Weekend Quick Cryptic 141 - 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 Sawbill'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.

• 1A is a cryptic definition.
• 19A the nationals are sometimes erroneously described as being Central American.
• 6D is an anagram.
• In 11D the bloomer is a flower.

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 They'll get you back (6,7)
RETURN TICKETS – Cryptic definition.
8 Small stones in bottle (4)
GRIT – Double definition.
9 Time a crisis developed - roughly 250 million years ago? (8)
TRIASSIC –  T (time) (a crisis)* [developed].
10 Mixed salad left over in a state (2,8)
EL SALVADOR – (salad l over)* [mixed], with L for left.
12 Way out, say, on ship (6)
EGRESS – EG (for example; say) RE (on) SS (ship).
14 Lets everyone at first order whisky and soda (6)
ALLOWS – ALL (everyone) and first letters of Order Whisky and Soda.
15 Rotten idea developed and given direction (10)
ORIENTATED – (rotten idea)* [developed].
19 North Americans in cinemas ran riot around ten (8)
MEXICANS – X (ten in roman numerals) in (cinemas)* [ran riot].
20 Kiss at last on cheek with these? (4)
LIPS – LIP (cheek) and last letter of kisS.
21 A fancy airline's doctored accounts cover this period (9,4)
FINANCIAL YEAR – (a fancy airline)* [doctored].
 
Down
2 Organ stops with silencers (8)
EARPLUGS – EAR (organ) PLUGS (stops).
3 Extremist in awful tracksuit (5)
ULTRA – Hidden in awfUL TRAcksuit.
4 Evita returns in new theatres finally for locals (7)
NATIVES – EVITA [returns] -> ATIVE, in N (new) and last letter of theatreS.
5 I appeared in one boy's epic story (5)
ILIAD – I in I (one) LAD (boy).
6 Hawk is sleek and starts to turn right flying (7)
KESTREL (sleek t r)* [flying], with the initial letters of Turn Right being added to “sleek” to make the anagram elements.
7 Dog to get sick after time (4)
TAIL – T (time) AIL (get sick).
11 Bloomer with dessert and chopped fruit (5,3)
SWEET PEA – SWEET (dessert) and PEA{r} (fruit) [chopped].
13 Heather devouring books ... naughty books? (7)
EROTICA – OT (Old Testament; books) in ERICA (species of heather).
14 Tendency to forget a name is crazy (7)
AMNESIA – (a name is)* [crazy].
16 Newton starts to investigate science and art combination (5)
ISAAC – Initial letters of Investigate Science And Art Combination.
17 Partner picks up echo in thoroughfare (5)
ALLEY – E (echo in the phonetic alphabet) in ALLY (partner).
18 House found in south east Michigan (4)
SEMI – SE (south east) MI (Michigan).