364 263 by Xanthippe

Puzzle explanation

When using PREDICTIVE TEXT on a MOBILE PHONE, 2 is A, B or C, 3 is D, E or F, and so on. The decoded instruction in the preamble thus read: Join centres of consecutively numbered cells with curves and complete the shape using two straight lines. A three word slang phrase must be written under the grid. The decoded title gave “Dog and” which, with the drawn shape of a bone, should lead solvers to the rhyming slang for “phone”. Surprisingly, this phrase — currently used in a TV advert — is not in The Chambers Dictionary, but it is in The Oxford Dictionary of English.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

Answer Explanation
Across
SADIST SA’ + DIT about S
SEPTA SETA about P
TIER TIGER – G
APROPOS OS after (A + PROP (Rugby))
ERASE ERAS’ + E(ditor)
REAM RAM about E
COERCED COED about (E + RC)
ENQUIRIES E + (IN RISQUÉ) *
ERADICATE (fin)E + C in RADIATE
COUPLET L in COUPÉ + T (Model T car)
IDÉE (DEEM – M) after I
RERAN Hidden reversed
ALLAYED A + LED about (LA + Y)
VARE VAR(y) + (lac)E; see vara
TEXT T + NEXT – N
ADONISE (ASIDE + ON) *
Down
STEREO STEER, E to end + O’
BAIRN AIR in BN
IDEAL I DEAL, as could be said by croupier
ESPECIALLY PIECES * + ALLY
SHORE S(upporting) + H OR E [H(id)E]
TOMCAT TOM + CAT
EASTER EATER about S’
PREORDERED “PRE” ORDERED = rep; see list of pre words in The Chambers Dictionary
SLUR LUR after ’S
NOODLE Two definitions and DOLE ON *
EINE (Gr)EENI(sh) *
ÉCLAT (ELATED – ED) about C
ERNES ’RE < + NES(t)
PLEAT P + LEAST – S
GROAN GRAN with O (hole) in middle (heart)
SARIN SPAR – P + IN
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