TWO-WAY TEASER

TWO sets of clues but the answers are the same...

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 What to wear when one’s influence is finished? (8)

5 Chain letters? (4)

8 Refuse to work for one’s bread? (4)

9 A stately queen (8)

10 Duck unusually suited to

being in the open air (7)

12 Pale as a cackling female (5)

13 Broken sliver of metal (6)

15 A letter to make a suggestion baldly (6)

17 Retreats from the defenders (5)

18 Chinatown? But it’s in Germany! (7)

22 If he hasn’t any form, he should have! (8)

23 Speed of payment? (4)

24 Nearly, but not quite,

breaking a hinge (4)

25 Time runs out, so it’s the end of the line (8)

DOWN

1 Fighting weapons, but far from lethal! (7)

2 Jumped and broke a plate (5)

3 Very clear Roman numerals (5)

4 Sway to and fro to music (4)

6 One floating around loftily dries out the joint (7)

7 Find there’s money if you work for it (5)

11 Notions Sadie finds upsetting (5)

12 It’s a preference, all the same (5)

14 Beating, or giving a tongue lashing? (7)

16 Americans – strongly drawn characters? (7)

17 No taxi returned for breakfast (5)

19 One can lay down the laws as to where to draw the line (5)

20 When there’s many a shower, run away! (5)

21 Join up at speed (in the navy?) (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Sweater (8)

5 Post (4)

8 Laze (4)

9 British queen (8)

10 Exterior (7)

12 Pale (5)

13 Cutlery (6)

15 Plainly (6)

17 Bets on (5)

18 German city (7)

22 Law-breaker (8)

23 Evaluate (4)

24 Near (4)

25 End of a railway (8)

DOWN

1 Cushions (7)

2 Jumped (5)

3 Very clear (5)

4 Stone (4)

6 Dirigible (7)

7 Study (5)

11 Thoughts (5)

12 Similar (5)

14 Defeating, informally (7)

16 Northern U.S. soldiers in the Civil War (7)

17 Breakfast food item (5)

19 Governor (5)

20 Seep away (5)

21 Tangle (4)