CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7. The someone up there who’ll look after one (8,5)

8. Sort of soft-centred (4-7)

12. One goes through the drawers to find the guns (6)

14. Knocked lightly and got the screw-thread cut (6)

16. Runnel in a backstreet makes a tremulous sound (6)

18. The real game is sent in a spin (6)

19. There is a lee one could turn into spirit (11)

23. Make a complete pig of oneself utterly to commit to it (2,3,5,3)

DOWN

1. It is even the time for it (4)

2. Do so, and bear it with a broad smile (4)

3. Aerials one brings to the table? (6)

4. It can’t be altered, being whole (6)

5. A swelling may make a tangle in one’s hair (4)

6. A bugle drawn by a marksman (4)

9. Do some damage to one with carbon in flint perhaps (7)

10. Uses money or energy previous spouse might spend otherwise (7)

11. A date in old Rome put inside senate (4)

12. Was author, one hears, using mechanical memory (4)

13. Measure that was taken from the arm pulled up inside (3)

15. A hole in one card (3)

17. Bad writing consists of initial serif and a stroke (6)

18. In which to brew the cup that cheers (6)

19. Greek god who gave up being angry (4)

20. A vertical drop in the sound of laughter (2-2)

21. I’d found half of them the same in Latin (4)

22. Black bone composition (4) WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Tingles 5. Swarm 8. Retrace 9. Exist 10. Wallpaper

12. Sir 13. Range 17. Sic 19. Head start 21. Exude 22. Gas main

24. Depot 25. Tumbled

Down: 1. Thrown 2. Nettled 3. Lea 4. Sheep 5. Sheerlegs 6. Alias

7. Motors 11. Parchment 14. Sea wall 15. Ascend 16. Stoned

18. Clump 20. Argot 23. Sum WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Zoological 7. Ample 8. Prolong 10. Skydiver 11. Visa

13. Ascend 15. Haggle 17. Keen 18. Drudgery 21. Exploit 22. Rival

23. On your toes

Down: 1. Zippy 2. Obedient 3. Osprey 4. Idol 5. Adoring 6. Ramshackle

9. Gravely ill 12. Pander to 14. Cheapen 16. Orator 19. Eaves 20. Hobo

WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTIONS