BARE BONES

WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD’S CROSSWORD SOLVER’S DICTIONARY Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a fourway symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away.

Across

1 Loaf gets some European criticism (Two words) 9 Stop almost with part of the hand 10 Clergyman is home with engineers 11 Time to run off to get something 12 Ted isn’t trained to be a medic 14 Bill is in a condition to sing well 16 Style of cooking is in reminder outside 18 Work of art has right height 21 Foundation is without moral principles 22 Quiet as a set of keys 24 Burst into colour, by the sound of it 25 Challenge jester to horse around (Three words)

Down

2 Merit new area of authority 3 Sleep during a game of cards 4 Conceal the skin 5 Formal attire for the match 6 City firm has an atmosphere 7 Punishment, darling? That’s sweet (Two words) 8 Communist favourite gets vehicle in privileged treatment (Two words) 13 Heard the boy was a star 15 Catch in one trap 17 Explosive found on the beach 19 Forbidden to throw a boot 20 Meat dish makes a mess 22 Work at plan, missing nothing 23 Leaving during coffee