Saturday, September 15, 2012 - Lock, Stock & Barrel

Introduction

It would appear that nothing can be missing in today's puzzle from Cox and Rathvon as the setters toss everything at us lock, stock and barrel.

The problems earlier today with Google Docs would seem to relate to the switchover to Google Drive. It looks as if there is something else new to learn.

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend:	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue

Across

9a   AVER|AGE — AVER (declare) + AGE (how long you've been around)

10a   P(ROTE)IN — ROTE (routine) contained in (in) PIN (wrestling success)

Protein, being a nutrient necessary for muscle development, could be considered a "body builder".

11a   COMB(I|NATION) LOCK — {COMB (†) + LOCK (hair)} containing (holding) {I ([Roman numeral for] one) + NATION (country)}

The 's (a contraction for is in the cryptic reading) serves as a link between the wordplay and definition.

12a   DEF(ICI)T — ICI (here in Quebec; French word meaning "here") contained in (covered by) DEFT (expert)

13a   TWIN (B)ED — B (first [letter] of Brownies) contained in (in) TWINED (corded)

15a   {STOCK BROKERAGES}* — anagram (punk) of ROCKER TAKES GOBS

19a   ANTONY|M — ANTONY (Roman lover; Mark Antony^[7]) + M (married)

21a   H(A|BIT)UE — A BIT (somewhat) contained in (absorbed by) HUE (colour)

23a   {DOUBLE-BARRELLED}* — anagram (out) of BLUEBEARD ROLLED

25a   REDTAIL* — anagram (cuckoo) of TRAILED

26a   BITTER|N — BITTER (harsh) + N (piece of News; in fact, the very first piece)

Down

1d   {CASC|ADES}~ — sounds like (we hear) {CASK (rum keg) + AIDS (is of use)}

2d   PERMAFROST* — anagram (ruined) of FARMERS POT

3d   M(AN|I)AC — {AN ([indefinite] article) + I (†)} contained in (donated to) MAC (Apple computer)

4d   DE(CAN)TER — DETER (check) containing (about) CAN (fire; dismiss from employment)

5d   S|PRINT — S (small) + PRINT (letters on the page)

6d   POI(N)TIER — POITIER ([Bahamian American actor] Sidney [Poitier]^[7])

7d   HER|O — HER (the woman's) + O (love; a score of nil in tennis)

The love story of Hero and Leander^[7] is a tragic tale from Greek mythology.

8d   S|NAKED — S (someone frontally; the first, or front, letter of 'someone') + NAKED (exposed)

14d   B(A|GAT)ELLE — BELLE (Southern beauty) containing (is packing) {A (†) + GAT (gangster's gun)}

16d   KIN|G (L)EAR — L (left) contained in (in) {KIN (family) + GEAR (paraphernalia)}

17d   {KOHL|RABI}~ — sounds like (pronounced) {COLE ([American composer and songwriter Cole] Porter^[7]) + ROBBIE ([Scottish actor Robbie] Coltrane^[7])}

Robbie Coltrane portrayed Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

18d   SP|ENDING — SP (Spanish) + ENDING (finale)

19d   ADDERS — double definition; "people counting" & "vipers"

20d   MOBILE — double definition; "Alabama city" & "on the move"

22d   B(RE)ATH — RE (with reference to) contained in (sitting in) BATH (tub)

24d   UN|DO — UN (United Nations) + DO (party)

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon