CHALLENGE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Got out of a grave

situation (7)

5 Specialists expressed

in plain language (5)

8 Dead body found in

the garden (4,5)

9 An attack may be

appropriate (3)

10 Spare list (4)

12 Humiliating return from

a summit meeting? (8)

14 A new affair that’s

binding (6)

15 They have jobs in the theatre or in religious work (6)

17 Just the same it means you

had the right money (2,6)

18 Flower girl (4)

21 Robin has a sash for

his middle (3)

22 Keen rep in trouble is one

who may take orders (9)

24 Canny sort of girl? (5)

25 Iron kind of cup (7)

DOWN

1 Ninety in general to

rise and shine (5)

2 He gains nothing in

an aura of glory (3)

3 First movement if loud

is seen to irritate (4)

4 Monster in women’s

clothing? (6)

5 Bearing gifts we

hear vaguely (8)

6 A shade less than well (3-6)

7 Nurse in bizarre sex

case holds out (7)

11 Tender feeling from a

foe in fact is odd (9)

13 There’s a lot of laughter

when a girl swallows it (8)

14 In poor health – result

of a car accident? (3,4)

16 A note sent out by

representatives (6)

19 Belt is broken in parts (5)

20 Each one a fairy (4)

23 The standard is taken

from Paris (3)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 A goatlike antelope (7)

5 Main ingredient (5)

8 An overwhelming surprise (9)

9 Lubricate (3)

10 Nervously anxious (4)

12 Discompose (8)

14 Dwarfed potted tree (6)

15 Become extinct (3,3)

17 A sampling of opinion (8)

18 Speak irritably (4)

21 Zealous supporter (3)

22 Hidden explosive device (5,4)

24 Spacious (5)

25 Contravene (7)

DOWN

1 Thick strong rope (5)

2 Direct a firearm (3)

3 Expel (4)

4 Inasmuch as (6)

5 Short official statement (8)

6 Demolish in argument (5,4)

7 Most noticeable (7)

11 Arms smuggler (9)

13 Praiseworthy (8)

14 Diffident (7)

16 Innumerable (6)

19 Showy scarlet flower (5)

20 Affirmative votes (4)

23 Poke fun at (3)