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Jazzgirl's was the posher version, I used the plebby one (the whole clue defines it). Some of those recent clues - from old puzzles - have been a little... dry, unexciting.

Whetstone I am enjoying these small batches that you are posting.
It is fairly quiet on the forum at the moment, and these clues are welcome .

17a. Rover finding river, a sacred one
RALPH

18a. One caught and landed without staying within the law
LICIT

24a. Paint socialist- nothing is in that
OILS

7d. Ultimate criterion - for example "What is Pyramus?"
BOTTOM LINE

11d. Journalists writing articles supporting crew, say
FOUR THE STATE

Parses for the above please.

18a. I C (one caught) contained in LIT (as in to have landed)

17a, Ralph Rover was a character in Coral Island.
The sacred river was the River Alph (r alph) in the poem Kubla Khan.

24a, "oils" is every second letter in sOcIaLiSt, but I don't see anything in the clue to indicate that?

7d. " What is Pyramus—a lover or a tyrant?" is a line spoken by the character Bottom in Midsummer Night's dream.
Also 'the ultimate criterion.'

Cheers for the replies.
Never heard of LIT with that meaning so thanks.

The literary references I really struggle with so thanks again.

As for OIL...my mistake, should say 'nothing odd in that' which makes sense now.

LOL on the last one.... I read the grid answer as FOUR THE STATE....it's FOURTH ESTATE.

20a. Jack sets them a small target - a small forest
WOODS

5d. Dresser following a hard design?
STONEMASON

22d. Equivalent of taxi in Lancs town
BACUP

25d. Water spirit that's invisible in seaweed
KELP

Parses for the above please.

20 The jack is the target in bowls, which are also known as woods
5 Is it just a cryptic definition?
22 BAC is CAB "UP"
25 The water spirit is a kelpie; drop i.e. (that is, that's(