Weekend Quick Cryptic 167 - 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 with the clues click the label below.

Hints and tips...

Here are a few hints and tips.

• In 11A the police series was originally a radio series from 1949 to 1957 and then a TV series 1951 - 1959 revived in 1967- 1970 following the LAPD detective Joe Friday.
• Changing the front in 18A means change the first letter.
• The mouthful in 25A is something that might replace your teeth.
• In 6D "In Chicago" indicates this is American slang for "putting an end to".
• The bin emptier in 21D is an Australian term.

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 Enid comes back to eat (4)
DINE – ENID [comes back] -> DINE.
4 Bone discovered in public lav I cleaned (8)
CLAVICLE – Hidden in [discovered in] publiC LAV I CLEaned.
8 Keep back comic, harsh, heartless and past his best (8)
WITHHOLD – WIT (comic) + H{ars}H [heartless] + OLD (past his best).
9 Pubs in opposite directions (4)
INNS – IN + N (north) + S (south) (opposite directions).
10 Perversely, spectators may sit here! (5)
STAND – Cryptic definition.
11 Edited grand sci-fi film becomes classic police drama (7)
DRAGNET – [Edited] (grand)* + ET (sci-fi film).
13 Wrongly logged sharp bend (6)
DOGLEG – [Wrongly] (logged)*.
15 Despatched after seaman that's missing (6)
ABSENT – SENT (despatched) [after] AB (Able-Bodied seamen; seaman).
18 Changing front of one's property has an impact (7)
AFFECTS – Change the first letter [front] of {e}FFECTS (one’s property) to an A -> AFFECTS.
20 Partly killing off jargon (5)
LINGO – Hidden in [partly] kilLING Off.
23 Sign off and spill the beans (4)
SING – (sign)* [off].
24 They use capes and rug travelling roads (8)
MATADORS – MAT (rug) + [travelling] (roads)*.
25 Sent rude circular getting a mouthful? (8)
DENTURES – (sent rude)* [circular].
26 Nearly lunchtime however you choose to view it (4)
NOON – A palindrome - reads the same in each direction [however you choose to view it].
 
Down
2 Amin to return? Fool! (5)
IDIOT – IDI (Idi Amin) + TO reversed [return] -> OT.
3 Halt one mixing flammable liquid (7)
ETHANOL – (Halt one)* [mixing].
4 Dog food (4)
CHOW – Double definition.
5 Council dignitary provides tree on island (8)
ALDERMAN – ALDER (tree) + MAN (Isle of Man; island).
6 In Chicago, putting an end to something sweet (5)
ICING – Double definition.
7 Absorbing books, learn about light (7)
LANTERN - (learn)* [about] outside [absorbing] NT (New Testament; books].
10 10A oddly becoming unhappy (3)
SAD – Alternate (odd-numbered) letters [oddly] of StAnD (answer to 10A).
12 Kitchen aid will get grime sorted out (3,5)
EGG TIMER – (get grime)* [sorted out].
14 Illegal position for footballers is essential for cricketers (7)
OFFSIDE – Double definition, the second an essential position for cricketers.
16 Is triumphant cycling in front of academic here in Wiltshire (7)
SWINDON – WINS (is triumphant) [cycling; putting the word in a circle and starting from a different letter, in this case starting with the S] -> SWIN + DON (academic).
17 Excessive number broadcast (3)
TOO – Sounds like TWO (number) [broadcast].
19 Edgar vacantly obtained crop fungus (5)
ERGOT – E{dga}R without the inside letters [vacantly] + GOT (obtained).
21 Greta? She empties Sydney's bins (5)
GARBO – Double definition, the second some Oz slang.
22 Hustlers regularly used Australian trucks (4)
UTES – Alternate letters [regularly used] of hUsTlErS.