Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Trifles in the theatre (5) 5 Isolated a section (5) 9 Shrubbery gets a polish (3) 10 Announces book sections (5)
11 Hid a horse round part of America (5) 12 Thinking about writing material (3) 13 Hardly sending ton back (3) 14 Lubricant from the boiler (3) 16 School nowadays is miserable (3) 18 Student doesn’t start as a paid worker (6) 21 Send out the results (4) 23 Changes as to fodder (4) 26 Quietly allude to favour (6) 29 Wanting to include tiny creature (3) 31 Are back for a long time (3) 32 Supporter of golf (3) 34 Drama about an animal (3) 36 Second pier ran to part of church (5) 37 Live around exits (5) 38 It’s a new way to relax (3)
39 Type of lightning seen on the bed? (5) 40 Satisfies, as set out (5)
DOWN
1 Regal pop star (6) 2 Game I play in Latin (4)
3 A beat changed as note diminished (6) 4 Small, meagre trail (5) 5 Lively beer with soldier (5) 6 Swan enclosure (3) 7 When king has small questions (4)
8 Contending with nurse (4) 15 Lay to rest in the hinterlands (5) 17 Captain has fitting (3) 19 Snake, when quiet (3) 20 About to have nothing but caviar (3) 22 No-one sounds as devout as her (3) 24 Traits displayed by performer (6) 25 Sets we arranged are sugary (6) 27 Send timer off (5) 28 Stops eating quickly on Sunday (5) 29 Couples don’t start to have affectations (4) 30 It grows in the street (4) 33 Creepy-sounding lake (4)
35 A former spouse returns for hatchet (3)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Theatrical works (5) 5 Separated (5) 9 Abrade (3) 10 Errand boys (5) 11 US state (5) 12 Writing fluid (3) 13 Negative (3) 14 Fuel (3) 16 Gloomy (3) 18 Salaried person (6) 21 Finishes (4) 23 Grain (4) 26 Choose (6) 29 Insect (3)
31 Age (3) 32 Putting peg (3) 34 Male sheep (3) 36 Steeple (5)
37 Be (5)
38 Take a chair (3) 39 Bed linen item (5) 40 Fills (5)
DOWN
1 Royal son (6) 2 Board game (4) 3 Calmed (6) 4 Track (5) 5 Supple (5) 6 Writing implement (3) 7 Enquires (4) 8 Incline (4)
15 Bury (5) 17 Suitable (3) 19 Serpent (3)
20 Fish eggs (3) 22 Convent woman (3) 24 Painter (6) 25 Confectionery (6) 27 Area of authority (5) 28 Goes without food (5) 29 Ventilates (4) 30 Large shrub (4) 33 Great Lake (4) 35 Terminate (3)