THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Proverbially hard on one’s toes? (5) 8 What dogs like with food is fertiliser (4,4) 9 Inclined to be flat? (5)
10 Insisted upon or abandoned? (4,4) 11 Suffer harm in a way (5)
12 An expert provides fast service (3)
16 The last part of Iran converted into oil (6) 17 Telephone call about an account for betting? (6)
18 Is it sharper if pricked? (3)
23 I buy and sell to perfection (5) 24 Command a slave to serve one first (8) 25 Start being different (5)
26 Hearty communications (8)
27 It has wings and flies (5)
DOWN
2 Bitterness shown by Army CO in trouble (8)
3 Bird to settle on a perch, perhaps? (8)
4 Patchy picture of a lawgiver (6)
5 Prompt about going on day shift (5) 6 Determined to put up the cash (3,2)
7 Many fish stick together (5)
12 Took down a note (3)
13 Some of the newer recruits go astray (3) 14 Dictates one way to prove gold genuine (4,4)
15 Taking on the enemy (8)
19 Trouble with a colour that’s much admired (6) 20 He was ruined by Gerda (5)
21 Strike at the wrong times (5)
22 A record that’s not way out? (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 To conduct (5) 8 Regimental flag (8) 9 Fop (5)
10 Liable to error (8) 11 Sharply delineated (5) 12 Inexperienced (3) 16 Sultanate in Borneo (6) 17 A charm against evil (6) 18 Lad (3)
23 Retract (5)
24 Partial (3-5)
25 Warily secretive (5) 26 Hypocritical (3-5) 27 Clearing in a wood (5)
DOWN
2 Top act on bill (4,4) 3 Permanent (8)
4 Layers (6)
5 Point of view (5) 6 Venomous African snake (5) 7 Indolent person (5)
12 Poke fun at (3)
13 Method (3)
14 Start to run away (4,4) 15 Achieve success (3,5)
19 Dish made with eggs (6) 20 Amiably eccentric (5)
21 King of Judaea 37-4BC (5) 22 Competing (5)