2171: 31 Across

Seven identical two-by-two squares in the completed grid must be highlighted to depict the unclued entries, each of two words.
 

Across

 
1    Eyesores left out of designs (5)
11    Beards or bristles I rate as ugly (7)
17    Was host dropping soprano, with tenor being groomed? (7)
18    Rust producer engineer replies to about oxygen (10)
19    State when they are drowned (4)
20    Said tool is a calculator (4)
25    Afternoon in sun melted plastic (5)
26    In debates, he backed monarchy (5)
27    Former US colony in league with peninsula (7)
31    Ace of spades to give information about King (7)
33    Origin of milk from animal enjoying soft conditions? (5)
34    Shammies scratching the ovens (5)
37    Company starts to suffer terrible damage (4)
39    Fencer spoke regularly about weapon (4)
40    OK to race around port in the past (10)
42    Turn lightweight with a philosopher (7)
43    Whopping rise not forthcoming (7, two words)
45    Theatre floors are always vacated (5)
 

Down

 
1    Criminal can assault figure of fun (10, two words)
2    Heard case of testator that is dead (5)
3    Gives in, removing ‘M’ and ‘F’ from my WC, perhaps (6)
4    Climbing activities for pets (6)
6    Drug found in prison? (4)
7    Happy stimulation being topless (7)
8    Whack some balls with hard timber (9)
10 Carriers which go around stretchers in the end (4)
12 Monkeys succeeded sloths (4)
13 Old balm, mixed with soap potentially? (9)
14 Hour leaves three seconds in New York minute (6)
15 Imperfect Oxbridge settlement? (7)
16 Very musical fruit (5)
21 Tense enthusiasts almost all crossing over (9)
22 Copies broken respirator (10)
24 Votes before and after reshuffle to support whistle-blower (9)
28 Transport covers wide ground in Bohemian town (7)
29 Coloured material – with this? (6)
30 Pips removed from cooked pizza plates for Italian royal (7)
32 Straighter, as most of return trips (5)
35 Bodily fluids around huge membrane (6)
36 Two piggies in the grass (6)
37 To some extent infancy stunts growth (4)
38 Bones regiment found under bag (5)
39 One giving much to eat some apple sauce (4)
41 Take one inside, amongst two on the outside – what have you got? (4)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 4 August.