Weekend Quick Cryptic 130 - Solution

Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce our series of Weekend Quick Cryptic crosswords. We take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's my turn. 

You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below.  Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on  TfTT .  You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here. 

Summer Social. TimesforTheTimes is having a Summer Social at The George, Southwark from midday on Saturday 14th June. All three of your Weekend Quick Cryptic setters are planning to be there. Do come and join us for a drink or two as we celebrate 5 years of the Weekend Quick Cryptic series.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints and tips...

The grid contains references to the venerable sci-fi series Star Trek.

• In the cryptic reading of 4A "cap" is a verb.
• 9A "hip and funny" is definition by example.
• 23A refers to a song by Lonnie Donegan that topped the UK, Irish, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand charts in 1960.
• You don't need to separate "Small bit of food" in 24A
• In 4D the ? indicates a definition by example.

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution and explanation of the answers...

Definitions  underlined in bold italics , ( Abc )* indicating anagram of Abc,{deletions} and [] other indicators.

Across
1 Overheard major cunning plan of All-Blacks? (5)
KIWIS – Sounds like KEY (major) WHEEZE (cunning plan). The All-Blacks are the New Zealand Rugby Union team, and New Zealanders are known as KIWIS after the indigenous flightless bird.
4 Better money retains a team leader (7)
CAPTAIN – CAP (better, the verb), A in TIN (slang for money).
8 Underdone piece of cheese on toast (7)
RAREBIT – RARE (underdone) BIT (piece).
9 Doctor's hip and funny? (5)
BONES – Double definition, the second being by example, hence the ?
10 Explorer coming upon river after river in Yorkshire (10)
ADVENTURER – ADVENT (coming) URE (river in Yorkshire) R (river).
14 Dog's bed found in animal home (6)
SCOTTY – COT (bed) in STY (animal home).
15 Feature of French story on the radio (6)
DETAIL – DE (of in French) TAIL, sounds like TALE (story) [on the radio].
17 Key lever for business (10)
ENTERPRISE – ENTER (key on keyboard) PRISE (lever, the verb).
20 Broadcast Verdi to start at St. Andrews? (5)
DRIVE – [Broadcast] (Verdi)*. A drive is the first shot on a golf-hole. St. Andrews is the home of golf and has several courses.
22 Extend time in custody (7)
STRETCH – Double definition.
23 My old man's job's bonkers; nuts; mad (7)
DUSTMAN – [bonkers] (nuts; mad)*. A reference to the old Lonnie Donegan song. My Old Man’s a Dustman.
24 Small bit of food causing fight (5)
SCRAP – Double definition.
 
Down
1 Incense trails king in church in Scotland (4)
KIRK – K (King) IRK (incense the verb).
2 Putin, basically, supports military operation that's corrupt (4)
WARP – WAR (military operation), first letter of, [basically], Putin.
3 Journalist, unusually, is doubter (9)
SUBEDITOR – (is doubter)* [unusually].
4 Reykjavik and Tromso somehow iciest? (6)
CITIES – [Somehow] (iciest)*. The ? again indicates a definition by example.
5 Starts to prefer using breaststroke to sort of crawl (3)
PUB – Initial letters of Prefer Using Breaststroke.
6 Strange girl beginning to lust after sailor (8)
ABNORMAL – AB (sailor) NORMA (girl) and first letter of Lust.
7 Will occasionally snorts cocktail with these (8)
NOSTRILS – Alternate letters of, [occasionally], (wIlL snorts)* [cocktail].
11 Worships riches (9)
TREASURES – Double definition.
12 Got to the top when finished, we hear (8)
ASCENDED – Sounds like AS (when)  ENDED (finished), [we hear].
13 Includes ridiculous sanction (8)
CONTAINS – [ridiculous] (sanction)*.
16 Publicity over one member of the family creates stir (6)
PRISON – PR (publicity) I (one) SON (member of the family).
18 Celebrity from deepest Argentina (4)
STAR – Hidden in deepeST ARgentina.
19 Send some English IPA (4)
SHIP – Hidden in EngliSH IPa
21 Tree we climb regularly (3)
ELM – Alternate letters, [regularly], of wE cLiMb.