Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 17/02/2012

Published on 17/02/2012 10:32

Friday’s puzzle...

Across

8 Reduce the numbers of domestic pests going back in time (8)

9 Actor Alan weakens (6)

10 Meat in metal containers is 20ac (6)

11 Bird that can demonstrate murderous abilities, apparently (8)

12 Unknown person is part of an ongoing investigation (4)

13 Acknowledgement that ruin is soon scenic (10)

15 Arrived with covering - alpaca, perhaps (7)

17 and 22 Become a member of a gym? Me, too! (4,3,4)

20 Cockerel’s glory I hear you wound - he’s incandescent! (10)

22 See 17

24 Feverish song performed in shopping centre (8)

26 Teachers take stout position about Third Form (6)

27 Public liability that is extremely reckless regarding tools (6)

28 Detailed studies cause shut down of buoyant states (5-3)

Down

1 It’s the fashion to include English as a foreign language in surface treatment (6)

2 I’m received by poet - it’s brilliant (8)

3 Used to pin together cuttings from the press? (10)

4 and 5 Stream with vocation of obedient service (4,3,4)

6 Stop and assess acquisition at zoo (6)

7 Biblical monster may exist as male insect (8)

14 Leaning too freely results in lengthening (10)

16 Divine - or a blade, alternatively (8)

18 Subtle discrimination shown with tasteful neckwear (8)

19 Phone etc (line not clear) using a certain sort of language (7)

21 Garment such as 20 across may be (6)

23 I prune elements that are immature (6)

25 This month’s concise institution (4)

Thursday’s solution:

Across: 1 Disabled, 5 Target, 9 Careless, 10 Dealer, 12 Ginger, 13 Deign, 16 Reckon, 17 Disagree, 20 Consents, 21 Mental, 23 React, 25 Retort, 28 Oliver, 29 Dislodge, 30 Spends, 31 Strategy.

Down: 1 Dock, 2 Sore, 3 Bellicose, 4 Ensign, 6 Ahead, 7 Gallivants, 8 Tarantella, 11 Frail, 14 Precarious, 15 Scandalise, 18 Guerrilla, 19 Stare, 22 Strict, 24 Tweed, 26 Edge, 27 Denv.