHANDCHIPS

20-across – Harsh unfair treatment : RAWDEAL

21-across – Currently operational : INUSE

22-across – Small mountain lake : TARN

23-across – Climbed : ASCENDED

1-down – Bread,water or baking : SODA

2-down – Form business contacts with people on social basis : NETWORK

3-down – One who disturbs the peace : TROUBLEMAKER

4-down – Theme P : TEMPEH

6-down – Proportion : RATIO

7-down – Witch’s companion – Bagheera,e.g.? : BLACKCAT

8-down – Take foolish risks – likely to have fingers burned? : PLAYWITHFIRE

12-down – Attempt to escape – or catch a bus? : RUNFORIT

15-down – Present in detail and make clear : EXPOUND

16-down – These are fully grown and mature : ADULTS

18-down – Underground waste channel : SEWER

19-down – Bank,drill or potato : SEED

1-across – Board game for two players : BACKGAMMON

7-across – Appallingly bad : ABYSMAL

8-across – Irish potato dish – winner : CHAMP

10-across – AKA ladies’ fingers,bhindi or gumbo : OKRA

11-across – : VEXATION

13-across – Public speaker : ORATOR

15-across – Small seal – ring : SIGNET

17-across – Tear heel : ETHEREAL

18-across – Tea infused with milk,sugar and spices : CHAI

21-across – Tree cultivated for oily fruit : OLIVE

22-across – Sea mist : MATISSE

23-across – Prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain : STONEHENGE

1-down – One making a purchase : BUYER

2-down – Toothed hair tool : COMB

3-down – Cooking area on board a ship : GALLEY

4-down – Native American soft shoe or slipper : MOCCASIN

5-down – Outburst of applause : OVATION

6-down – AKA Tuscan kale : CAVOLONERO

9-down – With a fine-lined pattern : PINSTRIPED

12-down – Days in two weeks : FOURTEEN

14-down – Non-believer : ATHEIST

16-down – Sensation of moderate heat – affection : WARMTH

19-down – Rapidity : HASTE

20-down – Astound,knock out : STUN

1-across – Aromatic leaves used as flavouring – tea or cream : PEPPERMINT

7-across – Bad-tempered grouch – feline? : SOURPUSS

8-across – Vessel for baptismal water : FONT

9-across – Sorry,my mistake : OOPS

10-across – Swiss dairy product : GRUYERE

12-across – What unlocks many doors : SKELETONKEY

14-across – Arid – alcohol-free : BONEDRY

16-across – Poke : PROD

19-across – Go away! : SCAT

20-across – Begin to understand : COTTONON

21-across – Bad luck – like 10ac? : HARDCHEESE

1-down – Snap : PHOTO

2-down – Meat product – hat : PORKPIE

3-down – Small case for needles etc : ETUI

4-down – Button or field : MUSHROOM

5-down – Agile and quick : NIFTY

6-down – Power required for doing work : ENERGY

11-down – Like identical houses connected in a row : TERRACED

12-down – Flop lazily into a chair : SLOUCH

13-down – Singing to pre-recorded backing tracks in pubs etc : KARAOKE

15-down – Person playing very minor part in film : EXTRA

17-down – Pilotless flying device – buzzer not working? : DRONE

18-down – Constant teasing desire : ITCH

1-across – Dull pain : ACHE

3-across – Write or draw in this,but don’t blot it! : COPYBOOK

8-across – Break,pull or taxi : RANK

9-across – Hepworth or Gormley,e.g. : SCULPTOR

11-across – Someone who talks incessantly : CHATTERBOX

14-across – Body art – military entertainment : TATTOO

15-across – In short supply : SCARCE

17-across – Punctuation mark : APOSTROPHE

20-across – Fully aware of what is involved : OPENEYED

21-across – Chanel or Gauff : COCO

22-across – Consider deeply,reflect : MEDITATE

23-across – <span>Body parts bidden </span><i>Farewell</i><span> by Hemingway</span> : ARMS

1-down – Extremely cruel act : ATROCITY

2-down – Pre-wedding social gathering,generally women only : HENPARTY

4-down – Academy Awards : OSCARS

5-down – Football referee’s warning sign : YELLOWCARD

6-down – Solemn promise : OATH

7-down – Pavement edging : KERB

10-down – Poster spit : STROPPIEST

12-down – Opening in floor or ceiling : TRAPDOOR

13-down – Bountiful : GENEROUS

16-down – Appearance presented : ASPECT

18-down – Move rapidly – video chat meeting : ZOOM

19-down – Alcoholic honey-based drink : MEAD