THE TAKE-A-BREAK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1. Head waiter in love tangle over letter (5) 4. Desperate trick played on Father? (7) 8. The first few can become harmful (7) 9. Tranquil land in which one may go for a dip (5) 10. Correct noise to make at a ceremony (4) 11. Cocoa’s in the mixer this time (8) 13. Vehicle returning from the shopping centre (4) 14. Article on the Italian shrub (4) 16. Content with a number (8) 17. Russian port used for styling one’s hair? (4) 20. I go round to see mother and little one (5) 21. Is no man capable of building this house? (7) 22. Code ‘L’ I’m led to believe, is pleasant on the ear (7) 23. Throw out depression (5)

DOWN

1. Sounds as though they’re somewhere else! (13) 2. The middle part of Ottawa is the best (5) 3. Appear to be used by a textile-worker (4) 4. Language to leave when unauthorised? (6) 5. Familiarise oneself with a charmingly old sound (8) 6. Of little importance when it’s gamely pursued (7) 7. Chat led Norman to the discovery of certain dates (8,5) 12. Quick nourishment of so daft a preparation (4,4) 13. Work in France (7) 15. A man in charge of bombs, perhaps (6) 18. To live in Sussex is too expensive (5) 19. Eat up when you see her (4)

QUICK CLUES Across

1. Flinch (5) 4. Waiter (7) 8. Side by side (7) 9. Ground (5) 10. Coarse (4) 11. Drub (8) 13. Perpetually (4) 14. Look after (4) 16. Double-dealing (3-5) 17. Examine (4) 20. Lift (5) 21. Survive (7) 22. Protracted (7) 23. Problem (5)

Down

1. Four-sided (13) 2. Pungent (5) 3. Spring (4) 4. Sofa (6) 5. Hugged (8) 6. Decamp (7) 7. Difference-marker (13) 12. Deteriorating (8) 13. Feeling (7) 15. Tune (6) 18. Category (5) 19. Cease (4)