THE CROSSWORDS
PUZZLE 15852
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Part of the day in which there’s no glory (6) 4 Particular mix of ale and spice (8) 9 About three minutes in the ring (6) 10 Bowlers may hang around here, and that’s strange (8) 12 Exclamation of surprise when doubled up in laughter (2-2) 13 Bulbs of 50 amps (5) 14 Place it within the borders of Singapore (4) 17 They may be relied upon to fix things when brought together (4,3,5) 20 It’s inclined to attract sightseers in Italy (7,5) 23 Minerals found in the forest (4) 24 It’s worn in one’s car for warmth (5) 25 All capital chemists will provide it (4) 28 Tie completely round (4,4) 29 Fuss about the French in Spain (6) 30 Lace tied in a dainty way (8) 31 Greek-Cypriot union is one’s design (6)
DOWN
1 They don’t believe he requires foreign capital (8) 2 They open out for a novice (8) 3 Is paid, it’s said, for making large amounts of tea (4) 5 They should be carefully rounded, inside and out (5,7) 6 Old Irish seer is reformed (4) 7 Sort of type inclined to impress (6) 8 A snake’s game companion (6) 11 Bringing down a plane used for putting troops into action (7,5) 15 Absorbed in the system (5) 16 Situation report (5) 18 Those who feel the heat for those who feel the cold (8) 19 Possibly price a ring - to us it’s valuable (8) 21 Being wealthy, was charged (6) 22 Happen to be autumn (6) 26 Young bird lacking the knowledge to be fashionable (4) 27 It may be proper for a sister to admit nothing (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Copper-tin alloy (6) 4 Very lovely (8) 9 Good health! (6) 10 Virtually (2,4,2) 12 Luxuriant (4) 13 Snake poison (5) 14 Cut down (4) 17 Attract most publicity (5,3,4) 20 Only vulnerable point (8,4) 23 Declare (4) 24 Confidence (5) 25 Firm hold (4) 28 Huge (8) 29 Destitute person (6) 30 Crabwise (8) 31 Repressed (4-2)
DOWN
1 Sudden adverse reaction (8) 2 Exceed (8) 3 Nought (4) 5 Very sad (12) 6 Castle in chess (4) 7 A burrowing animal (6) 8 Without difficulty (6) 11 An esoteric detail (12) 15 Expanse of spilt oil (5) 16 To progress without effort (5) 18 Enfeebled by age (8) 19 Plausible nonsense (8) 21 River sacred to Hindus (6) 22 Counterfeit (6) 26 Afresh (4) 27 Mental confusion (4)