THE GIANT CROSSWORD
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
13 What stingy person ordered at fish restaurant? (10) 14 Always upset about, fib to alleviate (7) 15 Local time could be near about five (6) 16 Does stagger round us, tipsy (6) 17 For audition, he is accompanied by a band (7) 18 Dog’s name? Right again! (5) 19 Tremor rocked centre of city (4) 20 Lopped off half of evergreens running riot in border (5) 21 Chars for Robert (5) 22 Obsessions about possessions? (6) 23 Made out a figure on the little plaque (5) 28 Mother with son in converted sumptuous home (7) 30 How your brave friend defended you? (7) 33 And when helm is wobbling about, do the wrong thing (9) 36 All streets surrounding have kiosks (6) 38 After century and a half, are out to exonerate (5) 39 ‘Isn’t awfully good’ hurt (5) 40 Struggled to sort out. We’ve lost half (6) 42 Push and partially push over (5) 43 For a lag, the only comfort (7) 44 Stand by the wife, a sly, treacherous person (6) 46 Inside with a fellow soldier (4) 49 Put out — objections overturned (4) 51 Round the gun barrel, on the inside (6) 53 Great enthusiasm does fade away. I get over (7) 55 Why you hear raucous bird cries (5) 59 As it matures, spine develops on other end (6) 60 Out and about, going round the course (5) 61 Central part is a barren area, we’re told (5) 62 One gypsy or, perhaps, a large number (6) 63 Something to be said for having a bank account? (9) 65 Tell us again — about amazing treat, that is (7) 66 Tried to open out map in vehicle (7) 70 Respite you’ll get if you’re lucky (5) 71 Yells ‘Quiet!’ to us, playing (6) 73 Dog and someone putting it in a crate? (5) 75 Book for boy, about five? (5) 80 I left Lucie gamboling about (a pointer) (4) 82 Lying, as before, on being apprehended (5) 83 In a way, embracing run-of-the-mill (7) 84 Two kisses on paper, or quite a few (6) 85 Is, in convoluted plot, the murder weapon (6) 86 Looked good, having made the incision (7) 87 Making no complaints about there being loopholes in contract? (3,7)
DOWN
1 Decide on quaint Soho church to hold it in (6) 2 Extracts ticket, taking long time (8) 3 Apart from having said ‘Wrong note’ (5) 4 Hadst been thou, messing up, that created flop? (7) 5 Continue to be, myself, held up by bad weather (6) 6 Vehicle turning right gets in a skid (5) 7 See figure entered is insubstantial (6) 8 To abstain from is a bit of a strain (7) 9 Hard work on the racecourse? (5,5) 10 The missus, upset, is about to rant and rave (5) 11 Managed to write one nonsense rhyme to be included (8) 12 Demure and quiet, on edge (4) 24 Is it the end for Alex and partner? (3,4) 25 What gives a squeak when you think there’s nothing inside? (5) 26 Pure nonsense. Ridiculous lie. Childish (7) 27 Does the musician blowing it sing? (7) 29 The middle of nowhere, literally (5) 31 Sit again in back rows (5) 32 Because left hand is holding whip (4) 34 Attack at a price, so to speak (6) 35 It’s a U.S. coin, stupid: a quarter (4) 37 Above all, first off, set out to be charming (7) 41 Take back éclair, squashed, given to Monsieur (7) 45 Tries to kill early growths (6) 47 Have the audacity to go on parking in front of (7) 48 Mad when I got in her way, clumsily (7) 50 Fool better half with bird imitation (7) 52 French, we savvy (4) 54 By which insect met with quick end? (5) 56 Meaning to ensure Poles are granted asylum in (5) 57 Measures the paws (4) 58 Fancy a drink, imbibing last of wine (5) 60 Have a stab at, when you rehearse (3,7) 64 An attempt to stave off, intervening, is farcical (8) 67 Either goes on or returns (8) 68 Having me run off a large number (7) 69 Had been crumpled: hat was packed below (7) 72 Will it keep the nursery looking tidy? (6) 74 Going on and on, is chopping stew ingredients (6) 76 At ten to ten, Edward accepts offer (6) 77 Something it takes a while to learn at Hogwarts? (5) 78 A blasted red! (5) 79 Sedate ‘It’s a new day’ (5) 81 Set about one youth (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
13 Stingy person (10) 14 Alleviate (7) 15 Inn (6) 16 Tipsy (6) 17 Sense of sound (7) 18 Wanderer (5) 19 Capital city (4) 20 Border (5) 21 Singes (5) 22 Articles (6) 23 Award (5) 28 Imposing house (7) 30 Staunchly (7) 33 Bungle (9) 36 Kiosks (6) 38 Exonerate (5) 39 Sharp pain (5) 40 Endeavoured (6) 42 Push (5) 43 Comfort (7) 44 Predatory animal (6) 46 Middle (4) 49 Butt (4) 51 Round (6) 53 Ardour (7) 55 Reason (5) 59 Becomes mature (6) 60 Course (5) 61 Central part (5) 62 Gypsy (6) 63 Declaration (9) 65 Repeat (7) 66 Tasted (7) 70 Respite (5) 71 Yells (6) 73 Pugilist (5) 75 Fiction book (5) 80 Hint (4) 82 Prostrate (5) 83 Everyday (7) 84 A score (6) 85 Gun (6) 86 Looked (7) 87 Revokable (3,7)
DOWN
1 Select (6) 2 Corridors (8) 3 Apart (5) 4 Failure (7) 5 Stay (6) 6 Public transport (5) 7 Flimsy (6) 8 Chorus (7) 9 Hard work (5,5) 10 Rant and rave (5) 11 Managed by (8) 12 Demure (4) 24 Everywhere (3,4) 25 Rodent (5) 26 Childish (7) 27 Musical pipe (7) 29 Letter of the alphabet (5) 31 Layers (5) 32 Whip (4) 34 Confront (6) 35 U.S. coin (4) 37 Endearing (7) 41 Take back (7) 45 Fires at (6) 47 Dare to (7) 48 Crazy (7) 50 Chirp (7) 52 Acumen (4) 54 Quick (5) 56 Meaning (5) 57 Measures (4) 58 Fantasy (5) 60 Rehearse (3,7) 64 Farce (8) 67 Goes on (8) 68 Number (7) 69 Under (7) 72 Tree (6) 74 Vegetables (6) 76 Lengthen (6) 77 Incantation (5) 78 Florid (5) 79 Sedate (5) 81 Placed (4)