Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 08/02/2013

Published on 08/02/2013 00:00

Friday’s puzzle...

ACROSS

8 Has one who dies been provoking small boy? (8)

9 Opening in gallery (6)

10 and 11 Form a liking for people who are not on the platform and start dancing (4,2,3,5)

12 Allocate no lace — and plenty of it! (1,3)

13 Saved as favourite when teacher’s task is complete (10)

15 Overweight model is well-off, though known for hiding head in sand (7)

17 Greek letter list can be changed (7)

20 Secondary highways on which the man was joined by alien with newspaper (10)

22 Team game move to be successful in test (4)

24 and 26 Trouble with nerve? Here’s something comforting (3-5,6)

27 Lining used in error as something to strengthen wood (6)

28 Rubs down garden tool with plimsoll (8)

DOWN

1 Remember to get one back from holiday, perhaps (6)

2 Creditor changes places with one on the board (8)

3 Upset some soccer players by calling them “Neanderthals” perhaps (10)

4 Stopping rot to save entrance to caves (7)

5 Soared, we hear, up the chimney (4)

6 Servant in trouble, missing love and getting upset (6)

7 A right northern display of trees (8)

14 Snake-oil salesman to go up to financial institution, having started extortion (10)

16 Card is on track to be mocking (8)

18 Pies and paté ordered to stimulate one to eat (8)

19 Quite different from far eastern — quite different (7)

21 Going to and fro like a pinion (6)

23 Gangster will appear in the near future in bar (6)

25 Take back a nut and present a fish (4)

Thursday’s solution

Across: Root-and-branch, 10 Untamed, 11 Rattles, 12 Lope, 13 Deter, 14 Beta, 17 Annotated, 19 Total, 20 Arena, 22 Egregious, 24 Trap, 25 Aspic, 27 Film, 30 Neither, 31 Carrion, 32 Neuro-surgeons.

Down: 2 Outspan, 3 Time, 4 Nudge, 5 Bartender, 6 Asti, 7 Collect, 8 Pulls a fast one, 9 Establishment, 15 Straw, 16 Stage, 18 Treasures, 21 Examine, 23 Opinion, 26 Incur, 28 Char, 29 Free.