“How clean is your house? Meet the crossword fanatic who has not cleaned her flat for 24 years.”
Channel 4 TV Listings
This list includes the most common crossword abbreviations and all of those used in this book’s clues and puzzles. To assist solvers, it is arranged in order of the abbreviated word rather than the abbreviation itself.
2. Solutions: 120 Practice Clues
In the following two sections of annotated solutions, letters that form anagrams (anagram fodder), are shown by an asterisk, definitions are italicised and indicators are underlined.
3. Solutions: 24 Practice Puzzles
Puzzle 1: The Sun
Across
1 Theatre tutor’s old means of transport
additive
STAGECOACH – stage coach
8 It does beat vegan food
double definition
PULSE
9 Increases desire, that’s swell
additive
UPSURGE – increases = ups + desire = urge
10 Pa’s about to pull up on the road surface
additive incl anagram
ASPHALT - pas* + pull up = halt
11 Anchors on open heaths
double definition
MOORS
12 Pull towards a body when Vi a target maybe
anagram
GRAVITATE – Vi a target*
15 Shades of colour sound qualities
double definition
TONES
17 A builder, nearly crazy, can be heard
anagram incl takeaway
AUDIBLE – a builde(r)*
19 Be a star performing side by side
anagram
ABREAST – be a star*
20 I love stewed fruit
anagram
OLIVE – I love*
21 Final attempt to endure holiday town
additive
LAST RESORT – last + resort
Down
2 Bulb surprisingly lit up
anagram
TULIP – lit up*
3 A danger is crushed in Caribbean island
anagram
GRENADA
4 Risk total defeat at Wimbledon?
cryptic definition
COURT DISASTER
5 Tea for fool in the morning
additive
ASSAM – fool = ass + a.m.
6 Moorhen desperately seeking adrenaline, perhaps
anagram
HORMONE – moorhen*
7 Small county where people go to retire?
double definition
BEDS
8 Hear dog in summit
homophone
PEAK – sounds like peke
12 Universal soldier
double definition
GENERAL
13 A dour disposition you and I found wearying
additive incl anagram
ARDUOUS – a dour* + you and I = us
14 At this point in the rehearsal
hidden
HERE
15 Quite a knack keeping timber
hidden
TEAK
16 Difficulties with small horses
additive
SNAGS – small = s + nags
18 British air ruined wild rose
additive incl anagram
BRIAR – British = Br + air*
Puzzle 2: Daily Mail
Across
1 Influential condition Elgar noted with pomp
double definition
CIRCUMSTANCE
8 Edited and prepared for examination
double definition
REVISED
9 Unsold stock to support record
additive
BACKLOG – back + log
11 Article men rewrite relating to trade
anagram
MERCANTILE – article men*
12 Young animal with one chrysalis
additive
PUPA – pup + a
14 Type of swine a danger running around middle of pen
sandwich incl anagram
GADARENE – (p)e(n) inside a danger*
16 Old Spanish change put into plant
sandwich
PESETA – set inside pea
17 Grant’s regular gun
hidden
GAT – G( r)a(n)t
19 Show off Florida relative
additive
FLAUNT – FL + aunt
21 Confine remainder at court, keeping Irish back
sandwich incl reversal
RESTRICT – Ir(ish) reversed in rest + Ct
24 Source of energy at home when he quits
takeaway
ATOM – at (h)om(e)
25 Speak once (badly) about good old birthday treat
sandwich incl anagram
SPONGE CAKE – g inside speak once*
27 Mark grabs money, a lasting power
sandwich
STAMINA – M inside stain + a
28 Knot resolved in daring cut with middle of sword
sandwich incl anagram
GORDIAN – (sw)o(rd) inside daring*
29 US docker rearranged organs on helm
anagram
LONGSHOREMAN – organs on helm*
Down
1 Vicar turns up in mixed school with hat on
sandwich incl reversal
COVERED – Rev reversed inside Coed
2 Rarest tuna cooked here?
all-in-one anagram
RESTAURANT – rarest tuna*
3 It’s more expensive going out modernising
additive
UPDATING – up + dating
4 Bust smashed by the Parisian’s hard to detect
additive incl anagram
SUBTLE – bust* + le
5 Expert’s rare in a church
sandwich
ARCH – r inside a Ch
6 Conspire – lines by Unionist put into cipher
sandwich
COLLUDE – ll + U inside code
7 Fancy farm foie gras? It’sthick and creamy
anagram
FROMAGE FRAIS – farm foie gras*
10 Promising rain-gauge’s working about ten maybe
sandwich incl anagrams
GUARANTEEING – ten* inside raingauge*
13 Beat it; English races went ahead in rising gloom
sandwich incl reversal
KETTLEDRUM – E TT + led inside murk reversed
15 Essential part of cereals, crushed
all-in-one hidden incl anagram
EAR – (ce)rea(ls)*
18 Generate broadcast for someone in second decade
anagram
TEENAGER – generate*
20 Head off chaos at a party of green hue
additive incl takeaway
AVOCADO – (h)avoc + a do
22 I get stuck into translating a Latin language
sandwich incl anagram
ITALIAN – I inside a Latin*
23 Prominently display Spanish whip
additive
SPLASH – Sp(anish) + lash
26 Faction’s victory over government
additive
WING – win + G
Puzzle 3: Guardian – Rufus
Across
1 Range of company found by MP on a ship
additive
5 Not quite a heavyweight vessel?
double definition
CRUISER
9 Bulb lit up, when switched
anagram
TULIP – lit up*
10 I made case out for specialised-schools
anagram
ACADEMIES – I made case*
11 The constitution should be all the better for them
cryptic definition
AMENDMENTS
12 A student is after an alternative exam
additive
ORAL – or + a + L
14 It may have a good nap on the flight
cryptic definition
STAIR CARPET
18 Person with two hips?
cryptic definition
CHEERLEADER
21 Some harbour dues with which Indians are conversant
hidden
URDU
22 Break away from the craft
cryptic definition
SHORE LEAVE
25 Exacting examinations, involving litmus papers?
cryptic definition
ACID TESTS
26 One has to be what one is
cryptic definition
OWNER
27 Sending out terminations
anagram
ENDINGS – sending*
28 Getting fed up about midday?
cryptic definition
AT LUNCH
Down
1 A yacht capsized in Old China
anagram
CATHAY – a yacht*
2 Striker appears satisfied about everything
sandwich
MALLET – all inside met
3 Ida strips a rampant evergreen
anagram
ASPIDISTRA – Ida strips a*
4 Around morning she gets a feeling of guilt
sandwich
SHAME – AM inside she
5 Accountant may be after this three-card trick
anagram
CHARTERED – three-card*
6 Takes advantage, gaining three points on centre court
additive
USES – (co)u(rt) + SES (compass points)
7 Footholds on the mount
cryptic definition
STIRRUPS
8 Determined to give poor Rose an instrument
additive incl anagram
RESOLUTE – Rose* + lute
13 Container to list in aircraft manoeuvre
additive
15 Sort out that messy collection of stones
anagram
AMETHYSTS – that messy*
16 Precise bill supported by a junior minister
additive
ACCURATE – a/c + curate
17 It’s a blow that has to be faced
cryptic definition
HEADWIND
19 Girl came in to study the weapon
sandwich
CANNON – Ann inside con
20 Want to disguise hatred
anagram
DEARTH – hatred*
23 A follower of Ethiopian emperor and a Russian emperor uplifted
reversal
RASTA – a Tsar reversed
24 Heads up to deliver a knockout blow
reversal
STUN – nuts reversed
Puzzle 4: Financial Times – Falcon
Across
1 Obvious method actors may be seen here in Manhattan
additive
BROADWAY – broad + way
5 Piece of silk? Look at a sample
additive
SWATCH – s(ilk) + watch
9 Devious sappers in charge
sandwich
INDIRECT – RE inside indict
10 A French child in Germany - it’s cruel
additive
UNKIND – un + kind (German)
12 Fortunate, girl receiving king
sandwich
LUCKY – K(ing) inside Lucy
13 Ivy, maybe, always growing
cryptic definition
EVERGREEN
14 Layout of garrison entered by graduate
sandwich
FORMAT – MA inside fort
16 Dutch scholar, helping to make operas, musicals
hidden
ERASMUS
19 Each side, initially, on pitch is made up of famous players
additive
ALL-STAR – all + s(ide) + tar
21 Rock of Gibraltar’s third visited by a sailor
additive
BASALT – (Gi)b(raltar) + a salt
23 Talk in nightclub? Sure, when drunk
additive incl anagram
DISCOURSE – disco + sure*
25 What a bishop may wear in a joint
MITRE
26 New weapon, restricted
additive
NARROW – n + arrow
27 Ankle was broken in ballet
anagram
SWAN LAKE – ankle was*
28 Written message from landlord’s in character
triple definition
LETTER
29 One-time collier penning article for paper?
sandwich
EXAMINER – a inside ex-miner
Down
1 Check back of veil worn by groom’s partner
sandwich
BRIDLE – l inside bride
2 The traditional type from Harrow, for example
cryptic definition
OLD SCHOOL
3 Dry It in cocktail is nasty
anagram
DIRTY – dry It*
4 A new European coin embodying one that’s very old
additive incl sandwich
ANCIENT – I inside a n + cent
6 Saw single storm-tossed schooner, say
anagram
WINEGLASS – saw single*
7 Junk food
double definition
TRIPE
8 Pleasure-seeker, male lecturer, is sort of square
additive
HEDONIST – he + don + is + T
11 Lake shimmered somewhat
hidden
MERE
15 Device that marks time – encountered no more, strangely
additive incl anagram
METRONOME – met + no more*
17 Early form of transport
cryptic definition
MILK TRAIN
18 Lie about filming a naughty nude in colour
sandwich incl reversal and anagram
EAU DE NIL – a + nude* inside lie reversed
20 Seldom seen underdone
double definition
RARE
21 Polish insects get larger
additive
BEESWAX – bees + wax
22 Nothing in measuring device can show a shooting star
sandwich
METEOR – 0 inside meter
24 Fish in foreign parts
anagram
SPRAT – parts*
25 Note that goes up or down
reversal
MINIM
Across
1 Skill fixing fence, if icy
anagram
EFFICIENCY – fence if icy*
6 Bound to leave
double definition
SKIP
9 Vehicles, vehicles – about time!
sandwich
CARTS – t in cars
10 Select Poe works to shorten
anagram
TELESCOPE – select Poe*
12 Old bishop and minister in study
additive
OBSERVE – o + B + serve
13 Rushed for instance towards the West’s diversity
additive incl reversal
RANGE – ran + eg reversed
15 Agitated conductor leading band’s climax
additive
RATTLED – Rattle + ban(d)
17 Former lover suggested getting bare
additive
EXPOSED – ex + posed
19 Country retreat with distinguishing characteristic
additive
DENMARK – den + mark
21 Hearing sounds back, son must be captivated
sandwich incl reversal
SESSION – s in noises reversed
22 Model of car and every train
additive
TEACH – (Ford model)T + each
24 Business skill returned: very loudly in charge
additive incl reversal
TRAFFIC – art reversed + ff + i/c
27 Keeping in power involved keeping quiet
sandwich incl anagram
OWNERSHIP – sh inside in power*
28 Say nothing in sin
sandwich
VOICE – O in vice
29 Holy man, the old thing that’s painful to see around
additive
STYE – St + ye
30 Fired up, 50 per cent of encounters were angry
additive incl takeaway
ENCOURAGED – encou(nters)+ raged
Down
1 Branch of sweet chestnut’s cut
hidden
ETCH
2 Catch up after pro got left behind
additive incl reversal
FORGOTTEN – for + got + net reversed
3 Charges people from the Highlands leading southern moves?
letter switch
COSTS – Scots with initial S moved to centre
4 Went in hospital department before daughter
additive
ENTERED – ENT + ere + d
5 Company suggest leaving a place of learning
additive incl takeaway
COLLEGE – Co + (a)llege
7 Recognised kind of wine regularly taken out
hidden
KNOWN
8 Putting on an act before start of theatrical finale
additive
PRETENDING – pre + t + ending
11 What person in the Navy could want rubbish on board ship?
sandwich
STRIPES – tripe in SS
14 Customs raid – it’s not unusual
anagram
TRADITIONS – raid its not*
16 Mad king wielding the whip
sandwich
LEATHER – the inside Lear
18 Some tailors initially longing to finish this?
all-in-one additive
STITCHING – s(ome) t(ailors) + itching
20 Thick stews in French cuisine, as they say in Paris
additive incl anagram
KITCHEN – thick* + en
21 Head cleaner has mop bent over
additive incl anagram
SHAMPOO – has mop* + o
23 Refusal to tuck into any bug
sandwich
ANNOY – no inside any
25 Female continually creating state of excitement
additive
FEVER – f + ever
26 Heroic exploit, whichever way you look at it
reversal
DEED
Puzzle 6: Oxford Times – Colin Dexter
Across
1 Joint cover – not comprehensive though
cryptic definition
LOINCLOTH
6 Party Mr Heath loved excessively
additive
DOTED – do + Ted (Heath)
9 Sweet Jane? Name first with Tarzan
additive
FONDANT – (Jane) Fonda + n + T
10 Rein? Initially, no colt could be without it
all-in-one sandwich incl anagram
CONTROL – r inside no colt*
11 Plants do, in Channel Islands
CACTI – act in CI
12 Job in which you could make lots of brass
cryptic definition
METALWORK
13 Northampton Town FC are rubbish!
double definition
COBBLERS
15 One’s weak – one to get a PM cross?
all-in-one additive incl reversal
WIMP – w + I + PM reversed
19 Spirit shown by Mandela (Nelson)
hidden
ELAN
20 Bane, this, if much drunk
all-in-one anagram
ABSINTHE – bane this*
23 Posh crockery – present for the old Dutch
cryptic definition
DELFTWARE
24 Spy one shark here, maybe?
additive
BONDI – Bond + I
26 Half-bike whizzed with pace around part of Delhi?
all-in-one sandwich incl anagram
PEDICAB – D inside bi(ke) pace*
27 They flutter etc. – mostly timid
all-in-one anagram incl takeaway
TITMICE – etc timi(d)*
28 Sort of mush to bed Umbelliferae at first
all-in-one sandwich incl anagram
HUMUS – U inside mush*
29 Quietly in love with rest? The outcome, perhaps
all-in-one sandwich incl anagram
OVERSLEPT – p inside love rest*
Down
1 Bio-system peddled, it’s said, in Health Shop
novelty incl homophone
LIFECYCLE – sounds like pedalled
2 Like column in a Palladio niche?
partial all-in-one hidden
IONIC
3 Quack’s shouldering responsibility, if it’s broken
cryptic definition
CLAVICLE
4 How to be cleverer? O, must work with skill
anagram
OUTSMART – O must* + art
5 Divine Power from the Catechism
hidden
HECATE
6 Bradman’s famous duck
double definition
DONALD
7 It’s shocking to embrace wrongdoing: that’s him though, to a “T”
additive
TERRORIST – error inside it’s* + T
8 Drink in Denmark is automatically controlled
DALEK – ale in DK
14 Twist made bold about second helping of meat? This stopped that
sandwich incl anagram
BEADLEDOM – (m)e(at) inside made bold*
16 Bush-whackers criticize the new one?
cryptic definition
PRESIDENT – George Bush
17 Tease Ben cruelly, but one is not ticked off
anagram
ABSENTEE – tease Ben*
18 With which best idea is to get treatment
all-in-one anagram
DIABETES – best idea*
21 A lot of hay
double definition
STACKS
22 If one’s shooting, aim for panda!
cryptic definition
BAMBOO
23 In the main, such a charge is damaging
cryptic definition
DEPTH
25 Feature surrounding one always at disco
partial all-in-one sandwich
NOISE – I in nose
Puzzle 7: The Oldie – Antico
Thematic down answers 10 and 20: AUTUMN LEAVES
Across
7 Discover doctor in control
sandwich
RUMBLE – MB inside rule
8 Commemoration returning each year, in essence, after end of parade
additive incl sandwich & reversal
EPITAPH – (parad)e + p.a reversed in pith
11 Top combination in university assignment
sandwich
UPPERMOST – perm inside U post
12 Searches for favourite places
two definitions per theme
H(A)UNTS
13 Time yet to be abandoning boundaries with new change of policy
additive incl takeaway
U-TURN – (f)utur( e) + n
15 Purity corrupted once inside pub before church
additive incl sandwich & anagram
INNOCENCE – once* inside inn + CE
17 Negative reponse by letter, out of order, not using right item of stationery
additive incl anagram and takeaway
NOTELET – no + lette( r)*
19 Contemporary work, one about filling time left
sandwich
TOPICAL – op + I + ca inside t l
21 Puss stopped by road beside fit place for nap?
additive incl sandwich
CARD TABLE – rd inside cat + able
23 Policeman taking a trail back
reversal
GARDA – a drag reversed
24 Tap side of cut gem
two definitions per theme
FA(U)CET
26 Be drawn, endlessly critical, into scrape
sandwich incl takeaway
GRAVITATE – vita(l ) in grate
28 Price put up for daub
additive
SPLODGE – (starting) price = SP + lodge
29 Gives out pieces of absorbent paper
two definitions per theme
(T)ISSUES
Down
1 Clear hesitation with magistrate around
sandwich
JUMP – um inside JP
2 Serious, first off, about king
additive incl takeaway
OBERON – (s)ober + on
3 One after pleasure in hold-up plugged by crime boss
sandwich
HEDONIST – Don inside heist
4 Groom left at end of meal?
two definitions per theme
(U)NEATEN
5 Near agreement, raised drink at bedtime
additive incl reversal
NIGHTCAP – nigh + pact reversed
6 Story by vagrant with odd bits cut out
hidden alternate letters
YARN
9 Son admitted to loathing hurry
sandwich
HASTE – s inside hate
14 Thorough grumble
two definitions per theme
(M)UTTER
16 Some macaroni certainly more agreeable
hidden
NICER
18 Line on bird penned by poet lacking finish and freedom
additive incl sandwich & takeaway
LATITUDE – l + tit inside Aude(n)
19 Tact I managed, skirting edge of subject
sandwich incl anagram
THEMATIC – hem inside tact I*
21 Hits, latest in music, very loud in America
additive incl sandwich
CUFFS – (musi)c + ff inside US
22 Incompetent producer of taps
two definitions per theme
BU(N)GLER
23 Good to get over anger, catching second salmon
additive incl sandwich
GRILSE – g + s inside rile
25 Collected part of engine broken by learner
CALM – L inside cam
27 Declare answer and upset vicar
additive incl reversal
AVER – A + Rev reversed
Puzzle 8: Sunday Times – Tim Moorey
Across
1 Courage not available – poor deliveries
double definition
NO BALLS
5 F Field and B Silver in rundown hotel
additive
FLEABAG – F + lea + B + Ag
9 One remains to occupy post in water plant
sandwich
MARE’S TAIL – a rest inside mail
10 Learner inside just showing style
sandwich
FLAIR – L inside fair
11 Island holiday
double definition
EASTER
12 Private parking near New Orleans
additive incl anagram
PERSONAL – P + Orleans*
14 Fruit celebrity requests one’s overlooked
additive incl takeaway
STAR APPLES – star appl(I)es
16 Mug returned and put down
reversal
LAID – dial reversed
18 Newlywed not good in kitchen perhaps
takeaway
ROOM – (g)room
19 Laughing a lot as one may be on leaving theatre
cryptic definition
IN STITCHES
22 After rough handling Roget did get worn out
anagram
DOG-TIRED – Roget did*
23 William gets love? A lot if like this!
additive
BILLY-O – Billy + love = O
26 Basket producer there is only backed in part
hidden reversal
OSIER
27 Get garage rebuilt and you may need this
all-in-one anagram
AGGREGATE – get garage*
28 Bums are held back in clothes
sandwich incl reversal
TOERAGS – are reversed inside togs
29 I defy you to give boozer present
additive
SO THERE – sot + here
Down
1 Book for anaesthetists?
double definition
NUMBERS
2 Mugs from a county
BERKS
3 City girl hanging around star
sandwich
LAS VEGAS – Vega inside lass
4 Feeling of humiliation mostly false
takeaway
SHAM – sham (e)
5 Plates can be represented as the feet around Bow in London
sandwich incl anagram
FALSE TEETH – L inside as the feet*
6 Short on top, egotistical and mischievous
takeaway
ELFISH – (s)elfish
7 Condition of lingerie at the laundry!
additive
BRAINWASH – bra in wash
8 Uniform line by journalist confused
additive
GARBLED – garb + l + Ed
13 Cadge a lot in bathroom containers
additive
SPONGE BAGS – sponge + bags
15 Rogue dealing so close to a bank?
anagram
ALONGSIDE – dealing so*
17 Second missile is urgent
additive
STRIDENT – s + Trident
18 Endure southern resort mentioned? Unacceptable
additive incl homophone
RIDE OUT – sounds like Ryde + out
20 Language being taken up? Nothing in it
sandwich incl reversal
SLOVENE – love inside ens reversed
21 This is evidently the first and last in saloon cars
novelty
SIERRA – Saloon carS
24 Let pound drop a bit
additive
LEASE – L + ease
25 Potential birdies, maybe eagles
cryptic definition
EGGS
Puzzle 9: Observer – Everyman
Across
1 See vine tangled with herb
additive incl anagram
ENVISAGE – vine* + sage
5 Abandon thread
double definition
STRAND
9 Covered past life initially with relief
additive
OVERLAID – over + l(ife) + aid
10 Is painful technique used in texting?
SMARTS – art inside SMS
12 Environmentalist’s signal to proceed
double definition
GREEN
14 Custom immune to criticism from airman blushing aboard boat
sandwich
SACRED COW – AC red inside scow
15 Propose measure before social gathering for indoor game
additive
TABLE FOOTBALL – table + foot + ball
17 Certainly sense hot excitement of bout, duo receiving cheers
additive incl sandwich and anagram
WITHOUT A DOUBT – wit + H + ta inside bout duo*
21 Resistance in territory by soldier, cold and calculated
sandwich
STRATEGIC – R inside state + GI + C
22 Greek character absorbed by argument he tackled
hidden
THETA
23 License book in revolutionary electronic way
sandwich incl reversal
ENABLE – b inside E lane reversed
24 Unlucky one, round in valley, in retreat
additive incl sandwich and reversal
ILL-FATED – I + fat inside dell reversed
26 Thirsty to grab attention? Not interesting
sandwich
DREARY – ear inside dry
27 Linguistic unit in translation of sly label
anagram
SYLLABLE – sly label*
Down
1 Stretch, with energy left, operating barrier
additive
ELONGATE – E + l + on + gate
2 Struggle with unfinished scene
takeaway
VIE – vie(w)
3 Quiet because occupied by French article
sandwich
SILENCE – le inside since
4 Artist captures nobody’s heart? Harsh
additive
GAINSBOROUGH – gains + (no)bo(dy) + rough
6 Paint moderate area
additive
TEMPERA – temper + a
7 Curtail urge to reform land management
anagram
AGRICULTURE – curtail urge*
8 Deny any connection with inspector, planted
additive
11 English clubs still followed by supporter very happily
additive
ECSTATICALLY – E + C + static + ally
13 Inclination, changing gear, to cut extra hard work
sandwich incl anagram
ELBOW GREASE – bow + gear* inside else
16 Trio, not half oppressed by burden, cross
sandwich incl takeaway
STRADDLE – tr(io) inside saddle
18 Gossip time after time going into story? Right
sandwich
TATTLER – t t inside tale + r
19 Responsible university scientist finally separating new fluid
sandwich incl anagram
DUTIFUL – U (scientis)t inside fluid*
20 Move up when around goal
additive
ASCEND – as + c + end
25 Clumsy boat yet to capsize
reversal
TUB – but reversed
Puzzle 10: The Week – Tim Moorey
Across
1 What Australians make wine from
GRIPES
4 Service veteran manipulated figures
additive
MASSAGED – mass + aged
10 Traffic jam
AUTOCUE
11 Concorde
EXPLAIN
12 Euphoric greeting heard
homophone
HIGH – sounds like hi
13 Croatian resort calls for key holders
additive
SPLIT RINGS – Split + rings
15 Toast by the Queen
CHAIRS
16 Woman from Finland
FINESSE
20 To stop stopping
DECEASE
21 Juliet say, mostly getting highly addictive drug
takeaway
HEROIN – heroin (e)
24 Nurses seen around coral island with religious leaders
sandwich
AYATOLLAHS – atoll inside ayahs
26 Public protest in Delaware and Missouri
additive
DEMO – DE + MO
28 Nonsense spoken by taxi-drivers
CABBAGE
29 One who has reached the age of consent
CANTEEN
30 Unnecessary sharp pointers succeeded initially
additive
NEEDLESS – needles + s(ucceeded)
31 Someone who is coughed upon
COFFEE
Down
1 Number missing, chap rings out for computer images
anagram incl takeaway
GRAPHICS – chap ri(n)gs*
2 Answer to question: Where’s t’ coal?
INTEGRATE
3 Engrave two thirds of rough drawing
takeaway
ETCH – (sk)etch
5 Cockney dentures
APERITIF
6 Badly depressed about university and get displaced
sandwich incl anagram
SUPERSEDED – U inside depressed*
7 Elderly relative consumes one cereal
sandwich
GRAIN – I inside Gran
8 Sweet pastry one’s seen in bowl
sandwich
DANISH – an inside dish
9 Times casual worker looking down on one
additive
TEMPI – temp + I
14 Wide-ranging discussion costing nothing?
double definition
FREE-FOR-ALL
17 A softened composition? No good for one such
anagram
STONE-DEAF – a softened*
18 What’s added at the end changes liturgical books
additive
PSALTERS – PS + alters
19 28 grams
ANNOUNCE
22 Tintin’s partner
CAN-CAN
23 Sun journalist in roughly built hut
additive
SHACK – Sun = S + hack
25 Blame invalid for a slow walk
anagram
AMBLE – blame*
27 Data from rain-forest
hidden
INFO
Puzzle 11: Sunday Telegraph
Across
1 Kind of ball fashioned around square, oddly
sandwich incl anagram
MASQUERADE – square* inside made
6 Appear in place of bishop, taking mass
additive
SEEM – see + m(ass)
9 HQ for force in Waterloo, say
double definition
STATION
10 Poke fun at a politician in flier
sandwich
LAMPOON – a MP inside loon
12 Attractive urgent coverage for legal support team
sandwich
PREPOSSESSING – posse inside pressing
14 Surfing, maybe at equator
additive
ONLINE – on + line
15 PC, for example, frantically cut rope binding maiden
sandwich incl anagram
COMPUTER – M inside cut rope*
17 Former partner having case for enforcement of payment
additive
EXACTION – ex + action
19 In war, can accept things being kept secret
hidden
ARCANA
22 Group of swimmers before the race upset instructor
additive incl anagram
SCHOOLTEACHER – school + the race*
24 Academic penning papers is tiresome
sandwich
DRAGS ON – rags inside don
25 Clubs make certain statement attributing blame
additive
CENSURE – C + ensure
26 Home for nocturnal creature fixed ahead of time
additive
SETT – set + t
27 Have second thoughts about condition covering European disadvantages
sandwich
RECONSIDER – E + cons inside rider
Down
1 Get engaged repeatedly in schemes Holmes hatched
hidden
MESH – hidden twice
2 It’s used for opening act in theatre
cryptic definition
SCALPEL
3 Global organisation badly tainted within alliances
sandwich incl anagram
UNITED NATIONS – tainted* inside unions
4 Organised party membership, initially unsystematic
additive
RANDOM – ran + do + m
5 Study about soul I misrepresented in error
sandwich incl anagram
DELUSION – soul I* in den
7 I’ll feature prominently in his speech
cryptic definition
EGOTIST
8 Like those in charge, chap set over African country shifting left
additive incl letter switch
MANAGERIAL – man + Algeria, L moved to end
11 Doesn’t understand I’m upset, perhaps wrongly, over aims
additive incl reversal and anagram
MISAPPREHENDS – I’m reversed + perhaps* + ends
13 Serious type, in this way, also embracing monarch
additive incl sandwich
SOBERSIDES – so + R inside besides
16 Carry on once unit is given new order
anagram
CONTINUE – once unit*
18 Put the “A” in art, essentially
sandwich
AT HEART – the A inside art
20 On the rocks, possibly needing silver bullet
additive
AGROUND – Ag + round
21 Cut short awkward old cowboy
additive incl takeaway
GAUCHO – gauch( e) + o
23 It sounds like sweetheart does, for instance
homophone
DEER – sounds like dear
Puzzle 12: Independent on Sunday – Hoskins
Across
1 Mess that an angler might have had a hand in?
double definition
CAN OF WORMS
6 You could say I am good about clothes
reversal
GARB – brag reversed
10 A brief dram plus Bud – that’s living
additive incl takeaway
ANIMATE – a ni(p) + mate
11 Nasty complaint impeding cavity? Bend over!
sandwich incl reversal
CHOLERA – hole in arc reversed
12 Did this, being annoyed about wife
sandwich
SWORE – w inside sore
13 Amazed to see One Direction having fight
additive
AWESTRUCK – a + west + ruck
14 Get out of it, perhaps with individual on Bass
additive
BEGONE – B + eg + one
16 Slips away from area and sleeps around
anagram
ELAPSES – area = a sleeps*
18 Time Her Maj should enter a service sober
sandwich
AUSTERE – t + ER inside a use
21 Incidents in the 100 and 200 metres?
double definition
EVENTS
24 I’d neither gone off or was left
INHERITED – I’d neither*
25 In flagrante, but half-upset (cold room)
additive incl reversal
ATTIC – at + it reversed + c
26 Half-pint of cider taken regularly after whisky?
additive
SHORTIE – short + ie
27 Beast always chasing after flushed duke
additive
RED DEER – red d + e’er
28 Having changed top, bother to work out?
letter switch
SUSS – fuss with switch of S for F
29 Cook did entrées, then pounded the meat?
anagram
TENDERISED – did entrees*
Down
1 Rough business heading waste disposal unit?
additive
COARSE – Co + arse
2 I’m soon dancing on E and awfully smelly
additive incl anagram
NOISOME – I’m soon* + E
3 Stitch up celebrity cut by Republican leader
sandwich
FRAME – R inside fame
4 Work and work with energy on speed
additive
OPERATE – op + E + rate
5 Teach me to fly a chopper in the jungle?
anagram
MACHETE – teach me*
7 Ways a love goddess will inspire ecstasy
sandwich
AVENUES – E inside a Venus
8 Salty bishop cut twice is full of anguish
sandwich incl takeaway
BRACKISH – rack inside Bish(op)
9 Hint of a strangler in Danny Dyer’s face
additive
BOAT RACE – boa trace and cockney slang
15 Extra charge to put May in the good PM category?
additive
OVERRATE – over + rate
17 What completes Liam of Oasis: wrestling dons?
anagram
MAFIOSOS – (Lia)m of Oasis*
19 German building kitsch, loss-making houses
hidden
SCHLOSS
20 Intense, but unopened message about Hoskins
additive incl takeaway
EXTREME – (t)ext + re + me
21 Stop, you ruddy bore
additive
ENDURED – end + U (text messaging) + red
22 Are they a bit higher than belly laughs?
cryptic definition
TITTERS
23 So lacking in love, my editor bought drugs
additive incl takeaway
SCORED – s(o) + my = cor + Ed
25 Summer days in embrace of a European Romeo
sandwich
ADDER – d d inside a E R
Puzzle 13: The Times – Unnamed
Across
1 Scraps in a shower after match
cryptic definition
CONFETTI
6 Got staff back in case of blockage
sandwich incl reversal
BECAME – mace reversed inside b(lockag)e
9 Snow still coming from the east
reversal
NEVE – even reversed
10 Plunder left misery
additive
SPOILSPORT – spoils + port
11 Leaves flight with first team
additive
STEPS ASIDE – steps + A-side
13 After second-half switch, many confused
letter switch
LOST – lots, last two letters changing places
14 Tube list for commuting displayed translation
anagram
SUBTITLE – tube list*
16 Rather silly how the Queen is represented
additive
INANER – in an ER
18 Rest on slopes after a setback
additive incl reversal
SPIDER – re + dips reversed
20 American finding room to work in between areas a lot reduced
additive incl sandwich and takeaway
ALABAMAN – lab inside a a + man(y)
22 Who might get caught for parking in area for vegetables?
all-in-one letter switch
CLOT – plot with C replacing P
24 Key for a disappointed officer?
Additive
A-FLAT MAJOR – a + flat + major
26 Amphibian say, lacking stern and seen in the sea near Calais
additive incl takeaway and sandwich
SALAMANDER – sa(y) + and inside la mer
28 Periods of time mostly put out of one’s mind
takeaway
ERAS – eras(e)
29 Curse flipping metal having a screw loose
reversal
DAMN IT – tin + mad reversed
30 Possible advice from Walton for this musical accompaniment?
additive
CASTANET – cast a net (Izaak W, author of Compleat Angler)
Down
2 Wanting introductions, veiled and dowdy woman to use a superior club?
additive incl takeaway
OVERTRUMP – veiled = (c)overt + dowdy woman = (f)rump
3 Shabby place bound to be shown in correspondence
sandwich
FLEAPIT – leap inside fit
4 Back of court seat originally providing cover for a seed
additive incl anagram
TESTA – (cour)t + seat*
5 Response ministers get in artificial language
additive
IDO – I do (wedding service)
6 Bare all in dancing? I wouldn’t do that!
anagram
BALLERINA – bare all in*
7 Crown singer Fitzgerald a star
additive
CAPELLA – cap + Ella
8 Customs needing extra staff initially
additive
MORES – more + s(taff)
12 Face rocks in unfavourable part of Everest?
sandwich incl anagram
ICE FALL – face* inside ill
15 Rent wrong around Californian valley meeting resistance
additive incl sandwich
TORN APART – Napa + R inside tort
17 Complex lecture supporting European party
additive
ELABORATE – E Lab + orate
19 Keep belting runs and leave coach behind
sandwich
DETRAIN – r inside detain
21 Not a strong attorney in the Spanish way
additive
ALAMEDA – a lame DA
23 Fix up with a climber
additive incl reversal
LIANA – nail reversed + a
25 Starts tea for an audience with appropriate vessels
additive incl homophone
TURNS – t (sounds like tea) + urns
27 Quack comes from duck confined by US district
sandwich
DOC – O inside DC
Puzzle 14: The Times Quick Cryptic – Dazzler
Across
1 In Australia a capital idea and deal that’s extraordinary
anagram
ADELAIDE – idea deal*
5 Dessert made by wife with it
additive
WHIP – wife = w + with it = hip
8 Fellow boxing minute titleholder
sandwich
CHAMP – minute = m inside chap
9 Effectiveness of company shown by data extremely clearly
additive
COGENCY – Co + gen + c(learl)y
11 Feel airport needs changing to grow rapidly
anagram
PROLIFERATE – feel airport*
13 US author to judge verse
additive
POETRY – Poe + try
14 Complete current book and part of play
additive
INTACT – current = I + book = NT + act
17 Boy accompanying Queen twice is a Casanova
additive
PHILANDERER – Phil + and + ER ER
20 Famous authoress with no name on grave
additive incl takeaway
AUSTERE – Austen less name = n + on = re
21 Group of revolutionary activists with duke in charge
sandwich
CADRE – duke = D in care
22 American is a jerk
double definition
YANK
23 Traveller always recalled carrying one spare
additive incl reversal and sandwich
REPRIEVE – rep + I in ever reversed
Down
1 Knowing military music hasn’t started
takeaway
ARCH – (m)arch
2 Model partner once generous
additive
EXAMPLE – ex ample
3 Take illegally? Right
double definition
APPROPRIATE
4 Nothing that is dear
additive
DUCKIE – nothing = duck + ie
6 Dye hard girl picked up
additive incl reversal
HENNA – H + Anne reversed
7 Nasty MEP fiddled allowances
anagram
10 Market trader perhaps is inexperienced and rather vulgar, we hear
additive incl homophone
GREENGROCER – green + grosser = grocer
12 Curate finally happy in restored church festival
anagram
EPIPHANY – (Curat)e happy in*
15 Cross written at bottom of a contract
additive
ABRIDGE – a + cross vb = bridge
16 Stick lands regularly at this spot
additive incl hidden
ADHERE – (l)a(n)d(s) + here
18 Playwright identified by some lines bitterly upset
hidden reversal
IBSEN – inside lines bitterly reversed
19 Garden party making fortune reportedly
homophone
FETE – sounds like fate
Puzzle 15: The Times Quick Cryptic – Joker
Across
1 Severely criticise left for understanding
additive
RAPPORT – rap +left = port
5 Wrong a young lady
additive
AMISS a + miss
8 Nearly all rib coach for filter on entry to the cup
additive incl takeaway
TEA-STRAINER – teas(e) + trainer
10 Region of Far East
hidden
AREA
11 Conservative’s initial whipping leads to arguing
additive
CLASHING – C + lashing
12 Recent milky espresso needs sugar, ultimately
additive
LATTER – latte + (suga(r)
14 Who deals with ship’s hold or deck when working
anagram
DOCKER – or deck*
16 Train too awkward for turning round
anagram
ROTATION – train too*
18 Beginning to produce beer with little colour
additive
PALE – p + ale
20 One who asked for more fruit takes right new treatment
additive
OLIVER TWIST – olive + right = r + twist
22 Process of colouring material without energy is failing
takeaway
23 Written as poetry upside down
additive
INVERSE – in verse
Down
2 Change of flag that’s not the first
takeaway
ALTER – (f) alter
3 Game bird losing head to horrible farm worker
takeaway
PEASANT – p(h)easant
4 What one doesn’t like to be discovered in trattoria?
hidden all-in-one
RAT
6 Artist – one from Bavarian capital
takeaway
MUNCH – Mun(i)ch
7 Unusual stone found on top of a series of hills
additive
STRANGE – stone = st + range
9 A group on leave
additive
ABANDON – a band + on
11 Wow! Lovely ornamental moulding
additive
CORNICE – wow = cor + nice
13 A game with generally hollow defence
additive
APOLOGY – a polo + g(enerall)y
15 Fancy limit being put on staple food
additive
CAPRICE – limit = cap + rice
17 Foreign sci-fi film
double definition
ALIEN
19 Sacred water lily louts destroyed
anagram
LOTUS – louts*
21 One hundred mph – never going over
reversal
TON – never = not reversed
Puzzle 16: The Times Quick Cryptic – Orpheus
Across
1 Church member entertaining a top boxer, perhaps
sandwich
CHAMP – a in ch member = MP
4 Report of district that’s more breezy
homophone
AIRIER – sounds like area
9 Italian physicist’s brief month on island?
additive
MARCONI – Marc(h) + on + I
10 Old railwaymen given points to look after
additive
NURSE – NUR (former rail union) + S E (compass points)
11 Uproar in first half of meal
takeaway
DIN – din(ner)
12 Her deli’s output is greatly enjoyed
anagram
RELISHED – her delis*
15 Obliging, acting as a landlord?
double definition
ACCOMMODATING
17 Tear delicate fabric, meeting cost
additive
LACERATE – lace + cost = rate
18 Bachelor originally attending tennis club
additive
BAT – bachelor = B + a(ttending) t(ennis)
20 Old England cricketer’s elegance of manner?
double definition
GRACE
22 One with no illusions about a register
additive
REALIST – about = re + a list
23 Remove obstruction in river
sandwich
DELETE – obstruction = let inside Dee
24 Unusually regal composer
anagram
ELGAR – regal*
Down
1 Entertainer’s scam involving TV, press etc
sandwich
COMEDIAN – media inside scam = con
2 In favour of wearing a new pinafore?
sandwich
APRON – pro inside a new = n
3 Broadcast made by expert with very little weight
additive
PROGRAMME – pro + gramme
5 Pub that’s popular: Nag’s Head
additive
INN – popular = in + Nag’s Head = N
6 Like Ben-Gurion, head off British prime minister
takeaway
ISRAELI – (D)israeli
7 Genuine-sounding Scottish dance
homophone
REEL – sounds like real
8 Rich person’s factory, one on Yorkshire river
additive
MILLIONAIRE – factory = mill + one = I + on Aire
13 Unoriginal friend’s impasse in chess
additive
STALEMATE – unoriginal = stale + mate
14 Rabble-rouser finally appearing at a riot, unhappily
anagram
AGITATOR – (appearin)g at a riot*
16 French painter left to support tea girl
additive
18 Old crooner accepts pound for flashy jewellery
sandwich
BLING – pound = l in Bing (Crosby)
19 A good press chief much advanced in years
additive
AGED – a good = g + press chief = Ed
21 Tailed amphibian familiar at first in sci-fi film
sandwich
EFT – familiar at first = f inside ET
Puzzle 17: The Times Quick Cryptic – Grumpy
Across
1 Tough guys breaking ribs? Sure!
anagram
BRUISERS – ribs sure*
5 Like one with a large landmass
additive
ASIA – as + I + a
9 Queen follows favourite saint
additive
PETER – pet + ER
10 A word we hear in a German accent? So it’s alleged
homophone
AVERRED – sounds like a word!
11 Cooler that is cold inside
sandwich
ICE – c inside ie
12 Proposed name I don’t change
anagram
NOMINATED – name I don’t*
13 I’m taken aback by anger? That’s an illusion
additive incl reversal
MIRAGE – Im reversed + rage
15 Sibling ignoring the second disturbance
takeaway
BOTHER – b(r)other
17 Lorna’s family has least amount of data to contribute
additive
DO ONE’S BIT – (Lorna) Doone’s + bit
19 Sprite seen in hotel foyer
hidden
ELF – in hotel foyer
20 Tie up an awkward flower
anagram
PETUNIA – tie up an*
21 Confused when sailing?
double definition
AT SEA
22 Mormon’s end beside salt lake
additive
TARN – sailor = tar + (Mormo)n
23 Begin to understand material one doesn’t finish
additive incl takeaway
COTTON ON – cotton + on(e)
Down
1 Initiation that’s suitable is in British Museum
BAPTISM – suitable = apt is inside BM
2 Family member doesn’t start to let loose
takeaway
UNTIE – (a)untie
3 Jump on places for putting veg
additive
SPRING GREENS – spring + places for putting = greens
4 Province in actual centre of Germany
additive
REALM – actual = real + (Ger)m(any)
6 Withdraw from minor injury
double definition
SCRATCH
7 Extra snake almost died
additive incl takeaway
ADDED – adde(r) + died = d
8 Simple dish – not as snob ate in mess
anagram
BEANS ON TOAST - not as snob ate*
14 Cock Robin initially waving to Rose
additive incl anagram
ROOSTER – R + to rose*
16 Hold back from the chorus
double definition
REFRAIN – two meanings
17 Extremely desirable drug store
additive
DEPOT – d(esirabl)e + pot
18 Encouraging word for Charlie’s predecessor
double definition
BRAVO – Charlie in NATO alphabet
19 Uncommon sense in a German city
anagram
ESSEN – sense*
Puzzle 18: The Times Quick Cryptic – Marty
Across
1 Alec stands waving something on the beach
anagram
SANDCASTLE – Alec stands*
8 Offer comfort to Tory only
additive
CONSOLE – Con + sole
9 Some backing from fair American girl
hidden reversal
MARIA
10 Jolly experience with LSD?
double definition
TRIP – jolly (noun)
11 Rudely jeer any English novel
anagram
JANE EYRE – jeer any E*
13 Expelled school inspectorate, making one change
letter switch
OUSTED – OFSTED with U for F
14 Entices office workers? About time
sandwich
TEMPTS – t inside temps
17 Raw treat prepared for amphibious rodent
anagram
WATER RAT – raw treat*
19 Wonderful going round foremost of night spots
sandwich
ACNE – n(ight) inside ace
21 Does walk, say, regularly in Japanese city
hidden alternate letters
OSAKA
22 Minor quarrel to have in Cheltenham?
additive
SPA TOWN – spat + own
23 Music hall song, unspecific request to golf caddie?
double definition
ANY OLD IRON
Down
2 Article completes the undoing of relatives
additive
AUNTIES – a + unties
3 Party, alternatively, providing means of escape?
additive
DOOR – do + or
4 Primate’s name secretary recalled
reversal
APEMAN – name PA reversed (– ’s = is )
5 Be visibly embarrassed after little boy beamed
additive
TIMBERED – little boy = Tim + be red
6 Nobleman years ahead of his time?
additive
EARLY – Earl + years = y
7 Maybe Chinese food at the back
additive
FAR EASTERN – fare + astern
8 Protective material, designed to cool, won’t
anagram
COTTON WOOL – to cool wont*
12 To prepare vintage, tread year’s contents
hidden
GET READY
15 Picture army officer with old musical instrument
additive
PICCOLO – pic + Col + o
16 Young lady distributed medals
anagram
DAMSEL – medals*
18 Jewelled headdress: it elevated a painter
additive incl reversal
TIARA – it reversed + a + RA
20 Garment starts off small and rarely increases
hidden
SARI
Puzzle 19: The Times Quick Cryptic – Tracy
Across
1 Vessel behind heading for small Channel island
additive
SARK – small = s + ark
3 Pair watch, perhaps, for unfaithful partner
additive
TWO-TIMER – pair = two + watch = timer
9 First half of song softly managed by old singer
additive
SOPRANO – so(ng) + softly = p + ran + o
10 Invalidate yearbook, removing second article
takeaway
ANNUL – yearbook = annu(a)l
11 Turn out to be point ahead
additive
END UP – point = end + ahead = up
12 Good access for aristocracy
additive
GENTRY – good = g + access = entry
14 Hate it, a late TV broadcast, but take no further action
anagram
LEAVE IT AT THAT – hate it a late*
17 Basic piano installed in flat
sandwich
STAPLE – piano = p inside flat = stale
19 Come back again about aggressive dog
additive
RECUR – about = re + cur
22 Crime rendering rector powerless?
takeaway
ARSON – parson less p = power
23 First sign
double definition
INITIAL
24 Dance enthusiast circling with energy
additive incl sandwich
FANDANGO – with = and inside fan + energy = go
25 Supporting Democrat, unelected President
additive
FORD – for + Democrat = D
Down
1 Kind, like a senior nurse?
double definition
SISTERLY
2 Quick attack trapping leader of pack
sandwich
RAPID – p inside raid
4 Daydreaming in court, appearing before large assembly
additive
WOOL-GATHERING – court = woo + l + gathering
5 Do exercises in school
double definition
TRAIN
6 Rally rounding on head of state
sandwich
MONARCH – on in rally = march
7 Function of list, reportedly
homophone
ROLE – sounds like list = roll
8 Specimen provided by son, more than enough
additive
SAMPLE – son = s + ample
13 Set off, went out in front, surprised
additive
STARTLED – start + led
15 Skilled worker from Hobart is a natural
hidden
ARTISAN
16 Go home and go to bed
additive
TURN IN – turn = go + home = in
18 Herbivore filling saucepan, daily
hidden
PANDA
20 Company about to broadcast in capital
sandwich
CAIRO – broadcast = air in Co
21 Homeless child would appear in front, first of all
hidden
WAIF – initial letters
Puzzle 20: The Times Quick Cryptic – Howzat
Across
4 Irregular dates happily in the end becoming a regular one?
additive incl anagram
STEADY – dates* + (happil)y
7 Portrait of Somalian vandalised
anagram
MONA LISA – Somalian*
8 Countless millions taken by milk producer rejected
additive incl reversal
MYRIAD – m + dairy reversed
9 Intimate change and say nothing
additive
ALTER EGO – alter + eg + O
10 Mean singing voice heard
homophone
BASE – soumds like bass
12 Pork cut in box served with processed brie
additive incl anagram
SPARE RIB – box = spar + brie*
15 Quiet craftsman is prejudiced
additive
PARTISAN – p + artisan
18 Quits flat
double definition
EVEN
20 Sergeant in mess put out of favour
anagram
ESTRANGE – sergeant*
22 Sounding cold, it’s hot
homophone
CHILLI – sounds like chilly
23 Good on imposing French city!
additive
GRENOBLE – g + re + noble
24 Cockney wife having lost capital, is after credit support
additive incl takeaway
CRUTCH – Cr + (d)utch
Down
1 Dimwit who is also sweet
cryptic definition
FOOL
2 Sort of artist in a way associated with flags?
cryptic definition
PAVEMENT
3 US soldier hires out padded jackets
additive
GILETS – GI + lets
4 Greek island associated with a savoury snack
additive
SAMOSA – Samos + a
5 Rehearsals in part for organs
hidden
EARS
6 Due date that’s not welcomed by caller?
double definition
DEADLINE – dead line
11 Secure a time with TV presenter
additive
AT ANCHOR – a + t + anchor
13 Highest point almost for pulse
takeaway
PEA – pea(k)
14 One way of getting to the top in say, Washington
cryptic definition
ELEVATOR
16 Seasonal transport is murder, one’s heard
homophone
SLEIGH – sounds like slay
17 Madman from northern state
additive
NUTTER – n + utter
19 Scheduled time for opening
double definition
SLOT
21 Misses prodigal son? Not entirely
hidden
GALS
Puzzle 21: The Times Quick Cryptic – Teazel
Across
1 Selecting a ballad that’s cheap
additive
GOING FOR A SONG – going for + a song
8 Underground gets new head, consciously old-fashioned
letter switch
RETRO – Metro changed to retro
9 Amused mark of approval came first
additive
TICKLED – tick + led
10 Kitchen utensil, I hear, is larger
homophone
GREATER – sounds like grater
11 Track down a tiny quantity
double definition
TRACE
13 Intended recipient of notice sees red, being replaced
additive incl anagram
ADDRESSEE – notice = ad + sees red*
17 Relatives found in usual places, commonly
takeaway
AUNTS – (h)aunts (dropped aitch)
19 Travelled zigzag courses as told, an imposition on driver
homophone
ROAD TAX – sounds like rode tacks
20 Unable to sail in a grand circle
additive
AGROUND – a + G + round
22 Body recently demoted from place ordered out
additive incl anagram
PLUTO – place = pl + out*
23 Mad not to be playing with nursery horse?
double definition
OFF ONE’S ROCKER
Down
1 Say, a cloth picked up in motor home
reversal
GARAGE – eg a rag reversed
2 Largely at sea
double definition
IN THE MAIN
3 Exulted, told age was wrong
anagram
GLOATED – told age*
4 Subeditor here corrected “British Isles”
anagram
OUTER HEBRIDES – subeditor here*
5 A Hibernian course
additive
ASCOT – a Scot
6 First off, burn fuel
takeaway
OIL – (b)oil
7 Wander about to obtain device
additive
GADGET – gad + get
12 Very afraid weak crust has collapsed
anagram
AWESTRUCK – weak crust*
14 Hair product, counterfeit and low quality, not finished
additive incl takeaway
SHAMPOO – sham + poo (r )
15 Tries a drop in house
sandwich
HAS A GO – a sag inside house = ho
16 Area of Somerset, no longer low, with river?
additive
EXMOOR – ex + low (cattle) = moo + R
18 Disdain incentive, finally stubborn
additive
SPURN – spur + (stubbor)n
21 Concerned with following man on the pitch
additive
REF – concerned with = re + following = f
Puzzle 22: The Times Quick Cryptic – Flamande
Across
1 Preserves link, recruiting English spy
sandwich
JAMES BOND – E inside preserves = jams + link = bond
6 Old boy repulsed by a snake
additive incl reversal
BOA – OB reversed + a
8 Like a boy left with his dad, unusually
additive incl anagram
LADDISH – left = L + his dad*
9 Show off volume by family member
additive
VAUNT – volume = v + aunt
10 Angelic, sober sort, easy to spot
anagram
RECOGNISABLE – angelic sober*
12 Pamper group on Greek island
additive
COSSET – Cos + set
13 Social occasions welcomed by proud ancestors
hidden
DANCES
16 Such perfect vision two decades into this century?
cryptic definition
TWENTY-TWENTY – measure of perfect vision
19 One doesn’t like shifting earth
anagram
HATER – earth*
20 Send society girl back, now it’s late evening?
reversal
BEDTIME – emit deb reversed
22 Nothing in mill, after removal of odd components
hidden alternates
NIL
23 Insignificant man on board one evening after work?
additive
WEEKNIGHT – wee knight
Down
1 Girl unwell after onset of jaundice
additive
JILL – onset of jaundice = j + ill
2 Finish up interrupting church service? That’s insane
sandwich incl reversal
MADNESS – end rev inside mass
3 Originally, six kilometres impossible for runner in winter
hidden
SKI
4 Mostly, one casual worker is available
additive incl takeaway
ON HAND – on( e) + casual worker = hand
5 Destroy borders of Delaware and Virginia, say
additive
DEVASTATE – DE + VA + state
6 Obscure book? This description might help
additive
BLURB – obscure = blur + book = b
7 Recasts failing performer
anagram
ACTRESS – recasts*
11 Defeat leader of hecklers in public spat
sandwich
OVERTHROW – h inside overt row
12 Understand how to become popular
double definition
CATCH ON
14 Press item causing offence
double definition
CUTTING – two meanings
15 Secure small item of furniture
additive
STABLE – small = s + table
17 Acclaim former tax reduced by one pound
additive incl takeaway
EXTOL – ex + tol(l) pound = L
18 Socialists abandoned side
triple definition
LEFT – three meanings
21 Lecturer seen in Oxford, once
hidden
DON
Puzzle 23: The Times Quick Cryptic – Hawthorn
Across
1 Some heavy rain for us after low pressure
additive
DOWNPOUR – low = down + p + our
5 Spoils of war personified
double definition
MARS
8 Drink large rum
anagram
LAGER – large*
9 M Escher, perplexing creator of intricate designs?
anagram
SCHEMER – M Escher*
11 Vehicle parked in Pennsylvania
hidden
VAN – in Pennsylvania
12 Rotten season for the Cubs?
additive
OFFSPRING – off = rotten + spring = season
13 Word for scoundrel to be announced in newspaper
sandwich
RATBAG – TBA inside rag
15 Adhesive binding agent: revolutionary building material
sandwich incl reversal
GYPSUM – agent = spy reversed in gum
18 Destroyed nicotine, protecting hearts at risk
sandwich incl anagram
ON THIN ICE – hearts = H in nicotine*
19 Stick man
double definition
ROD
20 Grandma getting into Dickens, a rewarding discovery
sandwich
BONANZA – nan inside Dickens = Boz + a
21 Nation state rejecting North America
takeaway
INDIA – India(na)
22 Thanks company for Mexican snack
additive
TACO – ta + Co
23 Plant fake diamond?
additive
SHAMROCK – sham + diamond = rock
Down
1 Take back hated present
reversal
DELIVER – reviled reversed
2 Cart succeeded at transporting silver
sandwich
WAGON – silver = Ag inside succeeded = won
3 Prepared point for ear piercing
anagram
PERFORATION – point for ear*
4 Use fan on the blink? That’s risky
anagram
UNSAFE – use fan*
6 Tramp is moving around smelly places?
anagram
ARMPITS – tramp is*
7 Shoulder manoeuvre seen in Welsh rugby
hidden
SHRUG
10 Satisfactory compromise: one likely to lift spirits?
double definition
HAPPY MEDIUM
14 Hugely powerful wrench in attic
anagram
TITANIC – in attic*
16 Cosmetic treatment getting daughter and dad covered in dirt
sandwich
MUDPACK – daughter = d + dad = Pa inside dirt = muck
17 Hard day Inland Revenue turned up for capital
reversal
RIYADH – hard = H + day + IR all reversed
18 Annual circulation in relation to the Sun?
cryptic definition
ORBIT – think solar system
19 Travelled over for traditional US event
additive
RODEO – travelled = rode + over = O
Puzzle 24: The Times Quick Cryptic – Hurley
Across
1 In Caracas sat awaiting ice cream
hidden
CASSATA
5 Exchange involving Mike’s waterlogged area
sandwich
SWAMP – Mike = M inside exchange = swap
8 Defective seascapes clue? These might give way out
anagram
ESCAPE CLAUSES – seascapes clue*
9 Complicated time: old invader departs
additive
TANGLED – time = t + Angle + departs = d
10 Speaker’s arguments for ordinary writing
homophone
PROSE – sounds like pros
11 Succeeded at first with aloof manner in island
additive
SICILY – s + icily
13 Somewhat retro stereotyped work list
hidden
ROSTER
15 Make changes in plug fitting
additive
ADAPT – plug = ad + fitting = apt
16 Agile learner lives a bit
additive
LISSOME – L + lives = is + a bit = some
19 Well-known type of room for water board?
additive
PUBLIC UTILITY – public + utility
20 Left-winger returning with English cake
additive incl reversal
TORTE – Trot reversed + E
21 Difficult situation of throaty Sue, pasty regularly
hidden alternate letters
HOT SEAT
Down
1 Talk about energy fraud
sandwich
CHEAT – energy = E inside chat
2 Back Companion of Honour over warning colour in House of Lords perhaps
additive
SECOND CHAMBER – back = second + CH + amber
3 Dad upset over friend’s dismay
additive incl reversal
APPAL – pa reversed + pal
4 Are gripping rascal in shopping precinct
sandwich
ARCADE – cad in are
5 Soapy liquid not what it seems, poor, ultimately lacking
additive incl takeaway
SHAMPOO – sham + poo( r)
6 The cartoonist upset, having little advance warning
anagram
AT SHORT NOTICE – the cartoonist*
7 Pioneering chemist super at broadcast
anagram
PASTEUR – super at*
11 Refuse to leave street? Indeed, sulk forgetting nothing
additive incl takeaway
STAY PUT – St + indeed = ay + p(o)ut
12 Large upper room with Eastern ornamental pattern
additive
LATTICE – large = L + attic + E
14 Roughly hustle investigator
anagram
SLEUTH – hustle*
17 Pole’s second attempt to win
additive
STILT – second = s + attempt = tilt
18 Country for example you passed through initially
additive
EGYPT – eg + initial letters
Above all, to Richard Heald for meticulously checking the whole text at the proof stage and before, often suggesting improvements using his unique and extensive crossword knowledge and skills. Richard also dealt patiently with my text conversion problems, especially as they meant his checking some parts twice.
To expert wordsmith Harvey Freeman who cast an experienced crossword eye over the whole text at a late stage and suggested many significant improvements, gladly accepted.
To Susie Bell, uncomplaining at my many mistakes, who typeset the book so efficiently and effectively.
To Mike Barker, Christopher Brougham and Colin Clarke for their help with specific issues.
To all the setters, named, pseudonymous or more often anonymous, whose puzzles and clues grace this book.
To crossword editors Colin Inman, Mike Hutchinson, Phil McNeill, Colin Gumbrell and Hugh Stephenson, whose approval to re-publishing was readily given.
To all at HarperCollins, especially Gerry Breslin who first suggested a generic book and saw it through to completion, greatly assisted by Michelle Fullerton.
Finally but by no means least, thanks to my wife Pamela for lots of wise advice and support, not just for this book, but for continuing to keep my teaching and speaking show on the road.