the crosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Physical training instructor? (6) 4 He is confused with praise, being a self-righteous chap (8) 9 A struggle between northern and southern sea forces (6) 10 A place of grazing (8) 12 The force of influence? (4) 13 The lighter side of chess (5) 14 Sets out to find a Hardy heroine (4) 17 Unable to say why you can’t solve a crossword? (4,3,5) 20 Last thing an American can bet with? (6,6) 23 Scottish boy about five who had a terrible reputation (4) 24 Improve on a repair (5) 25 It might hold more than one suit for a worker (4) 28 Rudimentary hat I once replaced (8) 29 A fool it’s wrong to help (6) 30 Left in error? (3,5) 31 He shares what’s left (2-4)
DOWN
1 No other organisation can compete with it (8) 2 Writer isn’t upset about unorthodox love (8) 3 Experts in cards (4) 5 Are tailors so addictive? (5-7) 6 The last men to raise offspring (4) 7 Thin piece of silver (6) 8 Resent having to change a name (6) 11 It’s played for someone’s benefit (7,5) 15 A measure in progress (5) 16 I do it wrongly, being a fool (5) 18 Feel a bit upset by a trifling annoyance (8) 19 Wrong director still has to be paid(8) 21 Ain’t it difficult for an old master? (6) 22 It’s lucky mother’s gone to bed (6) 26 Not an area of growing importance in Asia (4) 27 Capital expressed in endless loose change (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Scarcity (6) 4 Eventually (2,6) 9 Ingenious (6) 10 Instruction (8) 12 Deep red gem (4) 13 Defamatory accusation (5) 14 Sin (4) 17 Deeply involved (2,2,4,4) 20 Contentment (12) 23 Annoy (4)24 Defraud (5) 25 Over-hasty (4) 28 Abusive harangue (8) 29 Convey as gift (6) 30 Calmly submissive (8) 31 Brave (6)
DOWN
1 Proper (8) 2 Bitterness of speech (8) 3 Rain hard (4) 5 Refuse to listen (4,1,4,3) 6 Shallowest Great Lake (4) 7 Mourn (6) 8 Favourably (6) 11 Everlasting (12) 15 Outspoken (5) 16 Mannerism (5) 18 Huge (8) 19Causing obstruction (2,3,3) 21 Merchant (6) 22 Ever (6) 26 To boast (4) 27 Loud ringing of bells (4)