Daily Answers

1-across – Board game : BACKGAMMON

7-across – End a call : RINGOFF

8-across – Tight string noise : TWANG

10-across – Hoodoo : JINX

11-across – Good gracious – being in existence? : MANALIVE

13-across – Fight : COMBAT

15-across – Copied : CLONED

17-across – Conservative senior members : OLDGUARD

18-across – Spasm : PANG

21-across – Long : YEARN

22-across – Nose : BOUQUET

23-across – Cheeta,Tarzan’s sidekick? : CHIMPANZEE

1-down – West African country : BENIN

2-down – Air-fry,perhaps : COOK

3-down – Laugh : GUFFAW

4-down – For both parties,beneficially : MUTUALLY

5-down – Speech : ORATION

6-down – Path : TRAJECTORY

9-down – Guzzler of seconds – and maybe thirds? : GREEDYGUTS

12-down – Tree with pendulous yellow flowers : LABURNUM

14-down – Messy outdoor state : MUDBATH

16-down – Desert plateau in Asia : ARABIA

19-down – Very serious : ACUTE

20-down – Ask questions : QUIZ

1-across – Streaky confection : MARBLECAKE

7-across – Black coat on ocean : OILSLICK

8-across – On the edge of one’s seat : AGOG

9-across – Top businessperson : EXEC

10-across – Flier from remains of fire? : PHOENIX

12-across – Privy : WATERCLOSET

14-across – Thicket : COPPICE

16-across – Mog : PUSS

19-across – Noble gas : NEON

20-across – Nit-picking : NIGGLING

21-across – Shrove Tuesday topping? : MAPLESYRUP

1-down – Cereal grass : MAIZE

2-down – Regard – for Aretha Franklin? : RESPECT

3-down – Pork cut? : LOIN

4-down – Mouth : CAKEHOLE

5-down – Jack : KNAVE

6-down – Communist council : SOVIET

11-down – Brittle biscuit : CRACKNEL

12-down – Poor : WOODEN

13-down – Poor conditions : SQUALOR

15-down – Bamboo muncher : PANDA

17-down – Dawn : SUNUP

18-down – Clutch? : EGGS

1-across – Bog : MIRE

3-across – Rugby position : STANDOFF

8-across – I’ve made a little mistake! : OOPS

9-across – Spittoon – so rid cup : CUSPIDOR

11-across – Selfless spelling? : WHITEMAGIC

14-across – Gorgeous : LOVELY

15-across – Remorseless : BRUTAL

17-across – Temperature measurer? : FAHRENHEIT

20-across – Euphoria : RHAPSODY

21-across – Gumbo : OKRA

22-across – Composer’s eerier choice? : MINORKEY

23-across – Long walk : TREK

1-down – Lunar steps – dance move : MOONWALK

2-down – Punishment postponement : REPRIEVE

4-down – Colourful tropical bird : TOUCAN

5-down – Serviette holder : NAPKINRING

6-down – Chance : ODDS

7-down – Castle : FORT

10-down – Rowdy type : HELLRAISER

12-down – Naked show-off! : STREAKER

13-down – Arriving unbuilt : FLATPACK

16-down – Toiler : DRUDGE

18-down – College dance : PROM

19-down – Outbuilding : BARN

1-across – Mess – in beagle’s bowl? : DOGSBREAKFAST

8-across – Look suggestively : LEER

9-across – US football : GRIDIRON

10-across – Moderate : ABSTEMIOUS

12-across – Liquefied : MOLTEN

14-across – Life raft : DINGHY

15-across – Poppy packer? : BUBBLEWRAP

19-across – Herb : MARJORAM

20-across – Highest single-digit square : NINE

21-across – In overblown manner : EXAGGERATEDLY

2-down – Someone easy to read? : OPENBOOK

3-down – Trust : STRUT

4-down – Training : REGIMEN

5-down – Pal : AMIGO

6-down – Rush – thrill : FRISSON

7-down – Flue dirt : SOOT

11-down – Shell bits : SHRAPNEL

13-down – Mug with a mug! : TOBYJUG

14-down – Difficult choice : DILEMMA

16-down – Lighter : BARGE

17-down – Pull a face : WINCE

18-down – From Douglas? : MANX

1-across – Little consideration : SHORTSHRIFT

9-across – Prayer tea : RATEPAYER

10-across – Small jumper? : ROO

11-across – Poisonous snake : MAMBA

13-across – Balmy : HALCYON

14-across – Road slope : CAMBER

15-across – Scoring artist? : ETCHER

18-across – Flipping performer? : ACROBAT

20-across – Tartan cloth : PLAID

21-across – Preserve : CAN

22-across – Hoodwink : BAMBOOZLE

24-across – Enthusiastically reverent : HAPPYCLAPPY

2-down – Lid : HAT

3-down – Take the position of : REPLACE

4-down – Crop chopper : SCYTHE

5-down – Country : RURAL

6-down – Bright yellow flowering shrub : FORSYTHIA

7-down – Afresh : FROMSCRATCH

8-down – Oppressed : DOWNTRODDEN

12-down – Notes : MEMORANDA

16-down – Pudding starch : TAPIOCA

17-down – Of tiny particles : ATOMIC

19-down – Fast jazz : BEBOP

23-down – Nothing in Nebraska? : ZIP