It may just be that I was able to give this one some proper concentration, which isnt always the case, but I seemed to get through it quite swiftly.
There were just a few to confirm in Chambers before committing, but no real problems otherwise. Still a very enjoyable puzzle, as always.
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed. Hover to expand abbreviations.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | NEWMAN – N + (W in NAME<). |
| 5 | ROSBIF – ROS[y] + B + I’ + F &lit, I think. |
| 10 | COLPORTEUR – (TO PROCURE + [rendel]L)*. |
| 12 | PRONOTA – (POOR ANT)*. |
| 14 | HORSE-TRADING – (HARD TO RESIGN)*. |
| 15 | ABET – [alph]ABET. |
| 17 | ADDIO – ADD + IO. |
| 18 | ACRYLIC – (RY + L + I) in ACC. |
| 21 | AUSLESE – AUS + LES + E. Those years working in an off-licence continue to pay dividends while crosswording. |
| 23 | ABUSE – BUS in (A and E). |
| 25 | SAME – [variou]S AME[ricans]. |
| 26 | ILLAQUEATION – (QUAIL + ELATION)*. |
| 28 | LIVORNO – LIV[e] + OR + ON<. |
| 29 | DEBRIEFING – (BEFRIEND GI)*. |
| 30 | SWEENY – [oak]S + WEENY. This one required dictionary confirmation, as STEENY seemed equally possible if you didn’t know the word. |
| 31 | BAETYL – [fami]LY TEA B[ags]<. |
| Down | |
| 1 | NUPHAR – [tur]N UP HAR[dly]. |
| 2 | EUROBABBLE – (BEEB + LABOUR)*. |
| 3 | MONSTRE SACRE – (CREATES NORMS)*. |
| 4 | ALOED – A + L + OED. |
| 6 | ORCA – OR + CA. |
| 7 | STADDLE STONE – ST + ADDLES + TONE. |
| 8 | BESIDES – BE[d]SIDES. |
| 9 | FRAGOR – RAG in FOR. |
| 11 | OARFISH – R in OAFISH. |
| 13 | KNIFE-MONEY – (YE + NOME + FINK)<. This was actual money shaped like knives. |
| 16 | PLUMULE – LUM in FULE. |
| 19 | COULD BE – C + DOUBLE*. |
| 20 | NAIADS – (DAI in SAN)<. |
| 22 | BEN OIL – BE + NOIL. |
| 24 | PAVIA – AV in PIA. |
| 27 | QUIN – QUIN[e]. |
I couldn’t parse 5ac, your theory does sound plausible. I also went the SWEENY/STEENY route with 30ac. Beyond that, I remember I finished it sometime Sunday evening.