THE TAKE-A-BREAK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

3. Gruesome ’Hound’ twin in murder mystery (9) 8. A cider seen as

somewhat tart (4) 9. He’s mad about

confectionery (5-4) 10. Team with which the

Spanish get level? (6) 11. A cap in November – etiquette, apparently (5) 14. In a string quartet, the one with the biggest belly (5) 15. Distribute timber (4) 16. Have the audacity to veer off after the North (5) 18. A nip’s almost a

measure (4) 20. Occasions for Xmas

fruit (5) 21. Ever being shortened,

that is weird (5) 24. Threaten to cane me?

(6) 25. Cut down mischievous

shaver, Eddie (9) 26. A revolutionary who’s

a pain (4) 27. With limited vision, misled biker, Ned, about learner (9)

DOWN

1. Used for securing

leaves? (5-4) 2. Place for burning sack and soft, fine material (9) 4. Trumpet in French or

Norwegian (4) 5. Ambition to be a

motorist (5) 6. Pinched and scored (6) 7. Causing blobs when chopped top off little finger (4) 9. Said to have come

down on criminal (5) 11.Push way on to boat

(5) 12.After trial, pair visit

cricket event (4-5) 13.Smoothed over when

drunk (9) 17.Nicked and taken to

the border (5) 19.Ah, Eve fell – with a

bearing on paradise (6) 22.Dispute over offspring

(5) 23.Dance with a bouncer!

(4) 24.Only a lake (4)