Get Weaving by Paddock

Puzzle explanation

Column 3 in the filled grid contained contained ARACHNE, a mortal who won a weaving contest with MINERVA (Athene), who appeared opposite in column 10. The enraged goddess attacked Arachne, who hanged herself, and Minerva changed her into a SPIDER.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1Hated spending rule charged
ACCUSED ACCURSED − R
sham cuts following number one in such circumstances
FACTS ACT in (F + S(uch))
11Gun abruptly — FBI agent firing close to in part of head
BREGMA BRE(n) + G-MAN − (i)N
smokes vehicles catches US soldier back
CIGARS CARS around GI <
12Japanese geeks on reflection are to acclaim deleting DOS
OTAKU (A + TO) < + KUDOS − DOS
bound upmarket store last trace of from computers
DELIMIT DELI + (fro)M + IT
13about after skin on enormous turned dry
SERE RE after E(normou)S <
Complaining fashionable clothes her bust
SHREWISH SWISH around HER *
14declines stalls and initially pews
SEATS SETS around A(nd)
African predicant priest’s cape, conceding over case for expensive
DOMINEE DOMINO − O + E(xpensiv)E
15One local caught recently casting line — hooked
UNCATE UN + C + LATE − L
spot fish occupied by Paddock nothing
COMEDO COD around ME + O
16Top EU had leader for non-flammability revised
UNHEAD (EU HAD + N(on-inflammability)) *
fragrance withdrawn left wanting standards
AMORAL AROMA < + L
17makes engineers new fuel carriers for locomotives without number
RENDERS RE + N + TENDERS − TEN
Closing lines resent giving up year to lubricate almost
ENVOI ENVY − Y + OI(l)
18set of tables containing English pine hardest up
NEEDIEST NEST around (E + DIE)
Clear except for 50 to stack
BANK BLANK − L
19drug error involving salesman enzyme found in gut
EREPSIN (E + SIN) around REP
Compound extreme lying about bottling that is
DIENE END < around IE
20Ancient ascetic defended essentially see novel holding Sabbath
ESSENE ((def)EN(ded) + SEE) * around S
support for ball liberal hosts as alternative to gig
TEASEL (TEE + L) around AS
21injures aged served bubbly obscuring taste of Viagra
DERES SERVED * − V(iagra)
Endless bonking duke drinking partner drugged
SEDATED (SE(x) + D) around DATE
Down
1 ASSURE (ASS + MANURE) − MAN
BOUNED E in BOUND
2 CREESE C + SERENE * − N
TENNER RENNET <
3 CACHES CATCHES − T
EARNER ARNE in ER
4 STAINS (A STAND-IN − DNA *) * + S
MUSSES MUSES with middle letter repeated
5 EDDIES D(rainpip)E < + DICES − C
ADHERE HAD * + ERE
6 DECANT ANT & DEC in the opposite of the usual order
CROSSE ORC < + SS + (fishing-lin)E
7 FILMED FILED around M
EMOTED (farc)E + MO + TED; ref. Father Ted
8 CAMERA CAME + R(ankings) + A
INVEST IN + VET around S
9 TISANE ’TIS AN E
REDONE ON in (RED + E)
10 STOLID (IS TOO OLD − OO) *; ref. pair in cricket
SHEKEL S(harjah) + (HEEL around K)
Back to 2021 menu