CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3 Cheat at every turn? (5) 8 Distressed at one’s pay reduction being increased? (3,2)

10 Person directing the team bus? (5)

11 A bird elephants should be wary of! (3)

12 In the end, perhaps, the modus operandi seems fiendish! (5)

13 Where one labours to get an operation? (7) 15 Occasions when I’m stuck in a setback (5) 18 Transatlantic record? (3) 19 Assent to the destruction of some nice cedars (6) 21 Because flesh is weak? (7) 22 Devilish quotation from a palimpsest (4)

23 Low noises (4)

24 It’s for aches and pains, perhaps, taking in the tax people (7)

26 Novel place for cricket? (6) 29 Ladder of success in the theatre (3)

31 Special card for one to run round with (5) 32 Argued about the high speed, indeed! (7)

34 Nine is the one to be on! (5) 35 Colour of pure damask (3) 36 Feed the fires of the potteries (5)

37 All set for about a day, perhaps (5)

38 As yet developing growth on grape vine (5)

DOWN

1 Smashing hour by northern lake (5)

2 Yields a dollar to the boy (7) 4 Cry because it’s only a baby piano (4)

5 Is such broth alcoholic? (6) 6 Does it stimulate you to be a bit nice? (5)

7 Worked for the electricity man (5) 9 I t’s high in distortion (3) 12 Barking swimmer? (7) 14 Resolute little chap (3) 16 As consumed by me and half London (5)

17 You may feel it’s common (5)

19 Hoped to take a boy to Paris, maybe (7)

20 When burglars did the wrong thing (5)

21 It can make a hole in bad pears (5)

23 Train ’em to use a turret (7) 24 PM, a teetotaler and a general (6)

25 Polish up a Cherubini piece (3)

27 Heartbreak in space (5) 28 Unstable movie character? (5)

30 He’s presumably bearable (5)

32 Being worn, they won’t work (4)

33 In a white area, it stains brown (3)