THE GIANT CROSSWORD
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS 12 Briefly, safe from attack by pecking birds (2,1,8) 13 Having recorded right through, turned to leave (6) 14 Informer, female? Definitely (6) 16 How often did one get a century in? (4) 17 Considers, when curtain’s come down on act (5,4) 18 Their inclination is to help passengers (5) 19 ‘Rob’ is a boy’s name (4) 20 Unruffled, had a whip-round? (9) 22 Foot the bill for — a delightful surprise (5) 23 Find out it’s silly scare. About a box (9) 27 Article I seem to have misspelled in list (7) 30 Mean, at one point, to minister to (6) 31 Be next to make an objection (4) 32 Kind – quiet and calm, too (5) 35 Snow white bird (4) 36 ‘A performance,’ would ‘60’ declare it to be? (7) 38 Sense there’s been a final deletion to no avail (4) 39 Coming as a c-contender (7) 42 Be quiet and sort out the holiday wear! (6) 45 Are able to take over, as a rule (5) 46 ‘Reduce by ha’pence’ is bizarre (7) 47 Animal centre, we’re told (4) 48 As well as being little short of luxurious (4) 50 Proceeds to supply the answers (7) 52 I’ll say the confirmed bachelor has avoided it! (5) 54 On Sunday, go off and lumber with (6) 56 Mixing a number with grated ginger (7) 57 Policeman returns, holding two bracelets, to imprison (4) 59 Plus, diverted, ran back into traffic jam (5-2) 61 Hurries, making return trip (4) 64 Sees as pessimists mistakenly, to start with (5) 66 Assist, though it’s a gamble (4) 67 You can make it if you really try (6) 69 Glance to leg. Out, Scamp’s caught! (7) 72 Conceals container to drink from (7,2) 73 Insist on getting correct in every detail (5) 74 Coastal erosion seen seasonally on our shores (5,4) 79 Figure there’s a U in ‘favouring’ (4) 81 Are fetching and be attracted by (2,3) 82 Bragged about having photographed alien. Ridiculous! (4,1,4) 83 At fifty, single and solitary (4) 85 Deemed correct to cut and install (3,3) 86 Metal with bendy core: very soft centre (6) 87 Pull out all the stops to get ship’s alarm sounded? (2,9) DOWN 1 Soon as ‘45’ gets tip-off (4) 2 Providing a clue for ‘ailing’, but not satisfactorily? (6) 3 Cat’s outside. It climbs up, hissing (6) 4 Delighted to have tea by the sea (7) 5 Categorise as ‘up-market sophistication’ (5) 6 In which, of three beds, only one’s just right (4,6) 7 Two rivers going into another that’s dark and viscous (5) 8 Collector’s items removed from album, gets rid of (6,3) 9 Thwarts by giving the wrong signs (7) 10 Standing up, unbalanced, stagger (4) 11 Define as ‘scattering seed round a bed’ (8) 15 Something that rhymes with ‘loath’ (6) 21 Being pulled from hollow, won’t move (2,3) 24 Black concealing silver ran grotesquely in this shower (7) 25 Not smooth, which is odd (6) 26 Kind of back in the rut, anyhow (6) 28 Younger boy, I’m raising (5) 29 In spring, it rises, or pops up (3) 33 Bearing a number plate to mollify (7) 34 Squeezes, saying ‘Gives one a buzz’ (6) 37 Storms. Rain accompanied by insects (5) 40 Pair packed up and left after a month (5) 41 Beseeches and shocks European into (7) 43 Very well held, to equalise score (5) 44 Run, son — run off (6) 46 Rabbits are popular pets in France (5) 49 Gets wrong people incarcerated and that’s not all (7) 51 Where creatures sleep or turn and toss agitatedly (6) 53 Celestial objects. One caught in flight (6) 55 Home, I’m putting on casual wear (5) 58 Is a has-been (3-7) 60 Friend standing round (3) 62 From the old days, a staple in most kitchen cupboards (5) 63 On the subject of frontage, a complete reversal (5,4) 65 Plan to support also after break-up (8) 68 Manager or fellow member of the cast (6) 70 Why I get out of shape, becoming heavy (7) 71 Think you’ll buy it? (7) 75 Ta-ta and ta (6) 76 Does it beat other drinks? (6) 77 Food found in garbage (5) 78 Vehicle that won’t have a drunk driver? (5) 80 Whole lot of shipwrecked people have been saved by one (4) 84 Usual hectic start to morning (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS 12 Briefly (2,1,8) 13 Leave (6) 14 Very definitely! (6) 16 On one occasion (4) 17 Ruminates (9) 18 Gangways (5) 19 Steal (slang) (4) 20 Gathered together (9) 22 Foot the bill (5) 23 Find out (9) 27 List (7) 30 Aim (6) 31 Adjoin (4) 32 Class or variety (5) 35 Bird (4) 36 Kerfuffle (7) 38 Common sense (4) 39 Advent (7) 42 Summer wear (6) 45 Rule (5) 46 Reduce price (7) 47 Male deer (4) 48 As well as (4) 50 Profits (7) 52 Passage (5) 54 Encumber (6) 56 Mingling (7) 57 Small enclosure (4) 59 Traffic jam (5-2) 61 Hurries (4) 64 Enemy agents (5) 66 Aid (4) 67 Determined attempt (6) 69 Brief look (7) 72 Represses (7,2) 73 Precise (5) 74 Seaside garb (5,4) 79 Number (4) 81 Be attracted by (2,3) 82 Bragged (4,1,4) 83 Solitary (4) 85 Deemed correct (3,3) 86 Metal (6) 87 Carry to excess (2,9) DOWN 1 Soon (4) 2 Ill (6) 3 Radio interference (6) 4 Enchanted (7) 5 Categorise (5) 6 Noisy place (4,6) 7 Linger (5) 8 Eradicates (6,3) 9 Thwarts (7) 10 Astonish (4) 11 Define (8) 15 Opposed (6) 21 Being pulled (2,3) 24 Black coating (7) 25 Bumpy (6) 26 Character (6) 28 Lesser (5) 29 Plant fluid (3) 33 Mollify (7) 34 Squeezes (6) 37 Raves (5) 40 Month (5) 41 Begs for (7) 43 Bisect (5) 44 Run (6) 46 Talks (5) 49 Piece (7) 51 Perches (6) 53 Steps (6) 55 Textile (5) 58 Lived before (3,7) 60 Chum (3) 62 Spaghetti, etc (5) 63 Turn-around (5,4) 65 Plan (8) 68 Element (6) 70 Heavy (7) 71 Be convinced (7) 75 Applauds (6) 76 Thrash (6) 77 Nonsense (5) 78 Horse-drawn vehicle (5) 80 Floating platform (4) 84 Average (4)