Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.
Cryptic clues ACROSS
1 Verification of alcohol strength (5) 4 Elegance of a lesson (5) 7 Traitor in the fraternity (3) 9 Respect for engineers always comes in (6) 11 Reasonable entertainment (4) 12 Trendy new pub (3)
13 Fail to win trophy outside with photograph (5-2) 15 Out of bed on one side, honest (7) 18 Don’t stand for a fib (3) 19 A method of being somewhere else (4) 20 Walk like a small ogre (6) 23 Get oysters with trifle (3) 24 Instrument for fixing stair (5)
25 Not once was nerve lost (5)
DOWN
1 Specific, small details (11) 2 Bored with raw material (3) 3 Distant RAF manoeuvre (3) 5 Conscious of a battle to the east (5) 6 Get rid of croupier, a rubbish businessman (5,6) 8 Distinguish from a constellation (4) 10 Advantaged with transport (3) 13 Gear about to go wrong (3) 14 Unacceptable in the south (3) 16 Criticise cook (5) 17 Unfortunately shot the presenter (4)
18 Sign from the galleon (3) 21 Great deal of stone (3) 22 Very excited about whisky (3) Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror
Quick clues ACROSS
1 Evidence (5) 4 Category (5) 7 Rodent (3) 9 Esteem (6) 11 Blonde (4) 12 Tavern (3) 13 Intimate picture (5-2) 15 Vertical (7) 18 Untruth (3) 19 On holiday (4) 20 Wander (6) 23 Plaything (3) 24 Stringed instrument (5) 25 At no time (5)
DOWN
1 Personal details (11) 2 Mineral (3) 3 Remote (3) 5 Having knowledge (of) (5) 6 Metal merchant (5,6) 8 Inform (4) 10 Vehicle (3) 13 Toothed wheel (3) 14 Not at home (3) 16 Cook in the oven (5) 17 Great many (4) 18 Zodiac sign (3) 21 Weight (3) 22 Grain (3) Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror