thecrosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1 Hired hands? (6) 4 A liqueur mixed in the basin (8) 9 Having a decayed property to rent

out (6) 10 Its report is deliberately

delayed (4,4) 12 Hollow welcome given to start of

the century (4) 13 Restrict it after 51,000 (5) 14 Simulate sound cheerfully (4) 17 Fixing this bangle is

complicated (12) 20 He may be objecting to modern

arts perhaps (12) 23 A spirit of the garden (4) 24 She appears in an ensemble that’s

rather colourless (5) 25 Improve on the ebb tide (4) 28 Scoffing inside or out (8) 29 Phrase possibly carved over the

tomb (6) 30 Am as keen to gain a similar

title (8) 31 Main US source of hostility (6)

DOWN 1 Craft of many wise men (8) 2 It turns up before five in a city

business (8) 3 So this is pickled and not allowed

to go to waste (4) 5 Their bliss is shattered in the

United Kingdom (7,5) 6 Time to change the piece in the

paper (4) 7 Beyond redemption? What rotten

luck! (3,3) 8 Falling off Big Ben (6) 11 It’s bound to include all who stay at

an hotel (8,4) 15 Institution founded by sailor and

Turk (5) 16 Way in for all competitors (5) 18 Its aim is to produce winners of

course (4,4) 19 ‘Les Miserables’ or ‘The Turn of the

Screw’ (8) 21 Conflict over a study for the one in

charge (6) 22 Enough to prevent parting without

meeting (6) 26 Presumably one doesn’t know

when one does this (4) 27 Near the middle (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS 1 Oppressively hot (6) 4 Superficial (4-4) 9 Commemorative tablet (6) 10 US Defense Department (8) 12 Widespread (4) 13 Contributor (5) 14 With the addition of (4) 17 A boost (4,2,3,3) 20 Fail badly (4,1,7) 23 To lament (4) 24 Have benefit of (5) 25 Stinging insect (4) 28 Material (8) 29 Quarrel in petty way (6) 30 Position of flag for

mourning (4-4) 31 Point-blank (6)

DOWN 1 Subdue (8) 2 Overtake alternately (8) 3 Heavy defeat (4) 5 Remain calm (4,4,4) 6 Distinction (4) 7 Overwhelm (6) 8 Impose penalty on (6) 11 New Zealand mountain

range (8,4) 15 Comparatively unimportant (5) 16 Tolerate (5) 18 Appealing to affluent buyers (8) 19 An attribute (8) 21 Short sudden jerk (6) 22 Noteworthy (6) 26 Resolute (4) 27 Occupy completely (4)