August 2012

1-across – Police station : COPSHOP

8-across – Lift : ELEVATE

9-across – : POLENTA

10-across – Covered with hair : HIRSUTE

11-across – Firecracker : SQUIB

13-across – Explanation — interpretation : RENDITION

15-across – Electrical device in an internal-combustion engine : SPARKPLUG

18-across – Salted ’n’ vinegared item? : CRISP

21-across – : FLATTOP

22-across – Caterer : TERRACE

23-across – Lively movement, usually in 3/4 time : SCHERZO

24-across – Guess : PREDICT

1-down – Manages : COPES

2-down – Rice seasoned with spices and cooked with meat or vegetables : PILAU

3-down – Skidding manoeuvre in a car : HANDBRAKETURN

4-down – Female bird : PEAHEN

5-down – Graph of educational progression? : LEARNINGCURVE

6-down – Dog resembling a greyhound : SALUKI

7-down – Sea between Greece and Turkey : AEGEAN

12-down – Quick witty remark : QUIP

14-down – Chooses : OPTS

15-down – Most secure : SAFEST

16-down – Indifference — lack of interest : APATHY

17-down – Computer : LAPTOP

19-down – Native of Basra, perhaps : IRAQI

20-down – Fold in a skirt : PLEAT

1-across – Broad avenue : BOULEVARD

8-across – __ Lynn, the forces’ sweetheart : VERA

9-across – Young infatuation : PUPPYLOVE

10-across – Treble or bass sign? : CLEF

13-across – Superficially ingratiating behaviour : SMARM

15-across – Martial art : KARATE

16-across – Adieu : BYEBYE

17-across – Tool — puzzle : JIGSAW

19-across – Artificial : ERSATZ

20-across – : WENCH

21-across – Girl’s name : MAUD

24-across – Lubricating device : GREASEGUN

25-across – Fencing weapon : EPEE

26-across – Scarper : DOARUNNER

2-down – Burden : ONUS

3-down – Far northerner : LAPP

4-down – Book — measure of loudness : VOLUME

5-down – Device causing a musical echo : REVERB

6-down – Sweet : JELLYBEAN

7-down – Lack of movement with regard to wages : PAYFREEZE

11-down – Winter sportsperson : SKIJUMPER

12-down – Man performing in a dress : DRAGQUEEN

13-down – Bedding material for horses etc : STRAW

14-down – Gift from the Magi : MYRRH

18-down – Odd bod : WEIRDO

19-down – Long cake : ECLAIR

22-down – Bracken, for example : FERN

23-down – Deep red to brownish purple : PUCE

1-across – Grapple with a problem head on : BITETHEBULLET

8-across – Sister : NUN

9-across – 15th-century Mexican ruler : MONTEZUMA

10-across – Conspicuous wealth : OPULENCE

11-across – Thought : IDEA

13-across – Club for the greens : PUTTER

14-across – Structure built to control coastal erosion : GROYNE

16-across – Double : TWIN

17-across – Letter without an envelope? : POSTCARD

20-across – Perfume from the oil of an East Asian shrub — a lit pouch : PATCHOULI

21-across – Family : KIN

22-across – Human sensory and control network? : NERVOUSSYSTEM

1-down – Type of drum — central African antelope : BONGO

2-down – Red lorry, yellow lorry, for example : TONGUETWISTER

3-down – Softened : TEMPERED

4-down – Castrated man : EUNUCH

5-down – Someone who exploits another : USER

6-down – Container for dirty washing : LAUNDRYBASKET

7-down – Something to eat in the afternoon? : TEACAKE

12-down – Tip : GRATUITY

13-down – Exploited : PUTUPON

15-down – Mounds of hard snow on a ski slope : MOGULS

18-down – Mined : DENIM

19-down – Shove off! : SHOO

1-across – Short cane carried by army officers : SWAGGERSTICK

9-across – Youngest ever undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion, b, 1966 : TYSON

10-across – Corrupt organisation that dominated Democrat politics in New York in the 19th and early 20th centuries : TAMMANY

11-across – Inferior — vulgar : NAFF

12-across – Pasta tubes : MACARONI

14-across – Away from the sea : INLAND

15-across – Old Japanese hereditary army commander : SHOGUN

18-across – Plants — antigens : GENTIANS

20-across – Insect often hovering over stagnant water : GNAT

22-across – Historic city of southwest Umbria : ORVIETO

23-across – Leaflet for distribution : FLIER

24-across – Buckinghamshire new town, designated 1967 : MILTONKEYNES

2-down – Showing regretful longing : WISTFUL

3-down – Thick, sticky substance : GUNK

4-down – Runs scored, but not off the bat : EXTRAS

5-down – Fellow feeling : SYMPATHY

6-down – Adult, post-metamorphosis insect : IMAGO

7-down – Musical stave’s collection of sharps or flats : KEYSIGNATURE

8-down – Space for upright people? : STANDINGROOM

13-down – Protagonist without admirable qualities : ANTIHERO

16-down – Shooting : GUNFIRE

17-down – Detach : UNHOOK

19-down – Scar on the stomach : NAVEL

21-down – Not to be trusted : IFFY

1-across – Kind of sugar — be or is : RIBOSE

4-across – Of a particular group : TRIBAL

9-across – Young woman with a loutish lifestyle? : LADETTE

10-across – Leap — wine or money chamber? : VAULT

11-across – Test a garment’s size and look : TRYON

12-across – Thin metallic sheets for protecting food : TINFOIL

13-across – Netting with a small hexagonal mesh : CHICKENWIRE

18-across – Ornamental melody added above a theme : DESCANT

20-across – Astute : SAVVY

22-across – Dish of ground grain, boiled and eaten at breakfast in the American South : GRITS

23-across – Mischievous goblin : GREMLIN

24-across – Edible marine mollusc : OYSTER

25-across – Poorly : UNWELL

1-down – Give an account of : RELATE

2-down – Pal : BUDDY

3-down – Diabolical : SATANIC

5-down – Black bird : RAVEN

6-down – Woman’s private room : BOUDOIR

7-down – In recent times : LATELY

8-down – Main focus of attention — secret agent : CENTRESTAGE

14-down – Mock title for a self-important chap : HISNIBS

15-down – Spaghetti film? : WESTERN

16-down – Slow piece of music : ADAGIO

17-down – Book containing songs of praise : HYMNAL

19-down – Part of a church : AISLE

21-down – Device regulating flow : VALVE