Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
Cryptic clues ACROSS
1 Want to improve
German accent (5)
5 Baffle the
remainder (5)
9 Brigade’s gear (3)
10 Reversible blade? (5) 11 Stupid pub has a
point (5)
12 Also among
pandas (3)
13 Favourite dog,
say (3)
14 Hearsay about
organ (3)
16 Run off to get
receptacle (3)
18 Course brought on
salver, say (6)
21 Does order some
medicine (4)
23 Change gear in
fury (4)
26 Wife builds a tomb
for marsupial (6)
29 Talk of argon, say (3) 31 Same level within
department (3)
32 Stipulate about
dump (3)
34 You and I have time
to get soaked (3)
36 Animated a veil
badly (5)
37 Representative time
with book (5)
38 Rushed out of
France (3)
39 Don’s upset with
unknown council (5) 40 Use betting at
conclusion (5)
DOWN
1 Stand with three legs, stumble, and ring head doctor (6) 2 Complain audibly at
drink (4)
3 A portal’s made of
stones (6)
4 Salute engineers and
get out (5)
5 Look at new rates (5) 6 Not returning a great
deal (3)
7 Our Duncan’s
tongue (4)
8 Map of esplanade (4) 15 Roam around after a
smell (5)
17 Struggled with
mat (3)
19 One writer’s novel (3) 20 Are back for a long
time (3)
22 Removal includes
eggs (3)
24 A trite form of
costume (6)
25 Old writer has note
to dole out (6)
27 Plumped for new
depot (5)
28 British traitors are
spoilt children (5) 29 Gasp, somehow, at
holes (4)
30 Small, pale bird (4) 33 Terrible name for a
tsar (4)
35 The golfer’s
conceit (3)
Quick clues
ACROSS
1 String sound (5)
5 Confound (5)
9 Equipment (3)
10 Helicopter blade (5) 11 Senseless (5)
12 Common word (3) 13 Domestic animal (3) 14 Listening organ (3) 16 Vase (3)
18 Meal course (6)
21 Amount of
medicine (4)
23 Anger (4)
26 Marsupial (6)
29 Type of element (3) 31 Equal (3)
32 Gratuity (3)
34 Moist (3)
36 Living (5)
37 Broker (5)
38 Sprinted (3)
39 Church council (5) 40 Exhaust (5)
DOWN
1 Camera stand (6) 2 Alcoholic drink (4) 3 Banded
minerals (6)
4 Welcome (5)
5 Ogle (5)
6 Weight (3)
7 Asian language (4) 8 Scheme (4)
15 Scent (5)
17 Floor covering (3) 19 Fresh (3)
20 Age (3)
22 Egg cells (3)
24 Dress (6)
25 Use up (6)
27 Chose (5)
28 Spoilt children (5) 29 Openings (4)
30 Long-necked
bird (4)
33 Man’s name (4)
35 Self-image (3)