Crossword 2

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

3. A very plain standard (9) 8. A singular occasion (4) 9. Telling job for shopkeepers (9) 10. Blamed for an uproar (6) 11. Don’t sit where the dearest seats are (5) 14. Decoys, breaking the rules (5) 15. Dropand damage (4) 16. Gives out incorrect times (5) 18. Eats some meals upstairs (4) 20. They may be used to make a stool (5) 21. Sprinkle some water on some flowers (5) 24. Approaching the age of rebellion? (6) 25. Usually it’s the best of the entries (5,4) 26. Incline to be thin (4) 27. Dancer all bare in confusion! (9)

Down

1. It’s certain one shouldn’t be so sceptical! (9) 2. Sharp falls in sweet production? (4,5) 4. It gets me upset in the newspaper (4) 5. Force out an obsolete law (5) 6. It might be a latent gift (6) 7. Capital punishment (4) 9. A little extra is equivalent to a salary increase (5) 11. I’m sly perhaps, and slippery (5) 12. Put down and bore witness about it (9) 13. They impressed the old sailors (5,4)17. Most airlines provide this flight (5)19. This column backs one up (6) 22. It counts as a hazard for ramblers (5) 23. Some Hungarian song (4) 24. Horse ran round the ring (4)

QUICK CLUES

Across

3. Originator of a lawsuit (9) 8. Fall in drops (4) 9. Single gem (9) 10. Lodestone (6) 11. Speak (5) 14. Prickle (5) 15. Heavy metal (4) 16. Decree (5) 18. Attack (4) 20. Complete (5) 21. Sordid (5) 24. Frozen drips (6) 25. Identify (9) 26. Plan (4) 27. Called in question (9)

Down 1.

Untimely (9) 2. Summary of symptoms (9) 4. Pillage (4) 5. Fool (5) 6. Journey (6) 7. Stronghold (4) 9. Paris river (5) 11. Make one (5) 12. Harmonise (9) 13. Followers (9) 17. Twofold (5) 19. Reverential (6) 22. Less (5) 23. Nothing (4) 24. Island (4)