THE GIANT CROSSWORD

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CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

12 Pondering on, now ready to swallow (7,4) 13 Brimmed hat. Gold lining and exterior fade badly (6) 14 Differences in the fragments (6) 16 South from an area in N. Ireland (4) 17 Escapes and creates an epidemic (6,3) 18 Hotel in pleasant surroundings. Special little place (5) 19 The parasite bit (4) 20 Monstrously envious? (5-4) 22 Stamp with a man’s name (5) 23 Scruffy wet herald stood up (4,5) 27 The penalty can run into serious money (7) 30 That is fast developing all round into a celebration (6) 31 Vacancy in dance band (4) 32 To start with, right hand, clenched, is holding (5) 35 Cry of a bird. A little gander (4) 36 First off, the French tucked into English desserts (7) 38 Accomplished on day one (4) 39 Problem is to give cover back to Jane Austen book (7) 42 How’s that for charm! (6) 45 House Geldof didn’t finish building (5) 46 In particular in the Alps, melting ice is dodgy (7) 47 Driven half demented by depression (4) 48 A long story and good. Set in the City (4) 50 Steal domestic animal: a dog (7) 52 Said ‘Get it on paper, OK?’ (5) 54 Sophistication that’s just a veneer (6) 56 Did he not manage to catch the tube? (7) 57 Mark surpasses in the return (4) 59 Footwear providing little protection in gutter half filled with water (7) 61 An accountant’s ‘hard currency’ (4) 64 A corsage, mister? (5) 66 You has-been! (4) 67 Meaning, when occupying temporary accommodation (6) 69 In the first place, she is attached to the owner (7) 72 Didn’t have a clue. Was incapable of creative thought (3,2,4) 73 Doesn’t include rubbish containers (5) 74 It’s a slogan, see what I’m saying? (9) 79 Sign, myself, on the outside (4) 81 Detail I omitted translating Greek letter (5) 82 Tend to follow with your eyes (4,5) 83 Prison is the very devil (4) 85 One’s posture on street, swinging cane (6) 86 Bud and by first half of spring will be blooming (6) 87 First course in French (4,1,6)

DOWN

1 By which mum got ducks to go away? (4) 2 It hurts a shade when point penetrates (6) 3 Allow eel to escape when about to catch (6) 4 With old façade in need of repair, were reduced (7) 5 A little kiss is stolen from her after at least a fortnight (5) 6 Just thought and felt sun possibly would help (4,6) 7 Is it a hundred times heavier than a pennyweight? (5) 8 Animal chosen to perform becomes popular (7,2) 9 Goes up. When getting to a hundred, stops (7) 10 Cut right back when I get married (4) 11 Not quite as immaculately clean (8) 15 Gets on the stage (6) 21 Are mistaken about one’s increase (5) 24 Flavouring is a requirement for consumption (7) 25 Two men were sent invoices (6) 26 Money back? That’s something new (6) 28 Am getting plenty. Half. That’s plenty (5) 29 Count on dropping, to reduce (3) 33 Awfully dismal about. I lost (7) 34 The man said it’s a stimulant (6) 37 Thin layer he put outside (5) 40 ‘Producing explosives is men’s work,’ I interposed (5) 41 An assembly. It is held in smart accommodation (7) 43 Bringing in one piano for each musician (5) 44 Subtle means of access to underground room? (3-3) 46 Support and mistakenly trust (5) 49 I can wangle apartment in, as officer (7) 51 Go through. You’ll find it under ‘Spices’ (6) 53 Like picture of cornfield with poor definition? (6) 55 Beats thoroughly — laps (5) 58 Speak your mind? (5,5) 60 Something bought from herbalist on street in Paris? (3) 62 Hint Manchester, second half, will be knocked out (5) 63 With no encouragement from spectators, it’s bleak (9) 65 It’s the stage wife, chum (8) 68 Two heads are second to none (6) 70 Cheats. Duplicates figure in dossiers (7) 71 If that’s unrestrained, will become rather plump (7) 75 Container, tin, rot is spreading in (6) 76 Stop to get child’s toy working again (4,2) 77 Pester to reveal the man’s name (5) 78 Some music. A rollicking song (5) 80 Figure no German is spoken (4) 84 Yours will have your name on it. Jack? (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

12 Pondering on (7,4) 13 Brimmed hat (6) 14 Quarrels (6) 16 N Ireland county (4) 17 Escapes (6,3) 18 Alcove (5) 19 Tiny bit (4) 20 Envious (5-4) 22 Candid (5) 23 Was convincing (4,5) 27 Money affairs (7) 30 Gala (6) 31 Band (4) 32 Initially (5) 35 Quick look (4) 36 Cold desserts (7) 38 Accomplished (4) 39 Problem (7) 42 Attraction (6) 45 Small house (5) 46 Particular (7) 47 Hollow in surface (4) 48 Long story (4) 50 Dog (7) 52 Correct (5) 54 Gloss (6) 56 Dispensing tube (7) 57 Stain (4) 59 Running shoe (7) 61 Funds (4) 64 Corsage (5) 66 Archaic ‘you’ (4) 67 Purpose (6) 69 On a lead (7) 72 Was unaware (3,2,4) 73 Misses out (5) 74 Slogan (9) 79 Sign (4) 81 Greek letter (5) 82 Watch over (4,5) 83 Prison (slang) (4) 85 Posture (6) 86 Bud (6) 87 Antipasto (4,1’6)

DOWN 1 Scat! (4)

2 Pain (6) 3 Allow (6) 4 Reduced (7) 5 Periods of time (5) 6 Not spoken (4,6) 7 Weight (5) 8 Becomes popular (7,2) 9 Rises (7) 10 Pare (4) 11 Immaculate (8) 15 Gets on (6) 21 Lift (5) 24 Flavouring (7) 25 Invoiced (6) 26 Alteration (6) 28 Plenty (5) 29 Sever (3) 33 Lost (7) 34 Stimulant (6) 37 Piece of paper (5) 40 Explosive devices (5) 41 Taking a seat (7) 43 Instrumentalist (5) 44 Understated (3-3) 46 Support (5) 49 Skipper (7) 51 Condiment (6) 53 Granular (6) 55 Passes tongue over (5) 58 Muse audibly (5,5) 60 Regret (3) 62 Guide (5) 63 Bleak (9) 65 Young friend (8) 68 First-class (6) 70 Tampers with (7) 71 Rather plump (7) 75 Box (6) 76 Finish (4,2) 77 Badger (5) 78 Religious song (5) 80 Number (4) 84 ID, perhaps (4)