GIANT CROSSWORD
CRYPTIC
Choose between cryptic and quick clues to tackle the Giant crossword – both lead to the same answers.
ACROSS
12 From very close, the
thing is empty (7,2,2)
13 Contrive to find the sex
and birth date (6)
14 A kind man, rue
turning on (6)
16 Don’t freeze, though
making cooler (4)
17 As usual, the scout
goes off with a girl (9)
18 Caught out, sure to
be abusive (5)
19 Send after (4)
20 Here’s to me beating
the trio! (9)
22 Repeated “I entered
a nag to run” (5)
23 Right at the light, get on (9) 27 Unambiguous about the
spice mixture contained (7) 30 With the man, head back
to find the escape route (6) 31 Sounding well when
you greet (4)
32 He’s caught at and
doesn’t like it at all (5)
35 Be worried it will be
loud to the listener (4)
36 A piece of land or what’s
needed to work it (7)
38 I managed to shelter
from the downpour (4)
39 More or less violently (7)
42 He’s ringing – at
the door? (6)
45 Throw away very little (5) 46 Here to be a donor (7)
47 Delighted by, launched (4) 48 The light reveals a
small jack (4)
50 Didn’t allow to get
clogged (7)
52 Clutching the piano
music, drive off (5)
54 Teased, took the bone to somewhere in the garden (6)
56 By introducing the composer in a daring way (7)
57 Complain about
the bully? (4)
59 Returns carrying the pet cat and makes it worse (5,2)
61 Sling the patient may
leave hospital with (4)
64 The chaplain departed with
a shake of the head (5)
66 Measure the base (4)
67 When renovated, the
interior is quite modern (6) 69 The material she’s
cutting in a frenzy (7)
72 Plan to get a coloured
picture of (9)
73 Having left on, is switching
to the game (5)
74 Sees the record coming back with the service break (9)
79 Say peevishly “Game” (4) 81 “Rather soppy?
Very”, I put in (5)
82 And running in, greet
a wagging dog (4)
83 Spring’s back and
it’s enervating (4)
85 Running away, trip (6)
86 End the conversation with
“That’s my problem” (4-2) 87 Catching being
disparaging about (7,4)
DOWN
1 Scoff when you adopt
security measures (4)
2 A minor fee (6)
3 Hits the ball, making
small marks on (6)
4 Is now bent on taking
me on, or engaging (7) 5 Unimportant to a
youngster (5)
6 Bluebeard was a
Don Juan (4-6)
7 Actor Fredric has
kooky charm (5)
8 Becomes threadbare,
which is tiresome (5,4)
9 Isn’t wrong about – are
moved: crying (2,5)
10 Marijuana’s being raised
by and you arrest (4)
11 Maintain it’s your own
special domain (8)
15 A grim assemblage
north of the border (6)
21 Animal that got the head
start “Rambling Rose” (5) 24 A big variety in fruit (7)
25 Watch somebody
searching for something (6) 26 Ice has made the
vehicle skid (6)
28 Girl who gave
you the air (5)
29 Determined to form
a group (3)
33 Is turning in the father
and son, in a rage (7)
34 Harry the gunman (6)
37 Paid off by the end of
the year? That’s fast (5)
40 Have a stab at
naming him (5)
41 Know about the
seal I set free (7)
43 Are roughly about a
foot behind (5)
44 The brown leaves start to make their autumnal sound (6)
46 Secure backing for
sections of (5)
49 The opposite of “back” (7) 51 A quite unimportant
run-through (6)
53 The excuses you voice
go down well (6)
55 Gives one a lift –
for money (5)
58 Learning, on seeing
to be in bloom (7,3)
60 A good English dessert (3) 62 The tremor does give
one a fright (5)
63 Frank is blue –
conservative (9)
65 Exhausted everybody,
broadly speaking (3,2,3) 68 A white man on the run (6) 70 A monkey, for instance, is very good at, in captivity (7)
71 Keeps twitching at
the reins held (7)
75 Had left half in the tins
one rinses out (6) 76 One dines out, but
not alfresco (6)
77 Bear from the kiosk (5) 78 Plump for an
alcoholic drink (5)
80 Call for a boy in
mediaeval dress (4)
84 It’s hock, little man (4)