Daily Answers

1-across – Hare on a pail : AEOLIANHARP

9-across – Listening carefully : ATTENTIVE

10-across – Black stuff – sailor : TAR

11-across – Avoid,perhaps illegally : DODGE

13-across – Bridged,arched over : SPANNED

14-across – Becoming less severe : EASING

15-across – Choice,possibility : OPTION

18-across – Black stuff – molasses : TREACLE

20-across – Full English perhaps : FRYUP

21-across – Crisp long-leaved lettuce : COS

22-across – Communicate effectively – or : PUTACROSS

24-across – Data input devices used to take payments : CARDREADERS

2-down – Word before ‘dirt’ or ‘humble pie’ : EAT

3-down – Transparent case : LANTERN

4-down – Surrounded by : AMIDST

5-down – Laughing African carnivore : HYENA

6-down – Plumpness : ROTUNDITY

7-down – Cluedo weapon : CANDLESTICK

8-down – Store or settlement in remote area : TRADINGPOST

12-down – Sappy side : DYSPEPSIA

16-down – Solemn and humourless – like a Teletubby? : POFACED

17-down – Put this on for a cuppa : KETTLE

19-down – Roman god of love : CUPID

23-down – Blade : OAR

1-across – Air cops : PROSAIC

8-across – Gorge,binge : OVEREAT

9-across – Imaginary mischievous creature : GREMLIN

10-across – Stealthy : FURTIVE

11-across – Jargon,words used very informally : SLANG

13-across – Three under par or birdie? : ALBATROSS

15-across – Sticky stuff for wrapping parcels : SELLOTAPE

18-across – Permanent fastener : RIVET

21-across – West Indian ballad : CALYPSO

22-across – Wind,salmon or helicopter : CHINOOK

23-across – Raise : ELEVATE

24-across – To shake : THEOAKS

1-down – Young male attendants : PAGES

2-down – Musical drama : OPERA

3-down – Gorilla ape rat : ALLIGATORPEAR

4-down – Informal private discussion : CONFAB

5-down – Hush-hush US federal agency : SECRETSERVICE

6-down – Sheep with fine,luxurious wool : MERINO

7-down – Aquatic piscivores of the weasel family : OTTERS

12-down – Citrus fruit : LIME

14-down – Lace,horn or maker : SHOE

15-down – Association football : SOCCER

16-down – Soothed : LULLED

17-down – Wading bird with curved bill : AVOCET

19-down – <span>Musical instrument – </span><i>Twelfth Night </i><span>character</span> : VIOLA

20-down – Film sequences recorded without interruption : TAKES

1-across – Starry Little Bear ? : URSAMINOR

8-across – Greek cheese : FETA

9-across – Pouched mammal,e.g. kangaroo : MARSUPIAL

10-across – Gripping tool – immoral habit : VICE

13-across – Less than zero : MINUS

15-across – Owl or nose : HOOTER

16-across – In a strangely frightening way : EERILY

17-across – Person or item supposed to bring good luck : MASCOT

19-across – Road often bordered by trees : AVENUE

20-across – Mother-of-pearl – crane : NACRE

21-across – Haze intensified by pollutants : SMOG

24-across – Meanie doc : MACEDOINE

25-across – Cereal grain – Anneka or Tim : RICE

26-across – Newspaper article : EDITORIAL

2-down – Behind : REAR

3-down – Domed or vaulted recess in church : APSE

4-down – Damage or weaken : IMPAIR

5-down – Impervious to light : OPAQUE

6-down – Lacking : DEFICIENT

7-down – Precautionary measure in the event of a fall : SAFETYNET

11-down – Science – attraction between people : CHEMISTRY

12-down – Playground game involving numbered squares : HOPSCOTCH

13-down – Galia,water or cantaloupe : MELON

14-down – Deliver the first ball of a point : SERVE

18-down – Sleeveless tunic – outer dress of a medieval peasant : TABARD

19-down – Take into custody : ARREST

22-down – Grapes,puss or dough : SOUR

23-down – <span>___ Sewell,</span><i>Black Beauty</i><span> author</span> : ANNA

1-across – Hairstyling service : CUTANDBLOWDRY

8-across – Silent – mother : MUM

9-across – Sheer riot : THEORISER

10-across – Clouding of eye lens – waterfall : CATARACT

11-across – Member of S American people of Peru before Spanish conquest : INCA

13-across – Descriptive of hat at a jaunty angle – like a garden tool? : RAKISH

14-across – Render defenceless : DISARM

16-across – Strike with the head – fag end : BUTT

17-across – Trees,e.g. pine and Douglas fir : CONIFERS

20-across – Polynesian people – hat isn’t AI : TAHITIANS

21-across – Female sheep : EWE

22-across – A,for example – London landlord? : CAPITALLETTER

1-down – <span>e,g,</span><i>The Beano</i><span> – strip or relief</span> : COMIC

2-down – Condiment,red and saucy? : TOMATOKETCHUP

3-down – One that may reveal all : NATURIST

4-down – To make pale or white : BLEACH

5-down – Fairytale baddie : OGRE

6-down – Mutual withdrawal from a position – gas end meeting : DISENGAGEMENT

7-down – ‘The sun is over the ___’ : YARDARM

12-down – Key question – magazine supporting homeless : BIGISSUE

13-down – Performed by machine not person : ROBOTIC

15-down – Illegal delivery in cricket : NOBALL

18-down – Move vehicle in desired direction – young ox : STEER

19-down – Restore after marking for deletion : STET

1-across – White barrels : WELSHRAREBIT

9-across – Not evenly? : ODDLY

10-across – Sieved raw tomatoes : PASSATA

11-across – Moist : DAMP

12-across – Unable to perceive differences in musical pitch : TONEDEAF

14-across – Jeer disruptively : HECKLE

15-across – Concerning nations or races : ETHNIC

18-across – ET column : UNCLETOM

20-across – Capital of Norway : OSLO

22-across – Underground prison : DUNGEON

23-across – Considerably overweight : OBESE

24-across – Venetian spanner? : RIALTOBRIDGE

2-down – Found in a particular geographic region : ENDEMIC

3-down – Puts into words : SAYS

4-down – Bird of prey : RAPTOR

5-down – Regards with esteem : RESPECTS

6-down – Inferno : BLAZE

7-down – Used for guiding diverted vehicles – witches’ hats : TRAFFICCONES

8-down – Show this when intentionally ignoring – chilly joint? : COLDSHOULDER

13-down – Most smooth and glossy : SLEEKEST

16-down – Savings,perhaps by a bird? : NESTEGG

17-down – Mix socially with rich and famous – biscuit : HOBNOB

19-down – Single-file dance : CONGA

21-down – Bear – one who practices downward dogs etc : YOGI