1 | Control freak to switch staff around every now and then (7) FASCIST. Reversed {... around} alternate letters from {... every now and then}: To SwItCh StAfF <<. |
2 | Provide sound lacking, at its core, tonal balance (9) EQUIPOISE. EQUIP {provide} nOISE {sound} {... lacking, at its core, toNal}. |
3 | Traitors at the top sacrificed Britain in war to give away secrets (6) TATTLE. Traitors {... at the top} bATTLE {sacrificed Britain (B) in war (BATTLE)}. |
4 | Butter from Netherlands and Austria essentially eliminated by Brexit, unfortunately (4) IBEX. BrEXIt* {... unfortunately} {netheRlands and ausTria (... essentially) eliminated by ...}. |
5 | Maybe if I am drunk, to be very honest (4,6) FAIR DINKUM. (IF I AM DRUNK)* {Maybe ...}. |
6 | Behind Umbertha's cover, crude novel hidden amidst books sold cheaply (8) UNDERCUT. Umbertha {...'s cover} + {Behind ...} CRUDE* {... novel} in {hidden amidst} NT {books}. |
7 | Only denials and retreats? (5) NOOKS. NO OKS {Only denials}. |
8 | Wasted years following a tip from bogus analyst (7) ASSAYER. YEARS* {Wasted ...} following (A boguS {tip from ...}). |
13 | Thick, rotating bars and barriers (10) ROADBLOCKS. BROAD->ROADB {Thick} {..., rotating} LOCKS {bars}. |
16 | Line delivery lands on? (9) DIRECTION. DICTION {delivery} around {lands, in the sense of "wins"} RE {on}. |
17 | Husband's left, overwhelmed by penile dysfunction? This is where one can seek counsel, perhaps (8) HELPLINE. H {husband} + {'s (has)} L {left} in {overwhelmed by} PENILE* {... dysfunction}. |
18 | A piece of a mosaic set awkwardly, second time! (7) TESSERA. SET* {... awkwardly} S {second} ERA {time}. |
20 | Ribald entertainment shows (not of the soft kind!) (2,5) AL DENTE. Hidden answer {... shows}: ribALD ENTErtainment. |
21 | Eagerly consumes innuendos laden with gossip, ultimately (6) SLURPS. SLURS {innuendos} around {laden with} gossiP {... ultimately}. |
23 | Get rid of tortuous JEE and heartless CAT! (5) EJECT. JEE* {tortuous ...} + {and} CaT {heartless ...}. |
25 | Fancy taking a girl out to swing (4) VARY. VagARY {fancy} {... taking A girl (G) out}. |