the crosswords

PUZZLE 14804

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Trying not to irritate everybody? (7) 5 Traps adapted to get small fish (5) 8 Are shocking tunes played on it? (8,5) 9 Now so upset as to faint (5) 10 No metal is used in construction of the pillar (7) 11 Opposed to an article on poetry (6) 12 A man appears from yonder unexpectedly (6) 15 Occupy in practice (7) 17 Wanderer of the sea lanes (5) 19 Demolition of homes is a crime (13) 20 Skins reversed to show nap (5) 21 Signs I’d misread as indicating tracks (7)

DOWN

1 Thoughts that could be put aside (5) 2 Offer hospitality to all though cold in winter (4,4,5) 3 Excursions from Tunis go free (7) 4 Forces one to find a new occupation (6) 5 Excavated earth to reveal plunder (5) 6 Maybe get into and remain in strict discipline (13) 7 It is subject to negotiation by letter (7) 11 Gets off with a slight dislocation (7) 13 Old hat shown with charge visible (7) 14 Supplies rushed on board (6) 16 Call for a doctor perhaps (5) 18 Hotel employees a long time in extra thought (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 True (7) 5 Defy contemptuously (5) 8 Impeccable (5,8) 9 Follow as result (5) 10 One more (7) 11 A court game (6) 12 Conceal from view (6) 15 Conciliate by concessions (7) 17 Exact counterpart (5) 19 Bewilderment (13) 20 Slow for lack of practice (5) 21 Fragrant posy (7)

DOWN

1 Basic supporting structure (5) 2 Unintentionally contrary aims (5-8) 3 Unavailing (7) 4 Margin of safety (6) 5 Do without (5) 6 Using very little capital (2,1,10) 7 Capital of Iran (7) 11 Speak haltingly (7) 13 Scope (7) 14 Mild (6) 16 Friendship (5) 18 Adept manually (5)