The Colossus

ACROSS

2. Bursts like a balloon 4. Greatly annoyed 8. Hampers, picnic … 12. Garlic-rich poultry dish, chicken … 16. No score in soccer 17. Woolly farm female 18. Very keen, an … reader 19. Naked figures 20. Hold on tight, … to 21. Arabian Gulf sultanate 22. Tradesmen’s vehicles 24. Drinks in small quantities 27. Joins up, … in the army 28. Cold beverage, iced … 30. Metal can 32. Drastic or severe, … measures 33. Slip-up 34. Indian stringed instrument 36. Person now living overseas 37. CD, compact … 41. US Salt Lake City State 42. Faithful, constant 43. Text entry mistake 44. Shopping bag 46. Sicilian volcano 48. According to the legal rules, it’s the … 50. Soldier on, persist 55. Solemn promise 58. Basil or sage, eg 59. Furthest down, … note in the scale 61. Deleted 63. God of love 64. I Love Lucy star, Lucille … 65. Solve, … the mystery (5,2) 66. GI Jane actress, … Moore 67. Seventh month 69. Small red salad plant 71. Sacred Egyptian beetle 73. Mortgage, home … 76. Travel across snow 77. Yellow citrus fruit 79. Portion of a circle 81. Valiant, heroic 82. Explosive device, hand … 84. Extremely bad 86. Bowman’s missile 87. Remains of a fire 88. LA, … Angeles 89. Eventually, sooner or … 91. Desperate Housewives star, … Hatcher 93. Walked upon, had … on 97. Snakelike fishes 99. Sense of style 101. Third planet from the sun 103. Italian actress, … Loren 104. Burglar, thief 106. Honking bird, Canada … 108. Less lean, … meat 109. Strengthening rod, bicycle … 110. Fleece, overcharge (3,3) 112. Woodwind musician 114. Rail track’s width, eg 116. Played, … with 119. Suggestive look 120. Religious ministers 123. Bulge on camel’s back 125. Slightly wet or damp 127. Estimated time of arrival (1,1,1) 128. Boxing great, Muhammad … 129. Classic novel, … Doone 130. Ravines 133. Revert or backslide, his behaviour will … 136. Baby’s tummy ache 137. Distant, … off 138. Brusque, abrupt 141. Witness 142. Children’s card game 145. Toed the line, … the rules 147. Puzzling person or thing 148. Coloured, … her hair 150. Big vases 151. In normal fashion (2,5) 152. Classic movie, … with the Wind 153. Nuisance, a … in the neck 154. Most timid 157. Star of TV’s House, Hugh … 160. Child’s stick on a spring 161. Fairytale, The Princess and the … 162. Fabric holdall (6,3) 166. Serpent said to have killed Cleopatra 169. From Bangkok, eg 170. Affectedly quaint 172. Morgan Freeman comedy, … Almighty 174. Pubs, taverns 177. Make up after quarrel, … the hatchet 178. Stern and gloomy 180. Widely grown cereal crop 181. Wallpaper glue 182. Aviaries, bird … 185. If really required (2,1,4) 186. Mayday call (1,1,1) 188. Wily and crafty 190. Entangled 191. Norwegian capital 196. Remain in place 198. Deep grooves, … in the road 199. Mounds 200. Juliet’s beloved 201. Fully matured, … fruit 202.Bird on Australian coat of arms 203.Lion star sign 204.Religious sisters 205.Country bordering Algeria 206.Selects, picks 207. US term for “autumn”

DOWN

1. Cumbersome, awkward 2. DJ’s record selection, eg 3. Strait-laced and fussy 4. Help in a crime, aid and … 5. Movie, The … of Navarone 6. Long hill-crest 7. Twilight 8. Sponsor, fund an enterprise 9. Futuristic stories (3-2) 10. Chocolate treats, Easter … 11. Ooze, trickle 13. Jail resident, eg 14. Feud between families 15. India’s capital city (3,5) 22. Purpose, function 23. Before the stipulated time 25. Contribution to a discussion, eg 26. Fix in a position 28. Soldiers 29. Showy daisy 30. Buy and sell 31. Tidier 35. Lose energy, become weary 38. Irascible, grumpy 39. Solidify, coalesce 40. Work with a needle 41. Publicly reveal, … the statue 43. Number in a duo 45. December 24, Christmas … 47. Café’s meal list 49. Very well then (3,5) 51. Score metal with acid, eg 52. Section of a play 53. Zodiac maiden sign 54. Sales agents (abbrev) 56. Eccentric or strange people 57. Deep unconsciousness 60. V-shaped slice, … of cheese 62. Idly play a guitar 67. Anniversary celebration, golden … 68. Bounded 70. Mineral spring 72. Affectedly modest 74. Folklore giants 75. Cannot be seen, is … in sight 76. Scorch, char 77. Shakespear’s tragic king 78. Main part of a church 80. Actors in a play or film 83. Helpful locally 85. Sibling by marriage (4-7) 90. Express keenness, … about 92. Sense of self 93. Vehicles using public roads 94. Unwanted piece of film (3-4) 95. Book and movie, The … Code (2,5) 96. Tapers towards the end 98. Actor, Tommy … Jones 100. Guacamole ingredient 102. Painting, work of … 103. Knight’s title 105. Long-tailed rodent 107. Bend under a weight 109. Comes to rest 111. Solid water 113. Small Chinese dishes, dim … 115. Lured, tempted 117. River flowing through Melbourne 118. Hard of hearing 119. Ball game involving a netted stick 121. Missing, is … 122. Feel concern 124. Short extracts from a book 125. John Steinbeck novel, Of … and Men 126. Surface decoration 131. Poverty-stricken 132. Be obligated, … them a favour 134. Drink, … and tonic 135. Tarzan’s creator, … Rice Burroughs 139. Supply with tools and provisions 140. Gimmick to gain attention, publicity … 143. Biblical ark builder 144. Forceful, incisive 146. Facts and figures 147. Music great, … Fitzgerald 148. Rely on 149. Rim, brink 155. Fedora or trilby, eg 156. Perfumes 158. Holiday office, travel … 159. Swimming great, … Thorpe 161. Metal fastener, safety … 163. Sloping walkways 164. Gobbles up 165. Wounds from a dog, eg 167. Hog or boar 168. Achieved, … a good result 169. Performance test (5,3) 171. Fairground ride, Ferris … 173. Acute apprehension 175. Subtly induce to purchase (4-4) 176. Person to whom a debt is due 179. Rudely interrupt (4,2) 180. TV doctor and time traveller 183. The heavens 184. Former tennis ace, … Seles 187. Gazes lasciviously at 189. Caribbean dance under a pole 192. Fine river sediment 193. Frank, candid 194. Cambodia’s continent 195. Guitar great, … Clapton 196. D.H. Lawrence novel, … and Lovers 197. Ventilates, … the room

Solution in next month’s issue