THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Odd assortment of biblical characters (3,3)
4 Female guard of honour (8)
9 It means one’s refusing in code perhaps (2,4)
10 It breaks the surface before a morning dip (3,5)
12 A jerk from America? (4)
13 English town, Channel port and a lot more (5)
14 Call round? (4)
17 Presumably he can be relied upon for dexterity (5-4,3)
20 Office girl could give a stranger hope (12)
23 It turns on an opponent (4)
24 A shade of caution (5)
25 Broadcast to raise a smile (4)
28 Their acts are well known (8)
29 Bad luck for those classed as sound performers (6)
30 Hard form of conundrum that loses its point (8)
31 Alliance has a complaint against the French (6)
DOWN
1 Scrap area where ships are built in Hong Kong? (8)
2 Jests go off as they grow old (8)
3 A pained expression (4)
5 What postgraduates work for to a greater extent? (6,6)
6 Approve and circulate (4)
7 A black bird that is a green one to soldiers (6) 8 The minority of lawyers (6)
11 Such figures are letters (5,7)
15 Make a declaration in bad taste (5) 16 Father a friend of the Pope (5)
18 Animal trained to work without worrying (8) 19 A decorous pink and yellow (8)
21 Country girl on the vessel (6)
22 One way to dress for disco lighting (6)
26 Use artistry in eating out (4)
27 Nothing you really like? (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Confused mass (6)
4 Well-to-do (8)
9 Flemish painter 1577-1640 (6)
10 Jack-of-all-trades (8)
12 Having sufficient skill (4)
13 Bowlegged (5)
14 Strong desire (4)
17 Following closely after (2,3,5,2)
20 Be wasted (2,3,7)
23 An attempt (4)
24 Small mound (5)
25 Refuse to obey (4)
28 Sailor’s dance (8)
29 Completely (2,4)
30 Almost (4-4)
31 Affix (6)
DOWN
1 A culinary herb (8)
2 Aristocracy (8)
3 State of conformity (4)
5 With intent to deceive (12)
6 After due time (4)
7 Wring (6)
8 To moderate (6)
11 To humble (4,4,1,3)
15 Underneath (5)
16 Person’s strong point (5)
18 Tedious (8)
19 Threatening frame of mind (4,4)
21 Shun (6)
22 Reconnaissance detachment (6)
26 Short drive in a car (4)
27 Speak irritably (4)