February 2009

1-across – Winning every trick or match : GRANDSLAM

8-across – Affected by hydrophobia : RABID

9-across – Wise king of old : SOLOMON

10-across – Carte blanche : FREEHAND

11-across – Untidy muddle : MESS

13-across – Gossip : TATTLE

14-across – Capital of The Gambia : BANJUL

16-across – Catastrophe : RUIN

17-across – Ancient British queen : BOADICEA

19-across – Place to stay : LODGING

20-across – Best possible : IDEAL

21-across – Divert : SIDETRACK

1-down – One sponsored at christening : GODCHILD

2-down – Not here : ABSENT

3-down – Uninteresting : DULL

4-down – Woodman’s brightly coloured coat : LUMBERJACKET

5-down – Briefest possible utterance : MONOSYLLABLE

6-down – Eclairs as a sweet : PROFITEROLES

7-down – Vague and forgetful : ABSENTMINDED

12-down – Choose individually : HANDPICK

15-down – Structure similar to verandah : LOGGIA

18-down – Scots dress : KILT

1-across – Donated : GAVE

3-across – Animal protecting property : GUARDDOG

9-across – Diaphragm : MIDRIFF

10-across – Pretty, usually stupid, girl : BIMBO

11-across – Cook in the oven : ROAST

12-across – Countryman or countrified : RUSTIC

14-across – Enemy captive : PRISONEROFWAR

17-across – Horror-struck : AGHAST

19-across – Jelly made with meat stock : ASPIC

22-across – Device for letting door etc swing : HINGE

23-across – Parenthesis : BRACKET

24-across – Short break : BREATHER

25-across – Small bird : WREN

1-down – Sweets : GUMDROPS

2-down – Alcohol : VODKA

4-down – Always remaining in the mind : UNFORGETTABLE

5-down – Pictorial pun : REBUS

6-down – Effect of mist – : DIMVIEW

7-down – Radiance : GLOW

8-down – Eating place : BISTRO

13-down – The admirable butler : CRICHTON

15-down – Artless girl : INGENUE

16-down – Equal : ONAPAR

18-down – On one’s toes : ALERT

20-down – Card game : POKER

21-down – Plump fish : CHUB

1-across – Hurried and careless : SLAPDASH

5-across – Cook : CHEF

9-across – Upright : MORAL

10-across – Farewell : CHEERIO

11-across – Antiseptic cleaner for scrubbing floors etc : CARBOLICSOAP

13-across – Those not pulling their weight : IDLERS

14-across – Remnant for other uses : OFFCUT

17-across – Police force or station : CONSTABULARY

20-across – Sign to soften C : CEDILLA

21-across – Ambassador : ENVOY

22-across – Promise : WORD

23-across – According to one possible interpretation : INASENSE

1-down – Not all : SOME

2-down – Letters that are flown in : AIRMAIL

3-down – On purpose : DELIBERATELY

4-down – Reaping implement : SICKLE

6-down – Marx brother : HARPO

7-down – Track for pedestrians : FOOTPATH

8-down – Tranquillity : PEACEFULNESS

12-down – Source of easy profit : MILCHCOW

15-down – Mobile home : CARAVAN

16-down – Acquire : OBTAIN

18-down – Lowest point : NADIR

19-down – Covering for wheel : TYRE

1-across – Upland : HIGHGROUND

7-across – Fabric with a thick soft finish : VELOURS

8-across – Excavated channel : DITCH

10-across – Thoroughfare : ROAD

11-across – Bacterium causing food poisoning : LISTERIA

13-across – Venetian painter : TITIAN

15-across – Gamp : BROLLY

17-across – Australian dancing girl : WALTZING

18-across – Footwear : SHOE

21-across – Bird : ROBIN

22-across – See 17 : MATILDA

23-across – Unable to make a mistake : INFALLIBLE

1-down – Old board game : HALMA

2-down – Morose : GLUM

3-down – Illuminated by pre-electric technology : GASLIT

4-down – Familiar tale : OLDSTORY

5-down – Expected – appropriate – artless : NATURAL

6-down – Seclusion from ordinary life : IVORYTOWER

9-down – Rock music : HEAVYMETAL

12-down – East African country : TANZANIA

14-down – Afghan insurgents : TALIBAN

16-down – Creature : ANIMAL

19-down – Bisect : HALVE

20-down – Butt – counterfoil : STUB

1-across – Heraldic shield : ESCUTCHEON

7-across – Spike, humorist : MILLIGAN

8-across – Payment – ring : TOLL

9-across – Domesticated : TAME

10-across – Store for corn : GRANARY

12-across – Two-piece costume : TROUSERSUIT

14-across – Heavy lever : CROWBAR

16-across – Having a sugary coating : ICED

19-across – Stain on 1 across? : BLOT

20-across – Tense – put through sieve : STRAINED

21-across – Extraordinary : PHENOMENAL

1-down – Decree : EDICT

2-down – Capital of Sri Lanka : COLOMBO

3-down – Roman garment : TOGA

4-down – Unpaid : HONORARY

5-down – Frequently : OFTEN

6-down – Red wine : CLARET

11-down – Killer : ASSASSIN

12-down – Feeling of excitement : THRILL

13-down – Greasiness : UNCTION

15-down – Timepiece : WATCH

17-down – Reside : DWELL

18-down – Percussion instrument : DRUM