THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Eggs on this saint at mealtimes (8) 5 Once-powerful Russian arts organisation (4)

9 Money, marks perhaps (5)

10 Ring me first when there’s a disagreement about leisure (4,3)

11 Monopolise rocks that are important in building (12)

13 Females of unusual ideals (6)

14 Love to point out there’s a choice (6)

17 But a brunette winning a beauty contest may not be (6,6)

20 A policeman when not on duty is unconventional (7)

21 These doors are on the way out (5)

22 It has its ups and downs as a plaything (2-2) 23 Type of set meals suitable for vegetarians (8)

DOWN

1 It helps to keep a flower in its bed (4) 2 People in court can catch it (3,4)

3 Wasn’t allowed to succeed? (12)

4 Traces wrongly directed supplies (6)

6 It may cause a stir at table (5)

7 Exchange of gunfire’s declining (8) 8 Useless demonstration of hunger-marchers? (5,7)

12 Your ills may turn out to be imaginary (8) 15 Tend to tip up (7)

16 Timely tool (6)

18 This by itself indicates equality (5) 19 Goddess is one’s double (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Laughable (8)

5 Leave out (4)

9 Uncertain (5)

10 Paper-thin metal sheeting (7) 11 Layered puff pastry cake (12) 13 Win back (6)

14 Abrasion (6)

17 Protection (12)

20 Outlay (7)

21 Short moral story (5) 22 Rational (4)

23 Coal mine (8)

DOWN

1 Bird of pigeon family (4)

2 Ship’s cordage (7)

3 Enthralling (12)

4 Approve and sanction (6) 6 Mound (5)

7 Petty thief (8)

8 Abortive (12)

12 Advance (8)

15 Good-natured (7)

16 Manage with what there is (4,2) 18 Trembling poplar (5)

19 Dare (4)