THE CROSSWORDS

Across

1 Card game we hear (5)

4 Permission to start? (2-5)

8 Catch a number on the rebound (3)

9 Its ups and downs may be studied by the pilot (4,5) 10 Hide away or gradually let out (7)

11 Money belt (5)

13 Fool put back on the dole perhaps (6)

15 Shy and put out when red spots appear (6) 18 Manoeuvre near a battlefield (5)

19 Officer’s responsibility given to the men (7)

21 A dog hunts? This sort does (9)

23 A fatal cast (3)

24 Apparently an off-day for twelve (7)

25 Rises and flits about (5)

Down

1 Keeps going like a parasite (5,2)

2 Vegetable makes Rita squirm and splutter (9) 3 It was in the church’s interest (5)

4 Incorrectly tagged labour-saving device (6)

5 A stiff examination (7)

6 Period of maritime decline (3)

7 Fear father will come round again? (5)

12 Foe had run into unprecedented difficulty (7-2) 14 Lead on? (7)

16 A send-up on board produces melancholy (7) 17 Busy tenant (6)

18 Bad lighting (5)

20 Design a miniature (5)

22 A love note enclosed produces excitement (3)

Across

1 Style of furnishings (5) 4 Pompous language (7)

8 Total amount (3)

9 Offer freely (9)

10 A republic in the

Caucasus (7)

11 Sky-blue (5)

13 Wobble (6)

15 Repressed (4-2)

18 Provide what is needed (5) 19 Forestall (3-4)

21 Reach required standard (7,2) 23 Moreover (3)

24 Refuse to acknowledge (3,4) 25 Country of south Arabia (5)

Down

1 Aloof (7)

2 A soft cream cheese (9)

3 Split (5)

4 Slow romantic song (6)

5 Commonplace (7)

6 To mature (3)

7 Curt (5)

12 Final terms (9)

14 On the way (2,5)

16 Humiliate (3,4)

17 Attach (6)

18 Funny (5)

20 Insincere (5)

22 Perform a part (3)