CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Was, if misconstrued, associated with strays (5) Contest that can lead to a flare-up (5)

Nothing but a metal product, yet of vegetable origin (7)

Boastful, being above the general level (5) Owlish yet colourful (5) She’s mean, keeping hold of a fag-end (5)

One less heavy on petrol? (7)

Go out of shape, perhaps (3) Tied in a knot. (That’s ‘correct’) (4)

Part of one’s costume for a dance (6)

19 The terrorist’s blunder (5) 20 Many can be urged to work hard (6)

Defeat the greatest! (4) Not really short for Consuela! (3)

As produced by porters and journalists (7) Invention endlessly contributive to transportation (5)

When she got her gun, did she have one and nine change? (5)

For a great man, it’s wrong to upset Nat (5) Fatheaded deed by a minority group (7)

When released, Fred circumnavigates the Earth (5) No, you needn’t ask again (5) 6 9 10

11 12

13

15 17

18 22 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

DOWN

2

Scared to wander far for 3 4

5 6 7 8

12 13 14

15 16

18 help (6)

The false start should be contested (6)

Sorry to separate father and daughter in California (3) Forever a novel character (5) A killer in the ring (7) A Catalan name? (4) Run as one simply cannot do, on a half of beer (6) Joined the regiment in time (5)

This team is in front, you say? (5)

Old-time dance for which Joe joins some guests (5) Blue boy? (5) They’ve cornered a part of Westminster Abbey (5) Breaking an elbow can help with you digestion (5) 19 21 22 23

25 26

28 Noted horse for a master intellectual (7)

One possibly scarlet, going up the pole? (6)

Being stupid or stolid is more than sheepish (6) Smartly set about the boys in blue, as punishment (6) Opening payments? (5) She’s the one few are wrong about (4)

Not up to weight? (3)