THE GIANT CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

13 Leaving at the double, almost all gone (7,3) 14 Getting in twice into rough sea is stupid (7) 15 Another squashed, beheaded insect (6) 16 Refuse to work and become violent (6) 17 Appreciate and you convert into cash (7) 18 Wonderful to have drink on getting back again (5) 19 Cross from the south or east (4) 20 A gap vacation (5) 21 Think there’s good in one (5) 22 Monkey with, making two-thirds premature (6) 23 Speak insultingly of Lincoln — about America (5) 28 Many falsely imprisoned set free by pardon (7) 30 With perspicacity, I get things straightened out (7) 33 Idea one got when not thinking straight? (9) 36 Bad flu’s spreading round in (6) 38 Sock puppet (5) 39 Getting the gist, though you tend to lose concentration? (5) 40 Confident the two keys will be found in safe (6) 42 Further round, to the right (5) 43 The one in dock is the one who started it all (7) 44 He reveals what’s hidden behind the curtain (6) 46 Part played by bread, say, in a hot dog (4) 49 Ordered many to return the day after (4) 51 Again drag back to look at (6) 53 Not if I stupidly get caught in lie (7) 55 See what knotted the string in (5) 59 Jack and Sean on the outside, am in the middle (6) 60 Novice. Not bad all round. Showing talent (5) 61 So he once failed to start (5) 62 When many retire, one by one (6) 63 Make small talk but don’t be garrulous? (3,6) 65 ‘Model father’ gets funny groan (7) 66 Stuff with awfully fat cheese (7) 70 Even a little grasping: mercenary (5) 71 Giving a very bad scare, trapping, cuts (6) 73 Don’t just sit there — dress! (3-2) 75 Traffic snarl, dear, at junction (5) 80 Slowly move a part of the foot (4) 82 Bear out about a number becoming more proficient (5) 83 Feels differently on going ahead single-handed (7) 84 Pass out, asleep (6) 85 Damn! There’s a gap in the series of lessons (6) 86 Busy, hired workers (7) 87 They mean no — lifts not required (6,4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS 13 Becoming depleted (7,3) 14 Stupid (7) 15 Insect (6) 16 Hit (6) 17 Be aware (7) 18 Wonderful (5) 19 Irked (4) 20 Respite (5)

f 21 Think (5) 22 Meddle (6) 23 Revile (5) 28 Pardon (7) 30 Acumen (7) 33 Great idea (9) 36 Immoral (6) 38 Blow (5) 39 Gist (5) 40 Safe (6) 42 Different (5) 43 Trailblazer (7) 44 Light rain (6) 46 Actor’s part (4) 49 Informed (4) 51 Observe (6) 53 Not fact (7) 55 See (5) 59 Sailor (6) 60 Talent (5) 61 Thus (5) 62 Number (6) 63 Be reticent (3,6) 65 Perfect example (7) 66 Fabric (7) 70 Mercenary (5) 71 Cuts (6) 73 Attire (3-2) 75 Business (5) 80 Move slowly (4) 82 More proficient (5) 83 Personally (7) 84 Pass (6) 85 Lessons (6) 86 Hired (7) 87 ‘No’ signal (6,4)

DOWN

1 Golf club (6) 2 Hint (8) 3 Seize (5) 4 Rotten (7) 5 Try hard (6) 6 Cogent (5) 7 Soundless (6) 8 Charming (7) 9 Great sorrow (4,6) 10 Brief (5) 11 Old weapon (8) 12 Dress (4) 24 Many (7) 25 Shawl (5) 26 Igniter (7) 27 Crevice (7) 29 Damp (5) 31 Silky textile (5) 32 Conceal (4) 34 Season (6) 35 Desire (4) 37 Liberty (7) 41 Posy (7) 45 Lacking animation (6) 47 Rock (7) 48 Don’t understand speaker (7) 50 Perform surgery (7) 52 Genuine (4) 54 Dance (5) 56 Box (5) 57 Region (4) 58 Award (5) 60 Drop off (4,6) 64 Tough (8) 67 Ahead (8) 68 Usual (7) 69 Eject (4,3) 72 Cake (6) 74 Happenings (6) 76 Repudiate (6) 77 Afterwards (5) 78 Toy bear (5) 79 Horse race (5) 81 Midday (4)

DOWN

1 Somebody depositing something in a golf bag (6) 2 Hint I meant to let slip about returning it (8) 3 Appropriate name, put cross beside (5) 4 Sound pleased to get back into bed and that’s bad (7) 5 Endeavour, at school, to teach (6) 6 A number laid off with good reason (5) 7 Mum is returning a while before Easter (6) 8 Delightful to come in first occasionally (7) 9 Wishing you had tenor voice instead of baritone? (4,6) 10 Attempt to capture run, in brief (5) 11 Weapon of entertainer who gets very little applause? (8) 12 Sport women are playing (4) 24 Many leaves fall round end of October (7) 25 Lifted, it’s put round shoulders (5) 26 Someone who gets off on being an arsonist? (7) 27 With fires flickering round us, running, split (7) 29 Damp, with fog shrouding the moon (5) 31 The material is retro: unfashionable (5) 32 He and I had gone inside to take cover (4) 34 Sprouting out, gone before summer (6) 35 Desire is to come between wife and husband (4) 37 To obtain deliverance from, damming rising river (7) 41 Gosh! Took ages to assemble the bouquet (7) 45 Lacking sparkle and vivacity, try to win at home (6) 47 Rock climbing, some get in argument (7) 48 Wrongly think you said ‘Is in harem, dancing’ (7) 50 At work, possibly a tree surgeon will do so (7) 52 Are all rimless. It’s not imagination (4) 54 Kick ball to music (5) 56 Part of a trunk or box (5) 57 Constitute a part of (4) 58 Self and youth up for an award (5) 60 Take the trip of your dreams? (4,6) 64 The having to get in terribly early is tough (8) 67 Because of, somehow draws ahead (8) 68 State the time to be unexceptional (7) 69 Tut! Grab the disorderly four and eject (4,3) 72 Scrounge from Victoria? (6) 74 What happened to the key holes? (6) 76 Refuse to acknowledge one’s depressed about (6) 77 Afterwards one side had a meal with the other (5) 78 Still upset about dad taking away a toy (5) 79 Specially bred young horses compete in it (5) 81 Turning on, on time (4)