DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 They’re used to drive back (7,5) 7 Means a gentleman in short (5) 8 Fibre that could be used in the making of sails (5) 9 A somewhat curious place in S. America (3) 10 Mechanically odd? (9) 11 Catch a potential parent (6) 12 It has a glazed look! (6) 15 Ideal trio to arrange daily work, perhaps (9) 17 A right skill (3) 18 Agencies that inform me before help returns (5) 19 Half the operations performed in a theatre (5) 21 Bet a flag will, sometimes (4,1,7)

DOWN

1 Sub-sides? (7,5) 2 Regret it’s only partly true (3) 3 Tempt most apprentices (6) 4 In a way, lease isn’t strictly necessary (9) 5 One who gets up part of the stairs (5) 6 One who keeps an eye on the hands to prevent overwork (5-7) 7 Not exactly up and doing? (5) 10 Complicated tale a bore will add even more detail to (9) 13 Play involving a doctor and a mother (5) 14 Advance warning that is pointless? (3-3) 16 Country provides aid in some form (5) 20 It cannot fly in the murky gloom (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Prove genuine (12) 7 Boxing ring (5) 8 Savoury (5) 9 Consume (3) 10 Deceive (9) 11 Surpass (6) 12 Recluse (6) 15 Laxity (9) 17 Obtain (3) 18 Dim (5) 19 Precise (5) 21 Lack of due caution (12)

DOWN

1 Fearful (12) 2 Watch (3) 3 Emotional shock (6) 4 Clientele (9) 5 Gem (5) 6 Accidental (12) 7 Garret (5) 10 Headlong (9) 13 Power (5) 14 Strict (6) 16 Dispute (5) 20 Donkey (3)