the crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 All-inclusive cleaning operation (8) 5 God written about by the poet Horace (4) 9 Verbal criticism of the show (5) 10 Laughs at what could be desired (7) 11 Gives publicity to rows in foreign parts (6,6)

13 At holiday time it may be busy or in repose (6)

14 Unions strangely in agreement (6) 17 Anti-social type to distress the manufacturer (12)

20 Its quarters are hardly spotless (7) 21 Cast metal found in making other metals (5)

22 Painful choice of points (4)

23 Inside man (8)

Down

1 No excuse for pleasure that’s certain (4) 2 Having no right to souvenir might become jealous (7)

3 Transport of delight? (8,4)

4 He’s not suited for his leisure activities (6) 6 If you have a complaint you may resort to this (5)

7 Not a visitor I’d outwardly object to (8) 8 A spire-bender disturbs the clergymen (12)

12 Idly talks and lets part go wrong (8) 15 Ten sung out for a weapon (4,3) 16 Person who stoops to alcoholic excess? (6)

18 Smell reportedly comes from a river (5) 19 Merit mark in best artistic category (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 US Atlantic state (8)

5 Exult at success (4)

9 Disunity (5)

10 Use up (7)

11 Greatly superior (7,5) 13 Concealment (6)

14 Fit to be eaten (6)

17 Fearful of the future (12) 20 Zero (7)

21 Ooze out (5)

22 Flower symbolising purity (4) 23 Perpendicular (8)

DOWN

1 Container for cut flowers (4) 2 Told (7) 3 Meanwhile (2,3,7)

4 Stir up (6)

6 Course chosen for journey (5) 7 Coaxed with flattery (8) 8 White-hot (12)

12 Metal fragments of shell-burst (8)

15 Camp out in the open (7) 16 Alliance (6)

18 Part of flower (5) 19 Amphibious marine mammal (4)

© Gemini Crosswords 2012 All rights reserved PUZZLE 15124