Giant Crossword

Across

8 Show a piece of paper with an insect on it (7)

9 High but not squeaky? (4-5)

13 A bank note is found inside the soft toy (5) 14 Too small-time; that’s clear (5)

15 From head to tail, unusually fine (7)

16 Do show an inclination to be quarrelsome (7) 17 Find, when you make a copy of (5) 18 Records the music (5)

20 Removes from the post bags (5) 22 Partaking of, when forced to (6)

23 Does he make bully beef and get a monopoly on it? (6)

25 Mean to finalise it after a drink (7) 27 Study the accepted behaviour to fit in with the others (7)

30 With luck, manages to decipher (6) 31 Appear and put to shame (4,2)

32 Slam, locking, with the key inside and they bleat (5)

35 Tired and tense, relying on pull to get somewhere (5)

36 Mean to get one’s capital (5)

37 Find it’s a brief summary (3-4)

39 Nice, but would I be up to it? (7) 41 Island the Indian tribal head was captured in (5)

42 Import you have a hunch about (5)

43 Was about to be involved in (9)

44 The story has a title, you say (7)

Down

1 Very accurate. That’s excellent (4,2)

2 If you don’t look so closely at it, it’s very good (8)

3 A second-hand article. I don’t care what (3,3,5)

4 Holding back the transport for the others to catch (9)

5 For want of money all round, do less business (7)

6 It’s really great getting away with cheating (7,3) 7 Didn’t stay when dropped off? (4) 10 Shares the plants (6)

11 Jittery as always; it’s through being upset (7)

12 The shutter is heavier (6) 19 The mutt ran when freed, the little pet (7)

21 Over a spleen infection (7) 24 The law of the forest? (6,5) 26 Withdrawing what one said about regaining possession (6,4) 28 A card, of a kind (9)

29 Did a kinky dance? (7)

30 Plot to strike that creates uproar (6)

32 Drive that stands a poor chance of success? (4,4)

33 The siren goes off, drowning a note by the entertainer (6) 34 Seems like the soft fruit is in (7) 38 Being yours, though still having to pay about a quarter (6)

40 A tonic in the club (4)