THE CROSSWORDS
PUZZLE 16860
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS 1 Offer that is about right although below par (6) 4 It’s seen in Egypt as dawn breaks before morning (5,3)
9 Half turn to the church and the sound of bells (6) 10 Go forward or go right back in a crowd (8) 12 Dress in a collection of suits (4)
13 Danger lurks in upper Illinois (5)
14 It’s a possibility for a drinker (4)
17 It will show what conditions we may expect (7,5) 20 Feature of society perhaps (6,6)
23 Some pay earned for a period (4)
24 Tried to record the sound of cattle (5)
25 Boat made by company in the southwest (4) 28 Nothing daunted I printed a different version (8) 29 Not just a mixture of fun and music (6) 30 Discuss when the lecture’s finished? (4,4) 31 Bays but can be silent (6) DOWN 1 Face up perhaps but not to a challenge (4,4) 2 Outdoor garment for actor in a play (8)
3 One to be crossed with a goat (4)
5 Yet a curvaceous actress may play it! (8,4) 6 Golden retriever’s craft (4)
7 Got up smartly (6)
8 Get me out one wood and one old iron (6) 11 What one wants most is the reader’s reform (6,6)
15 Kill off new growth (5)
16 It’s a mistake to hesitate or become upset, right? (5)
18 Cash exchanged in pure monetary transaction (8)
19 How one is taken by surprise (8)
21 Finger print expert? (6)
22 Association distributing claret (6)
26 Sign put up by Verne’s captain (4)
27 A refusal in France soon emerges (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Smart in appearance (6) 4 More than anything else (5,3) 9 Red-brown metal (6)
10 Great adulation (8)
12 Entice (4)
13 Giver (5)
14 Large heavy book (4) 17 Prevent quarrelling (4,3,5) 20 Set a fast gallop (5,3,4)
23 Cost in lives (4)
24 Spacious (5)
25 To cut down (4)
28 Insolvent (8)
29 Word of honour (6)
30 Always (8)
31 Cupboard (6)
DOWN
1 Similar (8)
2 Witty retort (8)
3 Head cook (4)
5 Wait for good opportunity (4,4,4) 6 Disgusting (4)
7 Armed conflict (6) 8 Non-professional people (6)
11 Fall heavily (4,1,7)
15 Lower oneself (5)
16 Group of eight (5)
18 People lacking possessions (4-4) 19 Recklessly determined (4-4) 21 Unvarying (6)
22 Momentary look (6)
26 Prudish (4)
27 Annoy (4)