GIANT CROSSWORD

Choose between cryptic and quick clues to tackle the Giant crossword – both lead to the same answers. CRYPTIC

ACROSS 12

With an unmended hole, far inferior to (3,1,5,2)

13 Woke up, myself, covered

by a tattered coat (4,2)

14 Thought advisable to

cut, to dovetail (3,3)

16 Well-groomed,

carrying a bag (4)

17 Though not hard, not

solved by the fool (9)

18 The number – a one –

altered with craft (5)

19 Informed one had

rung, speaking to (4)

20 Unhappy when the

media go into action (9) 22 It is, master, the

cry of a bird (5)

23 A lot different, the new

homes are horrible (9)

27 Name the bird in

the design (7)

30 Heavy from ale,

staggering home (6)

31 Love prison, to

begin with (4)

32 For a youngster, it’s

unimportant (5)

35 Career you destroy (4)

36 Far from cool (7)

38 Really likes the

accommodation (4)

39 Bill is the popular singer (7) 42 Soft bread (6)

45 Shy of, being inferior of (5) 46 Dressing, are told what’s

been happening (7)

47 Decline to surrender to (4) 48 Embarrassed it’s

not good (4)

50 Heart pounding, be

about to whisper (7)

52 Change, literally

rebuilding the centre (5)

54 Afraid for the canary (6)

56 A body in the garage (7)

57 With panache, make

a run for it (4)

59 Fiddles for gypsies (7)

61 Puts in groups (4)

64 Promised it would be

not the north (5)

66 Spotted in the

said locale (4)

67 Gosh! I’ll hide in the tree (6) 69 Bent down to get

inside, silly dopes! (7)

72 Distract when tired out

and it’s in the bag! (9)

73 Spoils by overturning

in the middle (5)

74 Number three, classify as

“thoroughly mediocre” (5-4) 79 In the return, outdoes

by just a little (4)

81 Cut a figure, taking

Vera dancing (5)

82 Because a coconut cracked when the point penetrated (2,7)

83 Let have it – it’s

one of a pair (4)

85 The harvester working

with her is fast (6)

86 Stops ringing me, which

improves things (6)

87 What the greedy want,

increasingly (4,3,4)

DOWN

1 Darted over again to (4) 2 Having less polish does

make a difference (6)

3 Skips over to get

the vouchers (6) 4 Run “Politician” in

crooked races (7)

5 Works while I get lost

wandering around (5)

6 Claimed Anita was dressed

in denim: ridiculous! (10)

7 Get to hear deviously

about the note (5)

8 Checking after the

mugging (5,4)

9 Agrees to have the

fool sent packing (7)

10 Pulls up to study (4)

11 What the peeved Spooner

called Millie Sue? (5,3)

15 Leave for the seaside (6)

21 Start with a clean

sheet again? (5)

24 Shed as you leave (4,3)

25 See red when the fish

is brought in (6)

26 An expression of disgust –

and not about nothing (6) 28 Fed up with it, upset

and angry (5)

29 A gun in the fishing

boat? (3)

33 A fool, terribly rude

and cocky (7)

34 Irritable when you see

having a snooze inside (6) 37 Part of the winter

season, in short (5)

40 An instrument for the

prison band (5)

41 Cast a spell on and

figure it damaged (7)

43 He caught the policeman

up in time (5)

44 From the pub, returned

with a little animal (6)

46 Trade that requires

cunning (5)

49 From shyness,

keep back (7)

51 Teaches and, as an artist,

isn’t wild about it (6)

53 Items from the hardware

store – cheap (6)

55 Catch or miss the ball (5) 58 Hello! This is a fine state

of affairs! (3,2,3,2)

60 Snow and it will settle (3) 62 Prescribe a little of what

you fancy for? (5)

63 The welcome mat? (3,6) 65 Onto the cat walk, back

come the dogs (8)

68 All confused about the

mess-up – it’s killing (6) 70 Someone making a

joke – a good one (7)

71 Cried out “Hide in

the outhouse” (7)

75 Jack called it back in (6) 76 Proceed. It’s sure

to turn me on (6)

77 A second before the

regular time (5)

78 The cops break a hole

in and ladle it out (5)

80 Go off in rotation (4)

84 The middle or the first or

last letter in “clue” (4)