THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Be there at the start and finish (6)
4 Switch positions from time to time (3,3,2)
9 Pull everything in that’s fat (6)
10 Private escort that is arranged (8)
12 Natural reaction of garages running out of gas (4)
13 Throw away a fight (5)
14 Every atlas, I assume, will include it (4)
17 Plough frames make capital investments (12) 20 What the knight does when his coach comes in? (5,2,5)
23 Workman in stone (4)
24 The tree by the way is elder (5)
25 Offshore spot I stole away to (4)
28 Hustling around in the daytime (8)
29 Let hope be unconfined for the moon goddess (6) 30 People may have to put up with her (8)
31 Sent us out at the end of the day (6)
DOWN
1 A star of the printed word (8)
2 Reg entangled with metal wire? (8)
3 Refusal to start on time (4)
5 Bound, but also not bound, to be unreliable (4,3,5) 6 Payment before mountain ascent (4)
7 Union leader caught in women’s clothing gets imprisonment (6)
8 Drink specially made for the Olympics (6) 11 Performed with a high degree of skill (12)
15 It’s rolled up for the opening (5)
16 Be under professional examination (5)
18 He’s smart to order pets (8)
19 One of the following (8)
21 Endlessly ask the advice of a government official (6)
22 A girl came in to study the weapon (6)
26 Final deposition indicates resolve (4)
27 You used to be grand (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Optical illusion (6)
4 Abnormally large (4-4)
9 Hold out temptingly (6)
10 Break one’s journey (4,4) 12 A musical work (4)
13 Lack of good sense (5)
14 Male deer (4)
17 Fed up (4,3,5)
20 Pompous pedantic person (7,5) 23 Relative standing (4)
24 Repair clumsily (5)
25 Skin of fruit (4)
28 Venomous arachnid (8) 29 Landlocked African country (6) 30 Introductory music (8)
31 Purpose (6)
DOWN
1 Bedlam (8)
2 Repudiate (8)
3 Very strong wind (4)
5 Mental acuity (12)
6 Stare open-mouthed (4) 7 Attract (6)
8 Infuriate (6)
11 Solemn promise (4,2,6)
15 Use to no purpose (5) 16 Sumptuous meal (5)
18 Pleasant (8)
19 Resolute (8)
21 Mode of painting on walls (6) 22 Call upon earnestly (6)
26 Catch sight of (4)
27 Long story (4)