Cryptic crossword No 2,862
Tue 18 Nov 2025, set bySpuggy
Special Instructions: Seven across clues indicate both parts of a single entity. The definition indicates one part, and the wordplay indicates the other part. In each case, only one word should be entered into the grid, and the other word should be omitted.
(Part of one across entry itself consists of two words - one of these should also be omitted.)
The first letters of all the omitted words, grouped according to their type and rearranged, produce the answers at 16 and 17a.
(All down clues are normal.)
Across
- Half of superhero team stripped super-powerless in the street (6)
- Picked up scaffold and spotted pieces (7)
- Measurement of electricity by power plant workers (4)
- Bird's joint tails in temporary position (10)
- Flimisier, raunchier trousers that Romeo comes in front of (6)
- Screening film without ending, audience ignoring first half - it may be documentary (8)
- Spot tinkles, coating base of wall and sprouting plants (9)
- Second part in theme entries (see preamble) (4)
- First part in theme entries (see preamble) (4)
- Normal vineyard invader: rodents (9)
- E... entertainers sexistly replacing female with blokey leader (8)
- Tailored Armani suit (6)
- Occasionally asking personalities for autographs (10)
- It's relaxing and quiet, jamming less Black Sabbath (3,4)
- Colour finally, finally on Harris's top - seen in a red top (sometimes!) (4)
- Hurry, capturing overly contrary, prickly and toxic creature (6)
Down
- A fortune's wasted, reveals count (9)
- Showed 13, or 13 with less energy and lower degree (7)
- I traded for drug in train - then emergency room staff's starting to give steroids, perhaps? (13)
- Turkish city is only heard (5)
- Christmas gift figures wrapped up in gold, one decorative paper (7)
- Like some olive oil and French wine dressing for starters of Italian roast goose? (6)
- Ex: "Tom lied! Bastard!" (3-4)
- Increasingly involved in adopted child retreating to company of video games endlessly (5,4)
- Subtext of call-out is harsh and rude (7)
- Scammer's product hoodwinks posh politicians and causes inflation (5,2)
- Family half-fated to be the most loving (7)
- Ruble pocketed by drunk, timid Russian man (6)
- One in 28 keeling over - no time to get therapy (5)
Spuggy has made 1 change since publishing this crossword.
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