Daily Answers

1-across – Fractious : CRABBY

4-across – Dip – wash : BATHE

7-across – Boat powered by the feet : PEDALO

8-across – Water down : DILUTE

9-across – On the house : FREE

10-across – Fly close to the ground : HEDGEHOP

12-across – Soldier who jumps from planes : PARATROOPER

17-across – I’m sorry : EXCUSEME

19-across – Talent – present : GIFT

20-across – Caribbean magic : VOODOO

21-across – Critter : ANIMAL

22-across – Herb : THYME

23-across – Snake – called Monty? : PYTHON

1-down – Snap out of it! : CHEERUP

2-down – Unpaid sportsperson : AMATEUR

3-down – Skewer : BROCHETTE

4-down – Showy jewellery : BLING

5-down – Difficult question : TOUGHIE

6-down – Excuse from a rule : EXEMPT

11-down – Camel : DROMEDARY

13-down – Salty fish : ANCHOVY

14-down – Greedy : PIGGISH

15-down – Stop : REFRAIN

16-down – Downy antler skin : VELVET

18-down – Push rudely : SHOVE

1-across – Cunning and unscrupulous : MACHIAVELLIAN

8-across – Propose to give : PROFFER

9-across – Affair : FLING

10-across – Tramp : HOBO

11-across – Try very,very hard : BUSTAGUT

13-across – Interview to canvass opinion : VOXPOP

14-across – S African antelope : IMPALA

17-across – An irritation : ANNOYING

19-across – Weasel-like animal : MINK

21-across – Greetings : ALOHA

22-across – Tapering end of mast’s beam : YARDARM

24-across – Small country : LIECHTENSTEIN

1-down – Chart : MAP

2-down – Container at low temperature : COOLBOX

3-down – Dope : INFO

4-down – Up against : VERSUS

5-down – Extent of existence : LIFETIME

6-down – Topper? : ICING

7-down – Person awake during hours of darkness : NIGHTHAWK

10-down – Make whoopee : HAVEABALL

12-down – Variously intellectual : POLYMATH

15-down – Enliven : ANIMATE

16-down – Catalyst : ENZYME

18-down – Not a soul : NOONE

20-down – Eye part : IRIS

23-down – Dude : MAN

5-across – Vortex : WHIRLPOOL

8-across – Red or white : VINO

9-across – Tramp : VAGABOND

10-across – Little bag : SACHET

11-across – Crockery item : TEACUP

13-across – Dash : VIGOUR

15-across – Tusked animal : WALRUS

16-across – Shoot-out : GUNFIGHT

18-across – Caprine animal : GOAT

19-across – Rosebush cutters : SECATEURS

1-down – Toddler’s train? : CHOOCHOO

2-down – Neckerchief : CRAVAT

3-down – Valve – to pigs : SPIGOT

4-down – A fortune – incendiary device? : BOMB

6-down – Bubbly : VIVACIOUS

7-down – First : INAUGURAL

12-down – Narrative with broader message : ALLEGORY

14-down – Jamaican music : REGGAE

15-down – Shrivel : WITHER

17-down – Run away : FLEE

5-across – Food to take to school or work : PACKEDLUNCH

7-across – Sexy : RACY

8-across – Stinging animal : SCORPION

9-across – Swimming glasses : GOGGLES

11-across – Lucifer : SATAN

13-across – Marsh : SWAMP

14-across – Shiftless : WORKSHY

16-across – Congregation : BRETHREN

17-across – Grains in a castle? : SAND

18-across – Spur-of the-moment feeling : SPONTANEITY

1-down – Horrid and sticky! : ICKY

2-down – Tough plastic used instead of glass for windows : PERSPEX

3-down – Sailboat : SLOOP

4-down – Hiker’s bag : KNAPSACK

5-down – Funny use of language : PLAYONWORDS

6-down – Toff : HOORAYHENRY

10-down – Wisdom – moxie : GUMPTION

12-down – Ante meridiem hours : MORNING

15-down – Throb : BROTH

17-down – Error : SLIP

1-across – Don’t hurry : DAWDLE

4-across – Shake : SHIVER

8-across – Unsteady on one’s feet : DIZZY

9-across – Small and dirty : SQUALID

10-across – Extended period – marathon? : LONGRUN

11-across – First passage : INTRO

12-across – Stubborn type : DOGMATIST

17-across – Leg bone : TIBIA

19-across – From St Petersburg,say : RUSSIAN

21-across – Working agricultural community : KIBBUTZ

22-across – Game – metal stick : POKER

23-across – Aid : RELIEF

24-across – Dapper : JAUNTY

1-down – Cheat : DIDDLE

2-down – Wrinkled by shrinkage : WIZENED

3-down – Early : LAYER

5-down – Escape artist : HOUDINI

6-down – Man’s personal male assistant : VALET

7-down – Scorching : REDHOT

9-down – City in California : SANTACRUZ

13-down – Bit of gravy,say : GRANULE

14-down – Kitchen : THICKEN

15-down – Fire loader : STOKER

16-down – Pep : ENERGY

18-down – City of confusing languages : BABEL

20-down – Cuttlefish : SEPIA