Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Set a test for flavour (5) 5 Helps beast run around (5) 9 Fired with fury (3) 10 Large order for drink (5) 11 Fool regarding explosive ingredient (5) 12 The golfer’s conceit (3) 13 Relaxed during conversation (3) 14 Deceive prisoner (3) 16 Enclosure is unpleasant without sodium (3) 18 Set tea out in grounds (6) 21 Rule out bait (4) 23 Now Arsenal has battles (4) 26 Composer sounds more correct (6) 29 Wanting to include tiny creature (3) 31 Roused about employment (3) 32 Ruin in Denmark (3) 34 Charming around branch (3) 36 Hide in Hades, possibly (5) 37 Arrive on time to see celestial object (5) 38 He’s good at karate (3) 39 Irascible friend of Mole’s (5) 40 Looks, say, for coal deposits (5)
DOWN
1 Listen out for adornment (6) 2 A number from Marianne (4) 3 Dog in the evening sun (6) 4 Choose from selection (5) 5 Representative time with book (5) 6 Plead for three keys (3) 7 God of the roses (4) 8 Remain and support (4) 15 Fertile patch for a group (5) 17 Started with sailor (3) 19 Use a needle like this, say (3) 20 Fewer around animal (3) 22 Run off to get receptacle (3) 24 A drama about some ships (6) 25 Rinses out warning devices (6) 27 Strange, my game (5) 28 Tries out cricket matches (5) 29 Declare Vera to be mad (4) 30 Nailed, say, with diplomacy (4) 33 First man to encounter a barrier (4) 35 Rubbish in grotto (3)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Sample (5) 5 Aids in crime (5) 9 Anger (3) 10 Beer (5) 11 Gunpowder ingredient (5) 12 Self-image (3) 13 Perched (3) 14 Point against (3) 16 Pig-pen (3) 18 Landed property (6) 21 Entice (4) 23 Conflicts (4) 26 Author (6) 29 Insect (3) 31 Exploit (3) 32 Spoil (3) 34 Limb (3) 36 Colour (5) 37 Tailed star (5) 38 Judo grade (3) 39 Bad-tempered (5) 40 Garment joins (5)
DOWN
1 Christmas decoration (6) 2 Operatic solo (4) 3 Breed of dog (6) 4 Vote (5) 5 Broker (5) 6 Implore (3) 7 Greek deity (4) 8 Remain (4) 15 Desert’s fertile patch (5) 17 Pitch (3) 19 Darn (3) 20 Female sheep (3) 22 Vase (3) 24 Fleet (6) 25 Temptresses (6) 27 Card game (5) 28 Examines (5) 29 State (4) 30 Diplomacy (4) 33 Biblical character (4) 35 Decay (3)