Weekend Quick Cryptic 144 - 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 1A the case is a grammatical one.
• On the radio in 22A is a "sounds like" indicator.
• "bit of" in 1A and 7D is a letter selection indicator.
• "Changing hands" in 18D indicates swapping left and right.

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 Small case containing the last bit of horse tranquilliser (8)
SEDATIVE – Last letter [bit] of horsE in S (small) + DATIVE (case).
5 Consumer from America needing beer now and again (4)
USER – US (America) + alternate letters [now and again] of bEeR.
9 Vicar quietly leaves crime (5)
ARSON – {p}ARSON (vicar) without the P (piano; quietly).
10 Had control and started fire again without it (7)
REIGNED – REIGN{it}ED (started fire again) without the IT.
11 Out of sorts, he drank leading cold relief? (12)
HANDKERCHIEF – [out of sorts] (he drank)* + CHIEF (leading).
13 Being overseas starts to admire beautiful route (6)
ABROAD – Initial letters of Admire Beautiful + ROAD (route).
14 Managed after start of the Easter holidays in capital (6)
TEHRAN – Initials letters [start] of The Easter Holidays + RAN (managed).
17 Rinsing spoon off to serve up salad items (6,6)
SPRING ONIONS – (rinsing spoon)* [off].
20 See Dad excited by a water area (4,3)
DEAD SEA - (See Dad A)* [excited].
21 Claw ... not a long part (5)
TALON – Hidden in noT A LONg [part].
22 On the radio is aware of organ (4)
NOSE – Sounds like [on the radio] KNOWS (is aware of).
23 Old queen went up in old ship (4,4)
MARY ROSE – MARY (old queen) + ROSE (went up).
 
Down
1 Take control of, we hear, large areas of water (4)
SEAS – Sounds like , [we hear], SEIZE (take control of).
2 Hopelessness of some French couple (7)
DESPAIR – DES (French for of some) + PAIR (couple).
3 Unfortunately fated with no sense and an inability to sing in tune (4,8)
TONE DEAFNESS [Unfortunately] (fated no sense)*.
4 Different type of referee that is needed finally (6)
VARIED – VAR (Video Assistant Referee) + I.E. (id est; that is) + last letter of needeD [finally].
6 Ian is heading north in a desert (5)
SINAI – IAN + IS going upwards, [heading north].
7 Describe again wine and last bit of cheese - excellent! (8)
REDEFINE – RED (wine) + last letter [bit] of cheesE + FINE (excellent).
8 Science laboratory’s closure follows this microbe getting out of control (12)
BIOCHEMISTRY – (this microbe)* [getting out of control] + last letter, [closure], of laboratorY.
12 Old hat Donald gave to another (6,2)
PASSED ON – PASSE (old hat) + DON (Donald).
15 Footballer is over land or at sea (7)
RONALDO – (o (over) land or)* [at sea]
16 Boy at back holding a piece of music (6)
SONATA – A in SON (boy) + AT [back] -> TA.
18 Ways for cargoes to change hands (5)
ROADS – LOADS (cargoes) changing the L (left) for R (right) [changing hands].
19 At any time visiting London cemetery (4)
ONCE – Hidden in LondON CEmetery.