CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
No 16,374
FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,374, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 58.
ACROSS
1 Peg keeps small cask back as container in lab (4,4) 5 Exercise with definitive guide, losing one stone (6) 9 Nearly discharge lady without notice, in private (8) 10 Shaky condition of nation reported (6) 12 Some devise a system that’s simple (4) 13 Distinguished MP’s address (10) 15 Incommode in commode? (13) 19 They may cut deal, like all PMs (7-6) 23 Not working? That’s not acceptable (3,2,5) 25 Yehudi’s leading quartet offers a list of options, while ... (4) 28 ... leading trio abandons fairly slow tempo in slum and ... (6) 29 ... work by Richard Strauss perhaps, one in odd tempo (4,4) 30 Husband drills drab craft (6) 31 Expand good article in the French news (8)
DOWN
1 Sample spud cut by spades (6) 2 Supplies timeless hits (5) 3 Secure Royal Bank (4) 4 Belly dance with nothing on! (7) 6 Number Three’s complicated (5) 7 What’s left after boar’s been butchered (4,5) 8 Raise barrier before small display units (8) 11 In Paris, I spread round Roger’s funny story (4) 14 Company brought in up-to-date image (4) 15 Intermediate stake, tiny, invested in pub (2-7) 16 The energy of 6,000,000? (3) 17 Couple met up after international (4) 18 Old fellow stops cat and dog battling flood, say (3,2,3) 20 Rent shop with no front (4) 21 Chemical expert, one saving time (7) 22 FBI agent arrests a French gangster (6) 24 Go and get fine chisel (5) 26 Time to raise deal with hotel (5) 27 Rubber gloves needed to grip this block of ice (4)
NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.