CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

9 Understanding what the nod of the head means (9) 10 Kind person who’s something of an oddity (9) 12 Nonsense! A hard drinker knocks it back (4) 13 Are in charge and get silver hair all round! (6) 14 Entertainment with refreshments? And how! (3,4) 15 Hurried after, cold and humbled (9) 17 With figures about heart trouble tries to frighten (9) 18 Gave heart, in the end, to the performers who felt unappreciated? (7) 19 Rule that it’s gold and I prove to be wrong (6) 20 Stash away - with the exception of (4) 23 Given a power one felt affronted by (9) 25 Either fire or unload it (9) 26 Are out to get the point they deserve (4) 27 Considered taking action myself included (6) 29 Did it contribute to the snarling of the old-time traffic? (7) 32 Legal proof that you’re the champion? (5,4) 34 Seems irritated when one withdraws from the match (9) 35 Gave the impression, as one left on the trip (4,3) 36 Once it’s planted, does it shoot up? (6) 37 Grasp the branch (4) 38 Stop a man with a packet coming from the supermarket (9) 39 Put a curb on the police, perhaps, or give them more power (9)

DOWN

1 ‘A bit soft’ object to (8) 2 How obvious it is the fortune-teller’s a fake? (7,5) 3 Stayed to meander about. I went inside (8) 4 Desert sand (6) 5 Took to be the done thing (8) 6 As a hen would do when its henhouse had been demolished? (3,2,5) 7 Get a different route and means of access (7) 8 A lot of people got shot in it (5,5) 11 Laugh when he goes into the stand (2-3) 16 Artist who was a convert? (6) 19 Not even rum! (3) 21 Spring water (5,7) 22 The route to the interior (6) 23 No shortage of work for the con-man? (6,2,2) 24 The far tree, felled subsequently (10) 25 Served up, too (3) 28 Reduce speed, after a fashion (8) 29 From where the flowers are, getting one a flower (8) 30 No longer caring, decided not to keep the appointment (8) 31 Writing about Rome, I digress in the autobiography (7) 33 The fish will be rising right away (5) 34 It’s safe to tie up (6)