THE GIANT CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

13 Absent only in the past and future? (3,7) 14 So far, won’t do a volte-face about. I will (4,3) 15 Hit ball to the left and was caught (6) 16 Good cut (that’s a cricket stroke) (6) 17 Bird coop and weapon I found in it (7) 18 Back, write article about that’s substandard (5) 19 Cautious, means to protect Royal (4) 20 What snooker player is lucky to get? (5) 21 Play against fellow, taking gamble (5) 22 Altitude is hard to put a figure to (6) 23 The audacity, capturing a British ship! (5) 28 Having stepped on stick, tend to wobble about (7) 30 I got medal, having seen off. Great (7) 33 As he’s entering, lout attacks (6,3) 36 Yes, señor. Tea’s poured. It’s a break (6) 38 Wine right after having got up from bed (5) 39 Say hello to again and get to hug (5) 40 ‘Gosh, food!’ thought the bird (6) 42 Any refusal to enter into will peeve (5) 43 That’s not the sharp end of the skewer, twit (7) 44 Piece of wire from inside the old piano (6) 46 The man with the scar? (4) 49 Called out and cut short, angry (4) 51 Quickly, before the second gets to! (6) 53 Don’t get service across and it’s game (7) 55 A great many stop at sea (5) 59 The girl brought fellows round to help (6) 60 Fight and shout right through (5) 61 Wrong morning. Is Sunday (5) 62 Bird did fly inside and is not visible (6) 63 Big trouble there is when the infernal bill comes? (4,2,3) 65 Gather time is required for therapeutic treatment (7) 66 Dressed to go for a sortie, say (7) 70 Perfect ladies — almost — but peculiar (5) 71 Takes off to the snow and indulges in winter sport (6) 73 ‘Day-mare,’ possibly, as opposed to ‘nightmare’ (5) 75 The editor, yes, is bothered about. It’s sleazy (5) 80 Blast! That means there’s been an omission! (4) 82 Fish with silvery scales and amber streaks (5) 83 Snack that’s an unusual thing to be chomping on (7) 84 Confused, dad foolishly went ahead (6) 85 React, ordering and quaffing large wine (6) 86 You didn’t break it, mum (7) 87 Doesn’t sit until there’s a complete lack of movement (10)

DO WN

1 Porridge that’s less likely to burn the mouth when eaten (6) 2 I snap a winding road: European (8) 3 Send to and it’s returned, too (5) 4 U.S. author sent up in ‘Fat Cat’ (7) 5 Radio’s turned on inside. There are pips (6) 6 ‘Staunch’ with first two letters deleted (5) 7 Make certain, with happy ending to romantic film (6) 8 Trendy drink I had was bland (7) 9 Dear English girl wears trousers backwards (10) 10 Pale and with fluctuating energy (5) 11 Because running, draws ahead (8) 12 Alarm is loud. Are stampeding (4) 24 Breaking rules, doctor goes in to have a nap (7) 25 Started with shattering bang. Earth materialised within (5) 26 Nice quiet place to retire to (7) 27 Smart boy but cowardly (7) 29 As a rule, water is heard (5) 31 Game that’s dull to a child (5) 32 Sensible to put an end to ‘65’ (4) 34 One bedraggled slave is carrying the bag (6) 35 We took the street to the left on the map (4) 37 Either kept striking or worked hard (7) 41 In same position as before. Not touched (7) 45 European — might be French (6) 47 Work in one and, working, what you think of it (7) 48 Be having curdled sauce as result of (7) 50 And with Etna erupting in, it’s all over (2,2,3) 52 Not all white American players (4) 54 To deliver book, call on (5) 56 A Scandinavian food (5) 57 Appeal to have grassland at top end (4) 58 The attraction of tea to many (5) 60 Empty page in the anthology of poetry? (5,5) 64 Figure they are trained to be tough (8) 67 Before code was cracked, in story (8) 68 Trip, taking small fall (7) 69 Section one, all left unfinished: incomplete (7) 72 A whole lot of or just one source of music (6) 74 Collapsed, or broke, though strong (6) 76 Harps on how one is at home in? (6) 77 Die down to a degree before half term (5) 78 Monsieur’s very protective of one. Is aggravating (5) 79 Irishman’s home and dry. Rex lost (5) 81 A lonely one lacking a friend (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

13 Absent (3,7) 14 So far (4,3) 15 Caught (6) 16 Look (6) 17 Flightless bird (7) 18 Clumsy (5) 19 Cautious (4) 20 Piece of luck (5) 21 Gambol (5) 22 Altitude (6) 23 Effrontery (5) 28 Stepped (7) 30 Huge (7) 33 Attacks (6,3) 36 Afternoon nap (6) 38 Up and about (5) 39 Say hello to (5) 40 Particles (6) 42 Peeve (5) 43 Idiot (7) 44 Wire fastener (6) 46 Stain (4) 49 Telephoned (4) 51 Quickly (6) 53 Game (7) 55 Nautical ‘Stop!’ (5) 59 Girl (6) 60 Fight (5) 61 Awry (5) 62 Concealed (6) 63 Big trouble (4,2,3) 65 Rub (7) 66 Dressed (7) 70 Perfect (5) 71 Glides on ice (6) 73 Fantasy (5) 75 Sleazy (5) 80 ‘————’ (4) 82 Fish (5) 83 Snack (7) 84 Confused (6) 85 Red wine (6) 86 Lack of sound (7) 87 Complete stop (10)

DOWN

1 Less hot (6) 2 European (8) 3 Allude (5) 4 Feline (7) 5 Pebbles (6) 6 Fat (5) 7 Settle definitely (6) 8 Bland (7) 9 Darling (10) 10 Colourless (5) 11 Ahead (8) 12 Be afraid (4) 24 Sleep (7) 25 Started (5) 26 Haven (7) 27 Young fowl (7) 29 Rule (5) 31 Competition (5) 32 Wise (4) 34 Travelling case (6) 35 Occident (4) 37 Worked hard (7) 41 Dry-eyed (7) 45 Gloss (6) 47 View (7) 48 Due to (7) 50 Finished (2,2,3) 52 Group of players (4) 54 Fetch (5) 56 Vegetable (5) 57 Appeal (4) 58 Attraction (5) 60 Unrhymed poetry (5,5) 64 Tough (8) 67 Story (8) 68 Trip (7) 69 Incomplete (7) 72 Chain of (6) 74 Strong (6) 76 Lives (6) 77 Die down (5) 78 Attempts (5) 79 Patrick (5) 81 Confederate (4)