THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Old maid? (5)
8 How chaps correspond by telepathy? (8)
9 Dad set out with stick (5)
10 Reveal oneself to be a beastly coward! (4,4)
11 Flexible twig and why it is brought in (5)
12 We had contracted to get married (3)
16 Famine for a large number on this planet (6)
17 Give firm backing to worship that’s mythical (6)
18 Cut grass back with an expression of defiance (3)
23 Solicit for votes in the foyer (5)
24 Surplus footwear? (8)
25 Golden retriever? (5)
26 News read out and justified (8)
27 Spell words (5)
DOWN
2 He may pass on what he knows (8)
3 Bob interrupted (3,5)
4 Deny an umpire employment (6)
5 Where one may sit or get to one’s feet (5)
6 Put down a pound stake (5)
7 Revolutionary vehicle (5)
12 A question of motive (3)
13 Brick carrier turns up with a note (3)
14 Current company accepts unusual deal of honour (8)
15 Where members of society may meet (4,4)
19 Maintained a five-nil lead over United (6)
20 Raid that’s short but seems everlasting (5)
21 Fail to pay gambling debts? The language! (5)
22 Like a layer of wood (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Author of Gulliver’s Travels (5)
8 Not to mention (3,5)
9 Shared with others (5)
10 Freedom from prejudice (4,4)
11 Being on even terms (5)
12 Reluctant to change (3)
16 Abduct (6)
17 Call on in prayer (6)
18 Mimic (3)
23 The very edge (5)
24 Collaborating (2,6)
25 A gambling card game (5)
26 Keen-sighted (4-4)
27 Make suitable (5)
DOWN
2 Detective story (8)
3 Make delicate adjustments to (4-4)
4 Place of worship (6)
5 Short pleasure trip (5)
6 Unanimous (5)
7 Intoxicating (5)
12 Health resort (3)
13 Fasten (3)
14 Supreme master (8)
15 Superficial (4-4)
19 Person without means (6)
20 Power wielded (5)
21 Comic entertainer (5)
22 Large crow (5)