The BIG crossword

ACROSS

9 Drying while you’re phoning (2,3,4)

10 Better than, when it comes to barbering? (1,3,5) 12 Delighted to detect, you say (4) 13 Said it’s a surface charm (6) 14 After half an hour I send food round to feed (7)

15 A miniature plane, perhaps (5,4) 17 Sets straight on the subject of clothes (9)

18 On the day, dead annoyed about its being full of holes (7) 19 An animal and one dicky bird! (6) 20 Decline to become enamoured of (4)

23 Giving a guarantee, which is auspicious (9)

25 Set off and left after the other three, we’re told (4,5)

26 Moor by the river bank (4) 27 Even though one has the odd bleat about it (6)

29 Is he grumbling about the old-fashioned transport? (7) 32 With set ideas, going off to do some birdwatching? (9)

34 Is clearly irritated by and cancels (9)

35 An advertisement from “15”? (7) 36 About a quarter recover? How surprising! (6)

37 Fool who will, given time, get sense (4)

38 An ally in one form or another (9) 39 Pay my debts? Lay off! (9)

DOWN

1 Deem to be deliberate (8) 2 What happened when the flag was hoisted showing a flower? (8,4)

3 Smiled when the spider got me agitated (8)

4 The girl’s been stood up again and that’s tough (6)

5 Speak ill of as “a ruddy awful paper” (8)

6 Prepared the bed for sleeping in – didn’t like it (6,4) 7 Downcast and carrying an instrument, said hello (7)

8 The old man, like myself, had so healthy an upbringing (10) 11 Misses one most, being crazy about (5)

16 Brief one on how to be a substitute? (4,2)

19 The girl who took your coat? (3) 21 Spring water (5,7)

22 Attempt to get the keys to the garrison (6)

23 Like the shorts dirty from playing football? (5,5)

24 The salesman’s favourite words? I believe you! (3,3,4)

25 It is to the point, showing intelligence (3) 28 Authorises at last the transplantation of the roses (8) 29 Left inside so germs spread, which is stupid (8)

30 As favours, prepared to keep in store, packaged (8)

31 “A terrible slob,” I add, “hard to get rid of” (7)

33 A drink before the play (5) 34 Supports the defensive efforts (6)