The Sunday Crossword No 3340, Sunday 12 Jan 2025

ACROSS

1   Old Testament prophet seen in tam-o’-shanter (4) AMOS [T]

4   Intensity regularly dropped in avian protection (4) NEST {iNtEnSiTy}

8   ‘How eerie!’ ‘Why, sure!’ Uneasy sentiment when abroad (4,3,4,4) WISH YOU WERE HERE*

11 Chose, after imbibing drop of Laphroaig, to become drunk (7) PICKLED {PICK{La...g}ED}

12 Moves heavily wanting sleep after cycling (7) LUMBERS (-s)LUMBER(+s)S

13 With buff back muscles, doing a flip, they’re resolute (9) STALWARTS {STRAW<=}<=>{LATS<=}

14 Tax channel (5) DRAIN [DD]

15 Wristwatch, say: not so exciting but a becoming one (5) TIMER T(-a+1)IMER

16 Like a competition involving multiple setters? (3-3-3) DOG-EAT-DOG [CD]

19 Ghastly duck penetrating – we need camouflage! (7) HIDEOUS {O} in {HIDE US}

21 Erstwhile capital offence: agent provocateur finally taken, 7 beheaded (7) TREASON {a..nT}{p...eR}{sEASON}

22 Liberally salt the roast, say? Who does that any more? (5,2,4,4) THATS SO LAST YEAR*

23 Everyman gripped by American science fiction? Hardly (2,2) AS IF {A}{S{I}F}

24 What pothead may get from – or do to – his habit (4) KICK [FITB/DD]

DOWN

2   Historic ship showing might on river (9) MAYFLOWER {MAY}{FLOWER}

3   Quiet location for milk … shake (7) SHUDDER {SH}{UDDER}

4   Annoys the French (a primary requirement)? (7) NEEDLES {LES}<=>{NEED}

5   Energy shown by Second XI? (5) STEAM {S}{TEAM}

6   Pinches small tissues (6) SWIPES {S}{WIPES}

7   Shaking tail end, watch a lad fall in Vermont, for example? (6) SEASON {SEe}{A}{SON}

9   TikTok etc, therefore claim idea is deranged (6,5) SOCIAL MEDIA*

10 On the phone, Ms Raducanu will call Ireland (7,4) EMERALD ISLE (~ emma'll dial)

14 Using reason, conciliated freely? That’s not on! (9) DIALECTIC ConCILIATED*

15 Turncoats abandoning HMS inhabited this island, primarily? (6) TAHITI Acrostic &lit

16 Scribble, leave hurriedly (4,3) DASH OFF [DD]

17 Understand second Beatles hit (3,4) GET BACK 

18 They’re beyond help? King George succeeded in the protection of one (6) GONERS {Ge...e}{ONE}R}{S}

20 Where to get dates and a drink for ‘90s rockers (5) OASIS [DD]

Reference List

American = A, Science fiction = SF, Quiet = SH, The in French = LES, Second = S, Small = S, Succeeded = S