THE CROSSWORDS
PUZZLE 15819
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Present following the future (9) 8 Number three is wrong (5) 9 Some wine no-one sent back (7) 10 Metal container of very poor quality (3-3) 11 The dangers of using broken pliers (6) 12 Putting wild cattle on a ship is lacking sense (8) 15 Water creature is quiet inland (8) 18 A Verdi composition that’s diverse (6) 20 Slight injury? (6) 21 Was sullen and cross in retirement (7) 22 Growing inexperienced (5) 23 Make a smashing entrance (9)
DOWN
2 Take part in a running match (5) 3 Necessitate being in late perhaps (6) 4 Twelve-inch pace? (8) 5 Is among those left to fight (6) 6 This may be used to bring down a helicopter (7) 7 Objected to poster Ted put out (9) 11 Game available from pig trader (9) 13 Study poetry, so to speak (8) 14 Thwarted by interbreeding? (7) 16 First-rate swimmer in far from peak condition? (6) 17 Protection for king in love (6) 19 Vessels were wrecked on the point (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Lacking dexterity (3-6) 8 Heighten (5) 9 Rumour (7) 10 Develop gradually (6) 11 Connect (6) 12 Unquestioning (8) 15 Three-sided figure (8) 18 Imperturbability (6) 20 Begin again (6) 21 Decisive (7) 22 Alert (5) 23 Partly sheltered anchorage (9)
DOWN
2 Expert (5) 3 Size and general makeup (6) 4 Harshly critical (8) 5 Nonsense (6) 6 Regional form of language (7) 7 Resignation to failure (9) 11 Dutch commercial capital (9) 13 Ready (8) 14 Male relative (7) 16 Quantity (6) 17 Bring out (6) 19 West African country (5)