THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Playful talk about me (5)

4 Pretend to discern (4,3)

8 Idiot in a ship (3)

9 He may explain changes to incomes (9) 10 Airs composed by priest in Hebrew perhaps (7)

11 A bulk transport in Afghanistan (5) 13 He’s as disreputable as Carl might be (6) 15 He forms characters and puts them in books (6)

18 She’s a vessel in the drink (5)

19 Prayer from a provider of funds to America (7)

21 Turn pride into downfall (9)

23 A note that spells trouble (3)

24 Business worry (7)

25 The going rate for methedrine? (5)

DOWN

1 Workman less industrious after midnight (7) 2 Suspects water vapour causes oxidation (9) 3 Kid having a nap (5)

4 Limited in one’s outlook (6)

5 Sort of critic who bangs on the door? (7) 6 Sorcery Japanese women get wrapped up in (3)

7 The whole lot at variance (5)

12 Striking weapon for a formidable lady (9) 14 It makes a man keen on money and woman on food (7)

16 Ponders in order to make an appropriate reply (7)

17 Defame a large number and get into a row (6)

18 It’s talked about among potato pickers (5) 20 A class in biology (5)

22 Manage to get a move on (3)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Confused struggle (5)

4 An order to attend (7)

8 Snare (3)

9 A former name for Ethiopia (9) 10 Affair (7)

11 Maintain (5)

13 Proud (6)

15 Heavy blow (6)

18 South Asian country (5)

19 14th Century English poet (7) 21 Former name of Harare (9) 23 In the past (3)

24 Broad extent (7)

25 Lustrous silken fabric (5)

DOWN

1 Enchanting (7)

2 Former name of St Petersburg (9) 3 Obliterate (5)

4 Espionage (6)

5 A cosmetic (7)

6 Have (3)

7 Smoothly affable (5)

12 Former name of Ghana (4,5) 14 Cooperation (7)

16 Steal (7)

17 Charge with offence (6)

18 Final outcome (5)

20 Bottomless gulf (5) 22 Impudence (3)