The Times Cryptic December 28 2020 Crossword Solutions

 

The Times - Cryptic - Times Cryptic No 27859
Clues	Answers
A few mentioned pinching diver's bone	STERNUM
Bond grabs one extended rest	lie-in
Chimney cleaner had to cover tip of chin and part of face	sweep hand
Church conservators never hosting Eastern anniversary	CENTENARY
Clerical group mired in controversy, no doubt	SYNOD
Cross put back nearly damaged element	SULPHUR
Don't go to expert to cover new floor	bunk off
Dry old PM (not North) quit	SECEDE
English officer opening US lawman’s letter	DELTA
Grave scene of western battle	TOMBSTONE
Homes built in spring succeeded in goals	NESTS
Laughing out loud about article in woolly extract	LANOLIN
Left expert holding knight's weapon	LANCE
Major books hoarded by economist briefly	KEYNOTE
Missing curate found on ground outside front of chapel	unaccounted-for
No energy inspires pit candidate	NOMINEE
Odd pie chart at end of cursory study of inscriptions	EPIGRAPHY
Old-fashioned, to bring up young primarily to keep fighting	REACTIONARY
One person from Far East owns clothes range	HIMALAYAS
Parisian is probing hole? Ring police	GESTAPO
Piccard finally cracks two ways to secure source of hot air	WINDBAG
Pledge attempt to seize duke's equipment	GADGETRY
Problem with German missing top meeting	SUM
Records timber that may be rare	minute steak
Republican is meeting HM? That’s certainly a step up!	RISER
Stove, frying pans, then old bikes	penny-farthings
The Woman in White garners Grand Cross	BRIDGE
They offer covert views of mole on parts of course	SPYHOLES
Under Henry I, archery revised pecking order	HIERARCHY
Wrong sorts of whiskey last to go	WRY
The Times - Cryptic - Times Quick Cryptic No 1775
Clues	Answers
A potential route __ bravo!	way to go
Absurd greed over English qualification	DEGREE
Ban for greeting segment	PROHIBIT
By the sound of it, completely destroy lift	RAISE
Clear I cooked a rich dessert	ECLAIR
Desire to get rid of power tool	HOE
Earing I prepared for African Country	NIGERIA
Expression of surprise over serving American's dogs	CORGIS
Footballer you wouldn't want to release?	KEEPER
Furry creature to relax in the country	CHINCHILLA
Golfer's target in jeopardy	PAR
If upset, change the image of troublemaker	FIREBRAND
Italian food around a public square	PIAZZA
Large furniture shop's popular very quickly	like a shot
Lend heroes recycled gear for Oktoberfest?	LEDERHOSEN
Make money if port is drunk	PROFIT
Mob store, reportedly	HORDE
Praise cook drinking coffee	FLATTERY
Smog left brown colour	HAZEL
Spy is a polite fellow	AGENT
Stagger back and stare	LEER
Story's thread	YARN
The lady's adopting a bird __ big mistake!	HOWLER
Villain is after British accent	BROGUE