Cryptic crossword No 3,144
Fri 20 Feb 2026, set byJeremysIron
Special Instructions: Some extremely light theming in the occasional clue/solution, but no trickery - all the 14a is in the clues!
Across
- Time to cut a firm onion elaborately showing intelligence (11)
- Leaders of foreign lands support retreating vessels collectively (5)
- Relatively expensive ship bounces around, to be more precise (8)
- Worshipper, "straightened out", backsliding after leaving court (7)
- Wealth of stories attached to the French island's mysterious rock (7)
- Sloppy exhausted politician taking test reversed into sign (7)
- Besieged by taunts, rocker Scott shreds (7)
- By virtue of expected protocol, at its heart (3,2)
- Fellate bananas for promotional material (7)
- Save energy following dash to stop trade (7)
- Most outlandish enthusiasm outside of unconfined mania (7)
- Orchestra cheapskate guards pipe (7)
- Arouse us devilishly, philosopher (8)
Down
- Trent and Clyde perhaps getting just deserts? (7)
- Japanese class sampling Georgia rum assuredly tipped (7)
- Fight against drug reportedly becomes jaded and flat? These could help (5,5)
- A challenging experience regarding Chambers? (6)
- Fools slide uncontrollably when cycling (4)
- Out to lunch or dinner, say, taking in books (6)
- Pronounced noses can be first-rate (5)
- Vegetable to sink in hole (6)
- "A lime!" - distraught message (5)
- At first found it difficult delivering light yonder...awkward! (6)
- Strike gold in Welsh city (6)
- Partners in deception survive cab rides ignoring odds (6)
- How to make Brain of Britain cease (5,2,3)
- Essentially watery trip royal's making to find Eastern cooking method (8)
- Reflecting on crazed haters: "It's salty in Europe" (5,3)
- Road without banks becomes one with many branches? (4)
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