{ THE CROSSWORDS }

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Figure needs help about putting on weight (7)

5 He has a simple description for a children’s rhyme (5)

8 Breeding place for germs perhaps (9)

9 Free from pride (3)

10 Sort of lottery nobody wins (4)

12 Records? Yes, of course (3,5)

14 Short form of purdah (4,2)

15 Puts one off, in a humble way? (6) 17 Approve of gin? Rubbish! (8)

18 Lies perhaps some way off the coast (4) 21 Frequently found in verse (3)

22 Gives an example in one’s attitudes (9) 24 Measures a ladder (5)

25 Came to the point perhaps (7)

DOWN

1 Doctor has to die in agony, having no water left (5)

2 Sort of welding used for a circular part (3)

3 They’re not excavated, but dug only for fun (4)

4 A dynamic proposition (6)

5 Took out and cleaned (8)

6 Markets in which you see some strange animals (9)

7 They are barely visible to each other (7) 11 Big clash between superior forces (3,6) 13 Keeps us in bad spots (8)

14 Badgers cost her trouble (7)

16 Wager about dumb animal being a dog (6) 19 After some relief a number relaxed (5) 20 Buzzer was quiet (4)

23 Vehicle needing endless attention (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Superficial (7) 5 Embrace (5)

8 To trick (9)

9 Small enclosure (3) 10 Hamburg’s river (4) 12 Voluntary choice (4,4) 14 Very sad (6)

15 Reside in (6) 17 Impartial (8) 18 Achievement (4) 21 Not on duty (3) 22 Realistic (9) 24 Assuage (5)

25 With justice (7)

DOWN

1 Cavalry sword (5) 2 Purpose (3) 3 Appearance (4) 4 Sorcerer (6)

5 Readiness to forgive (8) 6 Abundance (9)

7 A fine (7) 11 Good-looking (9) 13 Follower (8)

14 Tiresome (7)

16 Put right again (6) 19 Correspond (5)

20 Male deer (4)

23 Abridge (3)