THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Not against roughing up an opponent (10) 6 Engaged sign on the telephone (4)
10 A charmer about to be detected in depravity (5) 11 French wine department (9)
12 Ensure it will make you rapacious (8)
13 For centuries it was the language of the masses (5)
15 King who had plenty from various sources (7) 17 Grass around the seaport (7)
19 Colours from Dresden (7)
21 Puts on something saucy? (7)
22 Maybe Poe’s a past expert at telling fabulous tales (5)
24 A bitter blow is wanted badly (4,4)
27 Obviously not in the pink (3-6)
28 Appeal either way (5)
29 False witness who turns to abuse (4)
30 Lately here - in heavenly guise (10)
DOWN
1 Likewise enveloped in coals of fire (4)
2 A carry-over of marriage ritual (9)
3 Ron for example may be beyond help (5) 4 Uncle is out to get us; that’s the heart of the matter (7)
5 Let’s eat out in America (7)
7 Used in transporting other metals besides gold (5)
8 He urges one change to facilitate quick growth (10)
9 Such an order can’t be bettered - it includes fruit (5,3)
14 Have a shot at winning the soccer game perhaps (5,1,4)
16 Animal trained to work without worrying (8) 18 Nurse felt funny taking ill (9)
20 Leave the ranks and walk briskly (4,3) 21 Justify being wrongly severed (7)
23 A capital seat I snuggle into (5)
25 Swore to reform but hasn’t got any better (5) 26 Combat wear (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Harmonise (10)
6 A long time (4)
10 Go swimming (5) 11 Person next door (9) 12 Well-to-do (8)
13 Worker in stone (5) 15 Utter lawlessness (7) 17 Insolently bold (7) 19 Reparation (7) 21 Excessively flattering (7) 22 Thicket of small trees (5) 24 In handcuffs (8) 27 Refusing to let go (9) 28 Bring up (5)
29 Stupid person (4) 30 Well-disposed (10)
DOWN
1 Raise to third power (4) 2 Beyond control (3,2,4) 3 Reside (5)
4 Women’s convent (7) 5 Corrupt (7)
7 Flagrant (5)
8 Reinforce (10) 9 Dishonourable (8) 14 Concocted to deceive (10) 16 Disposition to be lenient (8) 18 Formerly (2,3,4)
20 Person of importance (7) 21 Subtle tact (7)
23 Imposing punishment (5) 25 Piece of bric-a-brac (5) 26 Dexterous (4)