THE CROSSWORD

PUZZLE 15149

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 A learner of French taken in by a showy performance (7)

5 Festivity involves five in a lively dance (5) 8 Avalanches maybe crop up as spring approaches (9)

9 A five-nil reverse that may be scrambled (3) 10 Amphibian went astray (4)

12 Man of arms (8)

14 A shade partly drawn in good weather (6) 15 Tree I’m developing - it’s my speciality (6) 17 An exploit indeed to be beaten (8) 18 One among the best artistes, of course (4) 21 East from the river, there’s nothing (3) 22 Any recess regarded as unavoidable (9) 24 Have a go at producing non-fiction (5) 25 A little nourishment to be taken before study (7)

Down

1 A girl superstar full of sex-appeal (5) 2 Initially thought by some to come from outer space (3)

3 The boy’s in a whirl (4)

4 Adopted and raised (4,2)

5 Is outwardly relieved but didn’t give in (8) 6 He bows both during and after his recital (9) 7 Hide the real changes (7)

11 Fruit drops? (9)

13 Ugly in an awkward way (8)

14 Neat and refined, but rather slow (7) 16 Fights to protect one’s property (6) 19 Material that’s light to put on (5) 20 Rising employment included a son of Isaac (4)

23 It goes round in a circle (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Acute water shortage (7) 5 Outspoken (5)

8 Russian musical instrument (9) 9 Take more than one’s share of (3)

10 Stratagem (4)

12 Pay out (8)

14 South American country (6) 15 Customer (6)

17 Permission to proceed (3,5) 18 Check flow of (4) 21 Belonging to us (3)

22 Active at night (9)

24 Flavour (5)

25 Booty (7)

DOWN

1 Exclude (5)

2 Lubricate (3)

3 A precious metal (4) 4 Unimportant matters (6) 5 Cooperate (4,4) 6 Repugnant (9)

7 Lack of due attention (7) 11 Pistols, rifles etc. (5,4) 13 Unlawful use of strength (8) 14 Confirm (4,3)

16 Reckless (6)

19 A grinding tooth (5) 20 Hindu teacher of meditation (4) 23 Gesture of assent (3)