the crosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Synonymous with right? Could be (5) 8 Breaks up underworld groups (8) 9 Frequently cuts off half the score (5)
10 If retired, live somewhere warm (8)
11 Lives wildly, producing social problems (5) 12 Showed the way out of a little difficulty (3) 16 Chase gives us pure diversion (6)
17 I take road transport to America. He tried flying (6)
18 Copy out of the paper (3)
23 Fish appeared to be off (5)
24 It’s a drink and the highlights for contemporary idols (3,5)
25 A custom that makes us go grey (5) 26 Misplaced trust in a nudist (8)
27 To join, one goes to the capital of England (5)
DOWN
2 Popular pro (2,6)
3 Careless, or else she’d changed (8) 4 Guess it’s heavenly (6)
5 He split a couple of poles made of wood (5) 6 Bill free of bitterness? (5)
7 Small piece of land is rented out (5)
12 The French go over a meadow (3)
13 I’d return and start early or give up altogether (3)
14 Standard means processed cheese (8) 15 The whole world finds it illuminating (8) 19 More than a capital district (6) 20 Stretch over the end of the desk and chastise (5)
21 Sees one vessel inside another (5)
22 Not a bow; not even a smile, apparently (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Done furtively (5)
8 By air mail (3,5)
9 Raised platform (5)
10A Paris airport (2,6) 11 Vilification (5)
12 Colouring substance (3) 16 To last (6)
17 Song of loyalty (6)
18 After all deductions (3) 23 Roman goddess of love (5) 24 French emperor (8) 25 Jeopardy (5)
26 Goodbye (2,6)
27 Short break (5)
DOWN
2 Mark well (4,4)
3 First Roman emperor (8) 4 Cheerfulness (6)
5 Dish of raw vegetables (5) 6 Exert (5) 7 Theatrical backer (5) 12 Lair (3)
13 Have a meal (3)
14 And so forth (2,6) 15 Italian volcano (8) 19 Romantically strange (6) 20 Recant (5)
21 Refrain from punishing (5) 22 In existence (5)