Cryptic crossword No 3,145
Fri 20 Feb 2026, set byLeoNessie
Special Instructions: Many thanks to tpgrammar, Blah and SwanseaJack for testing & very helpful feedback!
Across
- Some stop a query that's hard to understand (6)
- Saw everyone in charge being harsh (8)
- Well cap's concrete (5)
- Bits joined without right end, careless employee's malfeasance (6,3)
- Raider worked over business holding company (7)
- More recent imprisoning leaders of youth organizations resisting King Trump? (3,6)
- Makers of rank farm scent (9)
- Typical American university - original commencement nowhere to be seen (5)
- Ripens on plastic at the counter? (2,6)
- Deal involves small missile coming back east (5)
- Much pleased having government upheld (9)
- Correcting answer for me, trivial objection becomes courteous (5)
- Sons embracing faith, making long, tedious speeches (7)
- Movies about patrolling abandoned mine (6)
Down
- Capture space station's head, earn bubbly (7)
- Tied up hotel space upset Edward on vacation (6)
- Miss refused to disclose record (4)
- Start sobbing as rate goes higher (4,2)
- Dante's exposed, lying about volcano (4)
- Attract attention bathing end terribly (6)
- Early signs of Soviet spy organisation lecturer becoming friendly (6)
- Read: escaping from trap, pirate sidekick keels over, recovers (7)
- Leo’s way with brains, upper-class English - his secret sauce (8)
- Marcos perhaps essentially confirms insolence, then admitted nothing (8)
- Time with loot yields a mere trinket? (6)
- Agency informant turned after scam revealing noblewoman (8)
- Lawmakers against progress, not backing it (8)
- Cooks seizing island leaders (6)
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