the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Dot it again the same as before (5) 4 Some rhymes are so prosaic (7) 8 Contend it’s a quarter after six (3) 9 Analysis of a total failure (9) 10 It may be worn as a favour (7) 11 Use force to get a semblance of peace (5) 13 Way-out description for instance about a ship (6) 15 Circumvent with the aid of a permit (6) 18 She will show a dress pattern (5) 19 Record suppressed by force (3,4) 21 Over and over it goes (9) 23 A pound could be a good investment (3) 24 I’m going at reckless speed in clogs (7) 25 Three points go to my opponent (5)

DOWN

1 I’d come up with poetry that’s different (7) 2 Walk about certain to be highly esteemed (9) 3 Go round in high circles (5) 4 Angled and he’d caught fish (6) 5 Give ground for road construction (4,3) 6 Brazilian port or I am wrong (3) 7 Artist getting up two hours before noon (5) 12 Are able to make simple converse (9) 14 Hurried to include a song that’s turned out (7) 16 He is said to exemplify happiness (7) 17 Ships turn up waiting for the wind? (6) 18 Plain clothes expert in Moslem law (5) 20 It goes up before the tax (5) 22 Epitaph to cause a tear (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Audibly (5) 4 Pacify (7) 8 Disencumber (3) 9 On the contrary (3,4,2) 10 North American treeless grassland (7) 11 Dog-like scavenging carnivore (5) 13 Tempestuous (6) 15 Cost of maintenance (6) 18 A silken fabric (5) 19 Competent (7) 21 Narrow escape (4,5) 23 Calm area at cyclone’s centre (3) 24 Give sanction to (7) 25 Nude (5)

DOWN

1 Relevant (7) 2 Incompatible one in group (3,3,3) 3 Put off to later time (5) 4 Discuss terms with enemy (6) 5 A dirigible (7) 6 Purpose (3) 7 Supernumerary (5) 12 An equal chance (4,5) 14 Extremely large (7) 16 Claim falsely (7) 17 Vigorous (6) 18 Be aware of (5) 20 Irreligious person (5) 22 Help (3)