THE GIANT CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

12 Don’t haggle and you’ll suffer the consequences (3,3,5)

13 To the left, there’s a large gateway (6)

14 An inducement to work out (6)

16 Mean, nasty, grasping woman (4)

17 How numbers of people tortured are accumulating? (7,2)

18 Maintain he left Michael writhing (5)

19 Creature found in a little hole inside (4)

20 Officers’ club (9)

22 Hence the cover is sturdy (5)

23 How you said ‘The anaesthetic has worn off’? (9)

27 ‘Throw out ragbag,’ note ends, ‘with rubbish’ (7)

30 Hard to understand clergyman retiring in (6)

31 Dish out wine for — French? (4)

32 Red is blinking (5)

35 Nick, wake up! (4)

36 Someone attempting to corral gee-gee set it off (7)

38 Sound the time: early afternoon (4)

39 How the cutting remark was spoken? (7)

42 Not a single person will notice our absence (6)

45 Moors on borders of river banks (5)

46 What’s that crawling up the wall? (7)

47 Kitty returned the ring (4)

48 Had been gentle with. It could sting (4)

50 A woman again in occupation? So soon? (7)

52 He bends over backwards to retain his balance (5)

54 Sap that’s detrimental to a plant (6)

56 Deserved by self, tried to scupper (7)

57 Story of an airman, I neglected (4)

59 Has struggled against putting tax back on garden produce (7)

61 Question is, where to get petrol (4)

64 Brushes no longer sold in menswear departments (5)

66 Andrew got doctor out again (4)

67 A bomb sent by mail (6)

69 Be given a call to set the orientation (7)

72 Polite but firm, working out route ourselves (9)

73 Dry up a little, sun comes through (5)

74 Speed up when you understand the technique (6,3)

79 Questionnaire intended to be given to 007’s boss? (4)

81 Group taking cold bath outside (5)

82 Man dressed in uniform having a hamburger? (9)

83 Launch as actors (4)

85 Sent off, caught misbehaving in game (6)

86 For political revolt, joined with the French duo (6)

87 Are, sadly, dull (4,2,5)

DOWN

1 Fellow who took one hostage is the chief (4)

2 Blot royal concealed in lineage (6)

3 Right in the head, maybe, but there is a lack of something (6)

4 Land on which gold is found by land developer (7)

5 Stock certificate in handwriting with bottom cut off (5)

6 Say something about lip make-up. Laud it (10)

7 Pedigree animals (5)

8 Made a lot of money and had it laundered? (7,2)

9 Voice your grievances with good, deep resonant sound (7)

10 Not all the out of work actor needs? (4)

11 Added up to ‘Impossible to repair’ (8)

15 Go in prepared, again, to disregard (6)

21 Go off clutching a Sunday joint (5)

24 Would such a colour be unsuitable for battledress? (7)

25 Simple silver lining and it’s skimpy (6)

26 A sucker-up and a scrounger (6)

28 Scratches, is what dog does to attract attention (5)

29 Prevailed upon to dress up (3)

33 Offer to cover the furrows up that bother (7)

34 With shots, puts the lights out (6)

37 Brown is out of practice (5)

40 Slack and be beaten hollow in (5)

41 Sleepy, half cut, leave car inside. Be bright (7)

43 I manage without an exact replica (5)

44 Looked English, playing darts, absorbed (6)

46 Arrives at figure with some difficulty (5)

49 Harold carrying ball for dog (7)

51 Admits it could be a tailless swallow (6)

53 Remained decorous in speech (6)

55 Cooked carp, putting last of wine in seasoning (5)

58 Star and get highest pay (3,3,4)

60 Draw said section of the human body (3)

62 Fine upstanding fellow before the madness (5)

63 Only I get nice new clothing. That’s not fair (9)

65 Meant to support and does, sort of (8)

68 Nut case, wife had husband imprisoned (6)

70 Book gets ever so digressive about and long-winded (7)

71 Thrown off balance, let slip dart loosely held (7)

75 Does it prepare ground for cultivation of young minds? (6)

76 Fiddle is an object with strings, intended for playing (6)

77 Yell ‘Close the hole in’ (5)

78 He sings wrong note right after (5)

80 Brand new, it smells aromatic (4)

84 Father is up and about (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

12 Suffer consequences (3,3,5)

13 Gateway (6)

14 Deduce (6)

16 ‘–– – – Karenina’ (4)

17 Accumulating (7,2)

18 Maintain (5)

19 Frog-like creature (4)

20 Baton (9)

22 Sturdy (5)

23 With emotion (9)

27 Rubbish (7)

30 Harsh (6)

31 Serve drink (4)

32 Florid (5)

35 Move (4)

36 Set off (7)

38 Timbre (4)

39 Brusquely (7)

42 Wife (6)

45 Layers (5)

46 Spreading plant (7)

47 Ring (4)

48 Insect (4)

50 So soon? (7)

52 Skinflint (5)

54 Parasitic shoot (6)

56 Deserved (7)

57 Story (4)

59 Vegetable (7)

61 Interrogate (4)

64 Quarrels (5)

66 Afresh (4)

67 Parcel (6)

69 Orientation (7)

72 Polite (9)

73 Be quiet! (5)

74 Speed up (6,3)

79 Questionnaire (4)

81 Group (5)

82 Yeoman warder (9)

83 Throw (4)

85 Game (6)

86 Pair (6)

87 Are very tedious (4,2,5)

DOWN

1 Chief (4)

2 Lineage (6)

3 Shortage (6)

4 Farm vehicle (7)

5 Scrap of paper (5)

6 Congratulate (10)

7 Supply (5)

8 Made money (7,2)

9 Complain (7)

10 Role (4)

11 Added up to (8)

15 Disregard (6)

21 Oven joint (5)

24 Impartial (7)

25 Paltry (6)

26 Cadge (6)

28 Scratches skin (5)

29 Obtained (3)

33 Bother (7)

34 Drinks of spirits (6)

37 Corroded (5)

40 Slack (5)

41 Glitter (7)

43 Dead ringer (5)

44 Gazed (6)

46 Arrives (5)

49 Dog (7)

51 Concedes (6)

53 Remained (6)

55 Dance about (5)

58 Be a star (3,3,4)

60 Digit (3)

62 Madness (5)

63 Unfairness (9)

65 Intended (8)

68 Nut (6)

70 Wordy (7)

71 Shaken (7)

75 Public school (6)

76 Scam (6)

77 Yell (5)

78 Male voice (5)

80 Herb (4)

84 Father (4)