THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Frozen, it takes half a day to dig out (6) 4 Sign of joy, though an expression of disgust comes in afterwards (8)
9 A speaker who is skilled at splitting alternatives (6)
10 Flings about and disturbs the cat’s rest (8) 12 A quick glance either way (4) 13 Number have a light grip (5)
14 Many have soft feathers (4)
17 What a bad summer will do? (12) 20 Having left the army, not working (3,2,7) 23 Girl seen in a jumble sale (4)
24 Had conceded (5)
25 Wise cooks use it (4)
28 More than father I had, though not worth it apparently (8)
29 Join silent order (6)
30 Journalist about to take a drink (8) 31 Stopped wearing corsets (6)
DOWN
1 Downtrodden, it leads to inflation (4,4) 2 Could be nine seas in tumult (2,1,5)
3 Revered figure in holding company (4) 5 Performed with a high degree of skill (12) 6 Entrance for spectators (4)
7 A quaker may display it (6)
8 Take exception to Ernest being reformed (6) 11 A choice of coffee (5,2,5)
15 Like the thoughts of a number getting over fever? (5)
16 Tears out for a look (5)
18 It’s your go (8)
19 A number expelled are downcast (8)
21 It may be rude to make a digression (6) 22 Dormant fish turned into a snake (6) 26 Fight, probably rigged (4)
27 One the soldier returns to after leave (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Ancient enemy of Athens (6) 4 Emergency medical help (5,3) 9 Cloak (6)
10 Austrian composer, d. 1828 (8) 12 Well ventilated (4)
13 Vile smell (5)
14 Hindu spiritual guide (4) 17 Intimate conversation (5-2-5) 20 Wearing glasses (12) 23 Observe carefully (4) 24 Existence (5)
25 Bargain (4) 28 Emotionally charged (8)
29 East Mediterranean coastlands (6) 30 Similarly (8)
31 Jovial (6)
DOWN
1 Fellow feeling (8) 2 Exceptional (8) 3 Rumour (4) 5 White-hot (12) 6 Humiliating rebuff (4) 7 Way of access (6) 8 Circuitous route (6) 11 Radio interference (12) 15 Sharply inclined (5) 16 Gap (5)
18 Make hostile (8) 19 Immoderate devotion (8) 21 Illusory (6)
22 Rush past (6)
26 Put away (4) 27 Prophet (4)