the crosswords

PUZZLE 14746

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Hostile expression when Cook balls kitchen beginner out (5,5) 8 One with no faith in father backing a horse (5) 9 Is stout perhaps so doesn’t dance (4,3) 10 In a bout we are able to last longer (7) 11 First class letter (5) 12 Attack or shun maybe (6) 14 The old sailor moves back without notice (6) 17 Right country for Latin? (5) 19 Direct behaviour (7) 21 Classical admission of guilt (7) 22 Start being different (5) 23 Grasps and arrests (10)

DOWN

2 A substitute for the match (7) 3 Ocean-designed craft? Hardly (5) 4 Result strangely in a glossy appearance (6) 5 To argue in such a way is a scandal (7) 6 Boat causes waters to rise (5) 7 Tear things apart to put them in order again (10) 8 A positive result (10) 13 Presumably one gets a light tan from it (3,4) 15 Somehow grudged not being fully conscious of events (7) 16 Like a civet disturbed (6) 18 One who is said to scoff fine coffee (5) 20 Splendid old coin (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 At the management’s expense (2,3,5) 8 Nervous excitement (5) 9 Interconnected system (7) 10 To free from a burden (7) 11 Estimate without calculation (5) 12 Prairie wolf (6) 14 Helplessly dazed state (6) 17 Group of Polynesian islands (5) 19 Belgian port (7) 21 Handbill (7) 22 Willow for basketwork (5) 23 Have intended effect (6,4)

DOWN

2 Strangeness (7) 3 A moving swarm (5) 4 Impede (6) 5 Rigidly conventional (7) 6 Bring to mind (5) 7 Immensely tall building (10) 8 Crew’s quarters in ships bows (10) 13 Type of fishing boat (7) 15 Bonus (7) 16 Composer of opera Bluebeard’s Castle (6) 18 Financial resources (5) 20 Cog (5)