Crossword

2650: Detention for history

One of the unclued entries is responsible for a quotation that makes up the others (two of three words, one of two words).         Across    1    Precious metals Cook nearly left (1,6)    6    Netball players in mid-court for three quarters? (7) 12    Another one bites the dust, recipe being trapped wind (7) 14   

2649: Shut up shop

The unclued lights (three pairs and two individually and two of which are of two words) are now of a kind.         Across    1    Spice rack item revealed by horse and page (3,4) 11    Plenty of space, we’re told, for nursing with a head cold (6) 12    Deserts featuring brown palms (7) 14    Nasty

2648: Thus at an end

Eight unclued lights are of a kind. Their unchecked and mutually checked letters can be rearranged to spell ‘LIKE IMPIOUS MYTHIC LOCH NESS MONSTER’. Ignore an acute accent and two hyphens.         Across    7    Tax cuts regularly have an effect (3) 11    TT race practice (3,3) 13    Lunatic on motorway initially infuriated by a

2647: Pabulum’s last bow

This is Pabulum’s last regular puzzle, though he will continue to appear from time to time. Two pairs of unclued lights give examples of the theme word. Remaining unclued lights each contain a thematic element: a relevant name (6) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 4    Coccid growing short

2646 : Too many (In memoriam)

The unclued lights (two of two words) comprise two celebrity pairs which are represented by a singleton, two pairs (one ‘In memoriam’) and a trio of lights . Across 1    Slices top of sausage in front of dogs (5) 4    Traffic police with amphetamine found by small wood, reportedly (5,4) 9    City’s main Mr Big

2645: Old comrades

Unclued lights make up a group, its members and location (two pairs, one doubly hyphened). Ignore one accent Across 1    Red Route heartless? Tough (5) 4    Hugo’s girl’s medals are amazing (9) 11    Possible political pact on the left, I spill the beans (3-3) 12    From the outside, edged in to brush chamber (7) 15   

2644: Joinery

The unclued lights can be joined to form six pairs.         Across    6    No intro to US showbiz approach? (7) 11    Left earlier than usual in mere sport (4) 12    Whiteness of marital bed, only partly (6) 14    Again announce gusto outside bar (9) 17    Translated phrase, Latin, gets round (7) 18    Something stuck

2643: Word-building

The unclued lights may be arranged to form a chain of words from three to eleven letters in length, each one being an anagram of its predecessor and one additional letter. One of these lights is hyphened. Elsewhere ignore an acute accent. Across 1    Radio show for impressionists no longer in the belfry (4,7) 11    Singer

2642: A cipher to decode

The unclued lights (including one of three words, one of two words, two hyphened and one pair) have nothing in common. Across 11    Get sober people welcoming sober person home (6) 12    Litotes newspaper plugs seem so funny (7) 15    Poser’s strain (6) 18    Distributed case for delicate key (5) 19    Engineers, mature but not

2641: Mastermind

Two of the unclued entries combine to form a name (three words) responsible for the other unclued entries (one of three words, two of two words, and two of which combine to form a two-word name). Across 11    Custom I outlaw, hiding books for islander (7) 12    They must cool down the crowd (4) 14   

2640: Double entry

The 12 six-letter unclued lights bear a common feature, different in each case, but ignore one hyphen.         Across    1    Put up a hammock for son with Heather (5)    4    One lies drunk after attempt to restore equilibrium (9)    9    After seven days, say, shall journalist be wimpish? (4-6) 11    Muse was,

2637: Born to sing – solution

The unclued lights are the given names of pop stars. The pairs are 7D/20, 12/11, 25/24, 26/1D and 33/8. First prize Karen Bloom, Allington, Maidstone, Kent Runners-up Bernard Golding, Earsdon, Whitley Bay; D.P. Shenkin, London WC1

2639: Spelling the end

22 said ‘29 11’ (five words, ignore an apostrophe), suggesting the placing of theother unclued lights. Across 1    Once rush from county, as ire subsides (5) 4    Essential component of maximum break for players (3,6) 10    Open to sympathy as a barrel breaks cabinet (10) 12    Two ancients drinking a gallon in the shade (3,4)

2638: Capital fellow

Unclued lights (including one pair giving a name, and one of three words from a quotation) form three groups; the word that links them all must be highlighted in the grid.         Across    1    Make bourgeois rogue grin, yet to embrace female (8)    8    Small cover for head or neck (4) 11    A

2637: Born to sing

The unclued lights (one of two words, and the remainder when paired correctly) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Ignore two apostrophes. Across 7    Scottish seagull’s gullet (3) 13    Pull back leading troops president recalled (7) 15    Chocolate powder run over in taxi (5) 16    Overwhelmed, Laura was hampered a bit (5) 17    Reporters on

2636: Happy ever after

Twelve unclued lights may be grouped into three quartets and their unchecked letters spell out ask engineering-academy.gov.uk; each quartet comprises two natural pairs. All unclued entries are normal words, one is in Merriam–Webster and one is thematically linked to its quartet via a Broadway musical. Across 1   Maybe PC speed unit cut after unexpectedly taking

2635: Brilliant

The unclued entries (three of two words, two of three words, one of one word) each complete a phrase starting with the same first word. Across 11    Move left to right in washing plants (9) 12    Bird of prey? (5) 14    Mischief-maker’s restrained in hearing (4) 15    Worry Camilla on a regular basis (3) 18   

Christmas crossword: Double celebration

Unclued lights have something in common, nine of two words, five pairs, and one singleton.        Across 10  Always hard to keep a maid (4) 13  Only covering one’s losing bid (6) 15  Put down women’s medieval instrument (5) 16  Follow the game secretly from chimney (5) 21  Indian wasting minutes in queue (4) 22 

2634: Word chain

The eight six-letter unclued lights half-overlap each other and so yield a complete word chain beginning with any one of them.         Across    1    Complex U-turn before end of lane. Wrong! (6)    7    That woman’s returning remains of make-over (6) 11    Boss has to grovel for LA brawn (4,6) 13    Old manuscript containing

2633: Highly critical

The unclued entries (two of one word, two of two words, two of three words) combine to form a quotation. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.         Across    1    Promotions to fix in commercial vehicles (12) 10    Eager pupil’s plea for online phenomenon (4) 12    Cockney dish rose, having turned end (3,1,4,2) 14    Remark further problem