THE TAKE-A-BREAK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1. Uses the knuckles

to fight back (4) 8. An impresario may do so without affectation (3,2,2,3) 9. Tenniel's new watch

(8) 10. A writer's

confidence (4) 12. It comes between

opposing sides (6) 14. Steps inside? (6) 15. A relation, not being heartless, makes a gift (6) 17. Breaks down and

confesses (6) 18. Arrange live

coverage (4) 19. Ring fighter (8) 21. A swinging

alternative (10) 22. Simple? Yes, with a

new form (4) DOWN 2. Increase the rate

(10) 3. Gaiter from the past

(4) 4. Attacks a pop group

(6) 5. They are all right in

the square (6) 6. Hartnell fashion to

charm (8) 7. It may spoil the look

of a lid (4) 11. They fall down on

the job (10) 13. Ten girls gone astray, yet still of excellent character (8) 16. Ain't it difficult for

an old master? (6) 17. The vicar's address

(6) 18. Girl getting rave

review (4) 20. Sounds an

unfavourable bet (4)

QUICK CLUES YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

Across 1. Retain (4) 8. Sensible (10) 9. Suggest (8) 10. Osculate (4) 12. Expression (6) 14. Disclose (6) 15. Ted (6) 17. Wonder (6) 18. Influence (4) 19. Of a district (8) 21. Puppet (10) 22. Unclothed (4) Down 2. Dwarf (10) 3. Fall (4) 4. Greet (6) 5. Edge (6) 6. Discuss (4,4) 7. Elizabeth (4) 11. Shy (10) 13. Breakdown (8) 16. Throughout (6) 17. Powerful (6) 18. Identical (4) 20. Unrestricted

(4) QUICK Across 7 Lurch 8 Stoical 9 Inferno 10 Links 12 Sweep

stake 15 Administer 18 Extol 19 Rupture 21 Stetson 22 Floor Down 1 Illiterate 2 Gruff 3 Char 4 Ashore 5 Coalesce 6 Scandal 11 Sweet

heart 13 Windlass 14 Smother 16 Strong 17 Buxom 20 Puff CRYPTIC Across 7 Flair 8 Monarch 9 Plumage 10 Wound 12 After

hours 15 Ice-breaker 18 Grimm 19 Arsenic 21 Crossed 22 Force Down 1 Off-putting 2 Value 3 Area 4 Impede 5 Snowshoe 6 Arbutus 11 Disc

jockey 13 Foremost 14 Lexicon 16 Amanda 17 Snore 20 Sofa