Weekend Quick Cryptic 137 - 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 Phil's 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. 

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

Hints and tips...

Here are a few hints and tips.

• In 8A Charles is the third.
• In 23A the cut may be made in order to keep a score or record.
• 24A is a triple definition.
• The answer to 1D is a raptor.
• In 3D the animal is a farm animal.
• 19d has a less common anagram indicator.

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
4 Opt out in prime position (3)
TOP – (opt)* [out].
8 Leak of plot to indulge Charles's mum (7)
SPOILER – SPOIL (Indulge) ER (King Charles’s mum).
9 Religious leader to go on and on unceasingly (5)
RABBI – RABBI{t} (go on and on) without the last letter, [endlessly].
10 Sailor returns after drink to dance (5)
RUMBA – RUM (drink) AB (Able-bodied seaman; sailor) [returned] -> BA.
11 Out of bed, past one's best, given a makeover (7)
UPDATED – UP (out of bed) DATED (past one’s best).
12 The solver kneaded flour? Yes (8)
YOURSELF – [kneaded] (flour yes)*.
14 Wild party kicked off by Rita, always very enjoyable (4)
RAVE -  First letters of [kicked off by] Rita Always Very Enjoyable.
15 Brew tea oddly - not best quality (4)
BETA  - Odd numbered letters of BrEw TeA.
16 Cause rancour after setter returns with beer (8)
EMBITTER – ME (setter) [returns] -> EM, BITTER (beer).
20 Actor to make fun of sleeping accommodation (7)
HAMMOCK – HAM (actor) MOCK (make fun of).
21 Shut up! Nearly there... (5)
CLOSE – Double definition.
23 Cut number of telephone calls home to start with (5)
NOTCH - Number Of Telephone Calls Home [to start with].
24 "Coolness" - book to dish out again (7)
RESERVE – Triple definition.
25 Certainly they were prog rockers (3)
YES – Double definition.
 
Down
1 Big target for fish hawk (6)
OSPREY – OS (outsize; big) PREY (target).
2 In favour of Mike's criminal record (4)
FORM – FOR (in favour of) M (Mike in the phonetic alphabet).
3 Exults when animal swallows 50 shillings (6)
GLOATS – L (fifty in Roman Numerals) in GOAT (animal), S (shillings).
4 Rabble rousers invest foreign currency in volatile markets (13)
TROUBLEMAKERS – ROUBLE (foreign currency) in [volatile] (markets)*.
5 Group of lions was nosey we're told (5)
PRIDE – Sounds like PRIED (nosey).
6 Remove sailor's pamphlet (8)
ABSTRACT – AB’S (Able-bodied Seaman’s; sailor’s) TRACT (pamphlet).
7 Interfere with instrument (6)
FIDDLE – Double definition.
13 Badly mutilate the best of its kind (8)
ULTIMATE – [badly] (mutilate)*.
15 Trailing bottom (6)
BEHIND – Double definition.
17 Where things may be packed as a precaution (2,4)
IN CASE - Double definition, the first a cryptic hint.
18 Was staggered by what angler did (6)
REELED – Double definition.
19 Small hut by hot springs (5)
BOTHY – (by hot)* [springs].
22 Savagely gore man-eating giant (4)
OGRE - [Savagely] (gore)*.