The Times Cryptic 2019 12 23 - Crossword Answers

Clue	Answer
Game about to get explosive — one may be on edge	RUCHE
Fortress — it’s captured by rogue with the Spanish	CITADEL
Initially leave England an open country	LEA
Very big poplar gets cut down	LARGE
Act as a generous hunter maybe and talk indiscreetly	GIVE THE GAME AWAY
ENQUIRE TOO INTRUSIVELY ABOUT DIAMONDS BEING EXPENSIVE	PRICEY
Alluring old lover twitching, concealing love	EXOTIC
Animal, apart from its tail, is dry	BRUT
A quiet river in the morning as a place of retreat	ASHRAM
One wise person not totally right in action took issue	DISAGREED
Trunk with entangled roots	TORSO
Good line to develop	GROW
Stamped like eggs can be?	BEATEN
Do some needling, upsetting bored emir	EMBROIDER
Impatient desire to behead a sorceress	ITCH
Toxic gas round area	OZONE
One with unpleasant views returning to Gibraltar	BIGOT
Look forward to speech: spit it out!	EXPECTORATION
Poor brandy is regularly thrown away	BAD
Boater, perhaps, that’s wasting time	HAT
The German holding party in Africa, one providing entertainment	DANCER
Energy comes with new diets and chemical substances	PEPTIDES
Daughter’s after sentimentally pretty fabric	TWEED
Against staying still presumably when advancement is needed	PROMOTION
Foundation degree son is chasing	BASIS
Walk with chum around lunchtime, OK?	LEGITIMATE
Glutton she's repeatedly slammed for selfish behaviour	THOUGHTLESSNESS
Point made by Cockney school principal	ARROWHEAD
Modest protest over issue's ending	DEMURE
Celebrity's in high-speed transporter	STARSHIP
Small daughter having trouble in Dublin house	DAIL
Taking shilling off self-satisfied fool	MUG
Stomachs turned by row that's less seemly	SMUTTIER
Positive response when claiming record — cries of delight?	YELPS
STEPFATHERS MAY BE SEEN TO BE SO BRAVE WITHIN	stout-hearted
Somehow sense in market phoney item being offered?	MARES NEST
Channel in easternmost part of Solent getting turbulent	TROUGH
Promoting after-hours activity of teachers around Eton — not on	MARKETING
To abandon the cause shows weakness	DEFECT
ONE PRAISING FORMER BELLRINGER?	EXTOLLER
Diabetic treatment mostly degrading when temperature’s out	INSULIN
Unfortunately nastier type of Greek wine	RETSINA
Store had several drinks put back	DEPOT
Big sound in very small space	VROOM
Running outside is boring	TEDIOUS
Provide cover for places around India swamped by river	DEPUTISE
Democrat is getting put into post. Sad	DISAPPOINTING
Member is arriving after time to enact law	LEGISLATE
After wickedness has been overturned you and I will prosper	LIVE WELL
Act as MP for about now?	REPRESENT
Maybe original army officer's code of conduct?	PROTOCOL
Admire idealist (without taking notice at first) out to get free from guns	DEMILITARISE
Have man raid nest naughtily, with no care ultimately for bird	SAND MARTIN
Example of popular position	INSTANCE

Game about to get explosive — one may be on edge

RUCHE

Fortress — it’s captured by rogue with the Spanish

CITADEL

Initially leave England an open country

LEA

Very big poplar gets cut down

LARGE

Act as a generous hunter maybe and talk indiscreetly

GIVE THE GAME AWAY

ENQUIRE TOO INTRUSIVELY ABOUT DIAMONDS BEING EXPENSIVE

PRICEY