THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Pretty smart? Quite the opposite! (5,6) 9 Flowers, say, gone astray (7)
10 In return always a key note (5) 11 Dines in style at smart restaurants (4) 12 Unusually drawn out and inconvenient (8)
Run lightly onto the scene - and stumble (4,2)
16 Give the call sign (6) 18 Uniformed footmen (8)
19 Hands back in exchange (4)
22 Its annual production will be down (5) 23 Best alternative under the sun (7)
24 It could lead to a lassie’s downfall - she’s only young (4,2,1,4)
DOWN
2 He composed a catalogue, we hear (5)
3 Scandinavian girl makes unusual gain (4)
4 Saw off the tongue (6)
5 Complete description of a mustang? (8) 6 Pick ace out, it may relieve tension (7)
7 An amusing host? (11)
8 The role of the conductor? (7,4)
13 Just a second (6-2)
15 He doesn’t believe in field marshals (7) 17 Make a long-distance call to withdraw from a bargain (3,3)
20 He wants a hand (5)
21 Game unsuitable for women (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Dispel tension (5,3,3) 9 South American river (7) 10 Hemmed in (5)
11 Near (4)
12 Object of intense dislike (8) 14 An edible mollusc (6) 16 Sensitive to pain (6) 18 German shepherd dog (8) 19 Catch of fish (4) 22 Succession (5)
23 Save from destruction (7) 24 Experiencing difficulties (2,4,5)
DOWN
2 Situated (5) 3 Eagerly excited (4) 4 Difficult to handle (6) 5 Make resentful (8)
6 As a substitute (7) 7 Pragmatic (4-2-5) 8 Crush by great power (11) 13 A judgment (8) 15 Suffer (7)
17 Let go by (4,2) 20 Quickly (5) 21 Earnest request (4)