THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Over-slender (5) 4 Experience is less than energy (7) 8 Massaging the middle may prevent it (3) 9 Irregular hours that are needed to negotiate (6,3) 10 Take a liberty (7) 11 Provoke audible quarrels (5) 13 It comes as a sudden blow (6) 15 Way of acting (6) 18 The mark of a beast marks the trail (5) 19 Canada’s ratable exchange (7) 21 He may explain changes to incomes (9) 23 Colour of a sunshade? (3) 24 Stop being loyal (7) 25 Keyhole operation (5))
DOWN
1 Family members in good order? (7) 2 A bitter draught for assembled Argonauts (9) 3 Minor performer put on the bill? (5) 4 Allow more line to run out to the fish (6) 5 Justify rate (7) 6 South American river port (3) 7 An out of the way sort of route (5) 12 A leading light in the cinema? (9) 14 What people do when they retire makes one wild (3,4) 16 Granted, it might be searchingly used (7) 17 More than a capital district (6) 18 Contrives to produce injury we hear (5) 20 Club he joined to go swimming (5) 22 Eggs are said to be done (3)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Smooth-tongued (5) 4 Prepared statement to press (7) 8 Tear forcibly (3) 9 Reverse a previous action (9) 10 Acquit (7) 11 Sycophant (5) 13 Meagre (6) 15 Sought by the police (6) 18 Gain by determined effort (5) 19 In addition to (2,3,2) 21 Person used in experiment (6,3) 23 Unit of weight (3) 24 Told (7) 25 A culinary herb (5)
DOWN
1 Excel (7) 2 Showing no emotion (9) 3 Capital of Afghanistan (5) 4 A team game (6) 5 An inflammable oil (7) 6 Strange (3) 7 Total score (5) 12 Strong aversion (9) 14 Forbearing (7) 16 Ability to resist attack (7) 17 Sluggish (6) 18 Bet (5) 20 Strictly imposed (5) 22 Badly (3)