THE CROSSWORDS

PUZZLE 16047

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Not smart new lines in underwear (9)

8 A paid informer in the private sector? (5) 9 Hurtful piece clipped out of the newspaper (7)

10 Distinguishing title to open my translation (6)

11 Note the world shortage (6)

12 The plane might be a jumbo (8) 15 Strangely, in matter of discipline he’s strict (8)

18 Toss a coin with me for profit (6)

20 A grease paint allowance in part (6) 21 Higher than everyone in the exam? (7) 22 Perceive the meaning (5)

23 Protect a worker who is accused (9)

DOWN

2 Cheeky make-up (5)

3 Confine one after another, we hear (6) 4 Meal takes an age - unnecessarily (8) 5 Put off one’s retirement (4,2)

6 Possibly one ain’t from a good school (7) 7 Margin notes somehow make things hot (9)

11 One who makes work play perhaps (9) 13 Reckon I’m dividing what’s left (8) 14 Where Erin lad comes from (7) 16 Smoothed out on board (6)

17 Climbed and marked at regular intervals (6)

Mother’s taken on at the lodge (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Meddlesome (9)

8 Become irrational (5)

9 The largest inland sea (7) 10 Fortified building (6)

11 A humiliating discourtesy (6) 12 Happy and contented (2,6) 15 Intimidate (8)

18 Refer (6)

20 Ludicrous (6)

21 Impedimenta (7)

22 Throttle (5)

23 Final intolerable blow (4,5)

DOWN

2 Physically weak (5)

3 To call in question (6) 4 Passive (8)

5 Untidy handwriting (6) 6 Prisoner (7)

7 To profane (9)

11 Outward appearance (9) 13 Large waterfall (8)

14 Just to attract attention (3,4) 16 Tube of gun (6) 17 Unfortunate situation (6) 19 Authoritative doctrine (5)