{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Fancy a number to be perfect (5) 8 Victorian poet getting sunburnt (8) 9 Possibly loves to find the right answer (5) 10 War that’s breaking out in Panama? (5,3) 11 tretch - of river? (5)
12 Semi-wooden court (3)
16 Unfriendly action (6)
17 Plays produced in Madras (6)
18 In which to spend the rest of your life (3) 23 A team competing away (5)
24 Gives way and dies (8)
25 An addict may be fined (5)
26 They welcome fare increases (8) 27 Composition makes easy point (5)
DOWN
2 Once said to be a bishop (8)
3 He should know how to press a suit (8) 4 About the end of December, reached Santa’s base (6)
5 One outcome of hard work? (5)
6 Clue that’s illuminating (5)
7 Stone made entrance (5)
12 Large roll of paper of intricate design (3) 13 Not even curious (3)
14 The fighter’s craft (8)
15 Where flowers grow I get a flower (8) 19 Outflowing currency (6)
20 Actual language used in an American era (5) 21 Behave awkwardly when you get the bill and get put out (3,2)
22 Leaves with all debts settled (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 A basis for soups (5) 8 Shredded cabbage salad (8) 9 Pry furtively (5)
10 Form of pasta (8)
11 Spacious (5)
12 Plant used in brewing (3) 16 To stew in closed pan (6) 17 Impervious to light (6) 18 Wet soft earth (3)
23 Point in development (5) 24 Crepes (8)
25 Pleasure trip (5)
26 A North African dish (8) 27 North African country (5)
DOWN
2 Type of Indian cooking (8) 3 Fried noodles dish (4,4) 4 Pulpy salad fruit (6) 5 Hickory nut (5)
6 Bear flowers (5)
7 Be in store for (5)
12 Edge (3)
13 Legume (3)
14 Seasoned smoked beef (8) 15 A French wine (8) 19 Advantageous (6)
20 An aromatic flavouring (5) 21 Declare invalid (5) 22 Highly decorated (5)