(no subject)
ACROSS
1 Revolutionary essence derived from turning over leaf (5)
FOLIO - OIL OF [essence | derived from], reversed by either "revolutionary" or "turning over": does this clue really need both? I'm sure someone will explain.
4 Play down what's frequently pinched by lapsed criminal (4-5)
SOFT-PEDAL - OFT [frequently] "pinched by" (LAPSED*) ["criminal"]
9 Old monitor's spoken of finance office (9) (4)
EXCHEQUER - homophone of EX CHECKER [old | monitor, "spoken of"]. FOI.
10 Believer in return of a former ruler (5)
RASTA - A TSAR [a | former ruler], reversed
11 Updated method backed by fighting force (6)
MODERN - MODE [method] backed by RN [fighting force]
12 Germanic aggressor once shot during stay at hospital (8)
VISIGOTH - GO [shot] during VISIT [stay], at H [hospital]
14 She's on set, maybe to KO a couple of staff (10)
STUNTWOMAN - STUN TWO MAN [to KO | a couple of | staff]. LOI.
16 Implement not small enough? (4)
TOOL - TOO L = TOO LARGE = not small enough
19 What distinguishes regulated from deregulated crossing (4)
NODE - "regulated" differs from "deregulated" because it has NO "DE"
20 Reclusive elector's ID defective (10)
CLOISTERED - (ELECTOR'S ID*) ["defective"]
22 Gave up supporting English after recurrent arguments (8)
FORSWORE - FOR [supporting] + E [English] after reversed ROWS ["recurrent" arguments]
23 Setback for both Irish and East European competitors (6)
RIVALS - reverse both IR [Irish] and SLAV [East European]
26 Treatment from stylist, extremely clever devil (5)
CRIMP - C{leve}R + IMP [devil]
27 Preacher's an active type, full of charm (9)
GOSPELLER - GOER [an active type], full of SPELL [charm]
28 Dairy product made by prudent race (4,5)
SAGE DERBY - SAGE [prudent] + DERBY [race]. Not a cheese I'm very familiar with but it looks very distinctive, a kind of marbled green effect!
29 Colour of any two short bananas (5)
TAWNY - (ANY TW{o}*) ["bananas"]
DOWN
1 Man with secret order to release mother and child (9)
FREEMASON - FREE MA + SON [release | mother (and) child]
2 Top copper's held up, that's clear (5)
LUCID - LID [top] in which CU [copper] is held up
3 Make too much of frequency of deliveries (8)
OVERRATE - In cricket, an OVER RATE could be the frequency of deliveries
4 Comfortable, as Carol should be after change of heart
SNUG - a carol should be SUNG, swap the middle letters.
5 Chemical from laminate child regularly picked off (6,4)
FORMIC ACID - FORMICA [laminate] + C{h}I{l}D
6 Standard family fare at teatime? (6)
PARKIN - PAR KIN [standard | family]
7 After course, my side's bearing no shame (9)
DISHONOUR - after DISH [course], OUR [my side's] "bearing" NO
8 Restraint for dog while a shopper's absorbed (5)
LEASH - hidden in {whi}LE A SH{upper}
13 Party received standard warning of potential takeover bid? (5,5)
JOLLY ROGER - JOLLY [party] + ROGER [received]. The definition part refers to the standard, as in flag, that warns seagoers that they may be about to be boarded and taken over by pirates.
15 Limited stress good for junior (9)
UNDERLING - UNDERLIN{e} ["limited" stress] + G [good]
17 In the course of last year, foolish daughter's seduced (3,6)
LED ASTRAY - in (LAST YEAR*) ["foolish"], D for daughter
18 Vociferous march by conservationists (8)
STRIDENT - STRIDE [march] by NT [conservationists]
21 Stolen goods ultimately disposed of (6)
SWIPED - {good}S + WIPED [disposed of]
22 Defendant's third book essential in court case (5)
FACTS - {de}F{endant} + ACTS [book]
24 Radiant silver-blue (5)
AGLOW - AG LOW [silver | blue]
25 Grey area reserved (4)
ASHY - A SHY [area | reserved]
1 Revolutionary essence derived from turning over leaf (5)
FOLIO - OIL OF [essence | derived from], reversed by either "revolutionary" or "turning over": does this clue really need both? I'm sure someone will explain.
4 Play down what's frequently pinched by lapsed criminal (4-5)
SOFT-PEDAL - OFT [frequently] "pinched by" (LAPSED*) ["criminal"]
9 Old monitor's spoken of finance office (9) (4)
EXCHEQUER - homophone of EX CHECKER [old | monitor, "spoken of"]. FOI.
10 Believer in return of a former ruler (5)
RASTA - A TSAR [a | former ruler], reversed
11 Updated method backed by fighting force (6)
MODERN - MODE [method] backed by RN [fighting force]
12 Germanic aggressor once shot during stay at hospital (8)
VISIGOTH - GO [shot] during VISIT [stay], at H [hospital]
14 She's on set, maybe to KO a couple of staff (10)
STUNTWOMAN - STUN TWO MAN [to KO | a couple of | staff]. LOI.
16 Implement not small enough? (4)
TOOL - TOO L = TOO LARGE = not small enough
19 What distinguishes regulated from deregulated crossing (4)
NODE - "regulated" differs from "deregulated" because it has NO "DE"
20 Reclusive elector's ID defective (10)
CLOISTERED - (ELECTOR'S ID*) ["defective"]
22 Gave up supporting English after recurrent arguments (8)
FORSWORE - FOR [supporting] + E [English] after reversed ROWS ["recurrent" arguments]
23 Setback for both Irish and East European competitors (6)
RIVALS - reverse both IR [Irish] and SLAV [East European]
26 Treatment from stylist, extremely clever devil (5)
CRIMP - C{leve}R + IMP [devil]
27 Preacher's an active type, full of charm (9)
GOSPELLER - GOER [an active type], full of SPELL [charm]
28 Dairy product made by prudent race (4,5)
SAGE DERBY - SAGE [prudent] + DERBY [race]. Not a cheese I'm very familiar with but it looks very distinctive, a kind of marbled green effect!
29 Colour of any two short bananas (5)
TAWNY - (ANY TW{o}*) ["bananas"]
DOWN
1 Man with secret order to release mother and child (9)
FREEMASON - FREE MA + SON [release | mother (and) child]
2 Top copper's held up, that's clear (5)
LUCID - LID [top] in which CU [copper] is held up
3 Make too much of frequency of deliveries (8)
OVERRATE - In cricket, an OVER RATE could be the frequency of deliveries
4 Comfortable, as Carol should be after change of heart
SNUG - a carol should be SUNG, swap the middle letters.
5 Chemical from laminate child regularly picked off (6,4)
FORMIC ACID - FORMICA [laminate] + C{h}I{l}D
6 Standard family fare at teatime? (6)
PARKIN - PAR KIN [standard | family]
7 After course, my side's bearing no shame (9)
DISHONOUR - after DISH [course], OUR [my side's] "bearing" NO
8 Restraint for dog while a shopper's absorbed (5)
LEASH - hidden in {whi}LE A SH{upper}
13 Party received standard warning of potential takeover bid? (5,5)
JOLLY ROGER - JOLLY [party] + ROGER [received]. The definition part refers to the standard, as in flag, that warns seagoers that they may be about to be boarded and taken over by pirates.
15 Limited stress good for junior (9)
UNDERLING - UNDERLIN{e} ["limited" stress] + G [good]
17 In the course of last year, foolish daughter's seduced (3,6)
LED ASTRAY - in (LAST YEAR*) ["foolish"], D for daughter
18 Vociferous march by conservationists (8)
STRIDENT - STRIDE [march] by NT [conservationists]
21 Stolen goods ultimately disposed of (6)
SWIPED - {good}S + WIPED [disposed of]
22 Defendant's third book essential in court case (5)
FACTS - {de}F{endant} + ACTS [book]
24 Radiant silver-blue (5)
AGLOW - AG LOW [silver | blue]
25 Grey area reserved (4)
ASHY - A SHY [area | reserved]