BLANKOUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 8 – ‘Builder’s estimate’ – which yields the word ‘Quote’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry. ACROSS 1 Universal remedy; High female voice

2 Contagious disease 3 Someone with a halo; Sweeping stick

4 Set of equipment; Unwell 5 In a dapper manner

6 Leak slowly; Hundredth part of a dollar

7 Fibs; Pressed (grapes) 8 Builder’s estimate

9 Stylish; Sworn declaration 10 Assigning elsewhere

11 Sort, type; Another name for hip hop

12 Infer, conjecture

13 Sports team; In this place 14 Negative sign

15 Liquid dish; Desperate request 16 Culmination; Tongue-lashing 17 Myths

18 Green vegetable;

Rounders stick

19 Liv ___, US actress; 44th US president

20 Sir ___ McKellen, actor

21 Put in order, arranged; Subjugate DOWN A Kissed cursorily; Solar phenomenon; Llama-like animal

C Breathing passage; Vexed; American politician

D Man in chess; Photocopy E Pennies, coppers; Iced confection F Place of worship; Tousle or crease

G Astern; ___ of, free from

H Cry of approval; Hack off; Less old

I Reserve player; Individual J Recently; Pronounced with a speech impediment K Large showy flower; Celebrities L Punctuation mark; Someone who steals

M Revered; Accede; Southern US state

O Vent, opening; Breed of dog similar to a greyhound;

Small kitchen appliance