Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS 1 Stout, excellent pressure (5) 5 Evaluated tread badly (5) 9 Prisoner to fall behind (3) 10 Old lie about banishment (5) 11 Energy can’t improve play (5) 12 Annoy former spouse after five (3) 13 Study of cadences (3) 14 Faced with expert (3) 16 Number of contents (3) 18 Remove permit in river (6) 21 Made off with cheese (4) 23 God of the roses (4) 26 Powerless at university to arrest the French (6) 29 Elizabeth’s wager (3) 31 Is more than one? (3) 32 Use badly and prosecute (3) 34 Help from maiden (3) 36 Regale a source of inspiration (5) 37 Previous cleric (5) 38 Encountered the police in London (3) 39 Guide bullock (5) 40 Burns report from prophets (5)
DOWN 1 Promise to put pressure on sill (6) 2 Way out of planet (4) 3 Doug and Adrian have land (6) 4 Plate shaped like part of flower (5) 5 Registered doctor has one pin (5) 6 Talented with a drink (3) 7 Sculpt exterior with writing (4) 8 Head Dane off (4) 15 Raced around tree (5) 17 The golfer’s conceit (3) 19 Bemused with creature (3) 20 Swimmer feeling around (3) 22 Owing to condensation, say (3) 24 Continue summary (6) 25 Little time on ship for bonbons (6) 27 Bottom of drain layout (5) 28 Tolerates animals (5) 29 Register a fish (4) 30 Recording a pet playing (4) 33 Employer’s new ruse (4) 35 Fired with fury (3)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS 1 Chubby (5) 5 Assessed (5) 9 Insulate (3) 10 Banish (5) 11 Make law (5) 12 Annoy (3) 13 Lair (3) 14 Playing card (3) 16 Decimal base (3) 18 Cross out (6) 21 Dairy product (4) 23 Greek deity (4) 26 Incapable (6) 29 Gamble (3) 31 Plural of is (3) 32 Take to court (3) 34 Assistance (3) 36 Entertain (5) 37 Clergyman (5) 38 Assembled (3) 39 Navigate (5) 40 Clairvoyants (5)
DOWN 1 Vow (6) 2 Country road (4) 3 African country (6) 4 Flower part (5) 5 Metal fastener (5) 6 Beer (3) 7 Phone message (4) 8 College head (4) 15 Fragrant wood (5) 17 Self-image (3) 19 Flightless bird (3) 20 Long fish (3) 22 Expected (3) 24 Carry on (6) 25 Confectionery (6) 27 Lowest point (5) 28 Ursine mammals (5) 29 Singing voice (4) 30 Adhesive strip (4) 33 Consumer (4) 35 Wrath (3)