Across
Force meeting with defeat - it’s a very thin line? (5)
Unhappy Reginald worried losing head (9)
Abundant supply reduced and … what did you say? (15)
Quality of oil? Blasting of US county will secure it (10)
Andromeda’s heart perhaps is for Perseus? (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
The heart of [andr] O [meda] (in Greek mythology, a damsel in distress rescued by Perseus) is HER O . Definition by example, hence the question mark.
Declining not fine sick (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[f] AILING (declining) without the F (abbreviation for fine).
European and American openness not initially progressed (8)
Lawyer recalled cheers with university abandoning contest (8)
Finished going through spoils returning in intoxicated state (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ROTS (spoils) reversed (returning), with UP (finished) inserted into (going through) it.
Entertaining event: concert with piano at end (4)
Cockney making suggestions about doctor Unionist having an affair (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
‘INTING (Cockney pronunciation of hinting = making suggestions, with the initial H sound dropped) around RIG (doctor, as a verb = interfere with, as in a rigged jury) + U (abbreviation for Unionist). Intrigue, as a verb = to do something secretive or illicit, for example to have an extramarital affair.
Complains wood also filled with dull fruit (15)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BEEFS (beef, as a verb = complain) + TEAK (a type of wood), then TOO (also) filled with MAT (variant spelling of matt = not shiny = dull). A very large tomato, which is botanically a fruit but usually treated as a vegetable. I can’t help thinking “dull” is appropriate; let’s just say they’re usually bred for size rather than taste.
University publisher family gathering about lecturer (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CLAN (family) containing (gathering = taking in) RE (about = on the subject of), then DON (university lecturer). Clarendon Press = an alternative name used by Oxford University Press, from the Clarendon Building where it was once based.
Notorious logical figure having change of heart? Just a bit (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SP [o] CK (notorious logical figure = part-alien character in the Star Trek series, known for thinking logically rather than emotionally) with the middle letter (heart) changed. I’m not sure it’s quite fair to do this without saying what the letter changes to , but in this case it’s not too hard to work out. As in “not a speck of dirt” = a tiny bit.
Down
Decorative cape provided by some terrific husband (5)
Old friend stuck with nervous response of the eye (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
O (old) + PAL (friend), containing (stuck with) TIC (nervous response = an involuntary movement).
Startled saying “Run” after incursion by Australian bloodthirsty (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (startled) of SAYING RUN , containing (after incursion by) A (abbreviation for Australian). Bloodthirsty, or the word can mean just “involving a lot of blood”.
Little space to hide say between manure and cesspit? (6)
Target of jewellery raid left holding broken stem (8)
Upset the writer receiving a poor mark in test (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ME (the writer of this puzzle is speaking), containing (receiving) A + X (indication that something is incorrect = poor mark), all reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue).
Parisian idler displaying expensive coat around alley (7)
Computer arrangement a depressing affair for person of property (9)
Likely to spread too causing boils (10)
Not using oxygen? Possibly be a con with air provided (9)
US comedian almost positioned close to the batter? Not I (8)
Time without permanent employees captured in paint (7)
Makes enquiries mostly about tax relating to personal affairs (7)
Knowledge added to collection of animals after hauling up sea-monster (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
KEN (as in “beyond my ken” = knowledge or uderstanding), added to ARK (collection of animals) reversed (after hauling up = upwards in a down clue). Legendary monster (something like a giant squid) in the Norwegian Sea.
Pistol exhibiting good safety mechanism (5)
Plenty of water round here - I fish saving nothing (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I + S [o] LE (a flatfish), without (saving) O (zero = nothing).
Type letters or click words in the clue