Daily Answers

1-across – Tactful,friendly approach : LIGHTTOUCH

7-across – Embellish : DECORATE

8-across – Masticate : CHEW

9-across – White wine : HOCK

10-across – Lightly smoked herring : BLOATER

12-across – Squander – in a deep fat fryer? : FRITTERAWAY

14-across – Hairy : HIRSUTE

16-across – ‘Happy’ shellfish : CLAM

19-across – Become less distinct – in Britpop band? : BLUR

20-across – Scorching spell : HEATWAVE

21-across – Innocently idealistic : STARRYEYED

1-down – Bloodsucker : LEECH

2-down – Small Italian dumplings : GNOCCHI

3-down – Rip – sign of sorrow : TEAR

4-down – Person of great power : OVERLORD

5-down – Hot : COCOA

6-down – Waldorf salad ingredient : CELERY

11-down – One who may be losing their thread? : STITCHER

12-down – Minor weakness : FOIBLE

13-down – Path for pedestrians : WALKWAY

15-down – Swagger – prop : STRUT

17-down – Emotionally affected : MOVED

18-down – Dark blue : NAVY

1-across – Confine – Nicolas? : CAGE

3-across – Its sides are unequal : RHOMBOID

8-across – Christmas : NOEL

9-across – Portioned confection cooked in shallow tin : TRAYBAKE

11-across – Comprehend : UNDERSTAND

14-across – Connected to computer network : ONLINE

15-across – Roe of sturgeon : CAVIAR

17-across – Disreputable family member : BLACKSHEEP

20-across – Tree – stale joke : CHESTNUT

21-across – Billy ___ : LIAR

22-across – Sent commercial goods abroad : EXPORTED

23-across – Slide,losing grip : SKID

1-down – Magician : CONJUROR

2-down – Ely dirge : GREEDILY

4-down – Until this time,place or document : HERETO

5-down – Salad dressing : MAYONNAISE

6-down – Iridescent gemstone : OPAL

7-down – Prearranged combat between two people : DUEL

10-down – Job title for a linguist,perhaps : TRANSLATOR

12-down – Humorous five lines : LIMERICK

13-down – Ready : PREPARED

16-down – Pin the blame on : ACCUSE

18-down – God’s ___ : ACRE

19-down – Seaweed : KELP

1-across – Drop blue roses : BLOODPRESSURE

8-across – Affectedly dainty : TWEE

9-across – Influencer or campaigner : LOBBYIST

10-across – Document sealed in 1215 : MAGNACARTA

12-across – Red grape variety : MERLOT

14-across – Misappropriation – attractive : TAKING

15-across – Sour substance in lemons and limes : CITRICACID

19-across – Inveterate : HABITUAL

20-across – Vocalise – name names : SING

21-across – Female relation : DAUGHTERINLAW

2-down – Legislator : LAWMAKER

3-down – Western or Antarctic? : OCEAN

4-down – Large relative of the weasel : POLECAT

5-down – Glowing coal or wood : EMBER

6-down – Bird – frolic boisterously : SKYLARK

7-down – Artifice : RUSE

11-down – Badges of honour : INSIGNIA

13-down – Deficient : LACKING

14-down – One who dabbles – in jelly and custard? : TRIFLER

16-down – Ridicule : TAUNT

17-down – Bad lighting? : ARSON

18-down – Festivity : GALA

1-across – Happy chance : SERENDIPITY

9-across – Intuitive – illiterate : UNLEARNED

10-across – Wheels : CAR

11-across – Welsh dog : CORGI

13-across – Small mound : HILLOCK

14-across – Soft,plush fabric : VELVET

15-across – From Mumbai e.g. : INDIAN

18-across – Computer file : DATASET

20-across – Moisten with melted fat when roasting : BASTE

21-across – Hoax – fish : COD

22-across – Tall plant with yellow/brown head : SUNFLOWER

24-across – Silly or fruitless enterprise : FOOLSERRAND

2-down – Slippery character : EEL

3-down – Look closely at : EXAMINE

4-down – Small boat : DINGHY

5-down – Piano part : PEDAL

6-down – Geology concerning movement in earth’s crust : TECTONICS

7-down – Waterbird native to Americas : MUSCOVYDUCK

8-down – Disappointment in love : BROKENHEART

12-down – Connected with : RELATEDTO

16-down – Person taking tiny bites : NIBBLER

17-down – Posture – attitude : STANCE

19-down – Plant fibre used in rope making : SISAL

23-down – Triumph : WIN

1-across – Saying ‘no’ : REFUSAL

8-across – Influence creatively : INSPIRE

9-across – Seek : SOLICIT

10-across – Large number : MILLION

11-across – Jewelled head ornament : TIARA

13-across – Verbally or physically attacked : LASHEDOUT

15-across – For everyone : UNIVERSAL

18-across – Block of metal : INGOT

21-across – Pay a visit : POPOVER

22-across – Tree air : ERITREA

23-across – Convert into new products : RECYCLE

24-across – Fail to look after : NEGLECT

1-down – Adjust to 0000,say : RESET

2-down – Bloke : FELLA

3-down – Welfare work : SOCIALSERVICE

4-down – Dye used to determine acidity : LITMUS

5-down – Every cloud should have this : ASILVERLINING

6-down – Sexual impulse : LIBIDO

7-down – Ground or monkey e.g. : PEANUT

12-down – Club : IRON

14-down – Reverse the effect of : UNDO

15-down – Match official : UMPIRE

16-down – Collision – influence : IMPACT

17-down – Hide or display : SCREEN

19-down – Eat gluttonously : GORGE

20-down – Browned bread : TOAST