December 31 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,935 - Dec 31 2018

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,935 - Dec 31 2018

Clues	Answers
Call the French pointer	NEEDLE
Call to mind right English prayer	RECOLLECT
Club with advantage	WEDGE
Continuing interest in profitable business	GOINGCONCERN
Cycled over for cowboy carnival	RODEO
Disrespectful, having lost nine running	INSOLENT
English writer married off, acquiring wife in US state	DELAWARE
Extremely savvy fellow backed church council	SYNOD
Get to know while on express	ASCERTAIN
Girl catching it causes extreme amusement	HILARITY
Gossip about old medium? It's not important	NOMATTER
Grown-up daughter wearing gold locket that's empty	ADULT
Horrified at hags dancing	AGHAST
I study head of image caught that's like an emoji?	ICONIC
Impropriety of popular Italian novelist breaking cylinder	INDECORUM

Clues	Answers
Musical instrument used in early recordings	LYRE
Note enclosing an invoice, primarily for wine	CHIANTI
Old comedy star, man with short tie	CHAPLIN
One ascends to find flowers	IRISES
Onset of storm affected little monkey	SCAMP
Particular case not in position	STANCE
Picks up in the course of authentic practice session	REHEARSAL
Playwright with words to say about singular lack of courage	COWARDLINESS
Publish result	ISSUE
Stayed at home, mostly to feed boy's dog	ALSATIAN
Stylish young flier king ignored	CHIC
Uncouth person in conveyance lacking power: Russian conveyance	TROIKA
Very strong players supported by press	CASTIRON
Withdraw from stage unhappy	STEPDOWN
Worried about husband blocking an expressway	AUTOBAHN

December 31 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,935 - Dec 31 2018

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,935 - Dec 31 2018

Clues	Answers
& 3 Down Famous baseball player	BABE
-- Karenina	ANNA
Allocated	ASSIGNED
Bank employee	TELLER
Casserole	STEW
Cheer up; clear up	BRIGHTEN
Collier	MINER
Equally balanced	EVEN
Gaseous element	NEON
Hat; country	PANAMA
Horse-racing over jumps	NATIONALHUNT
Indifference	APATHY
Intend; stingy	MEAN
Interpret	TRANSLATE
Jotter; compress	PAD

Clues	Answers
Jovial companion	BONVIVANT
Lightish brown colour	TAN
Male child	BOY
Mineral spring	SPA
Paunch	GUT
Plunder	RANSACK
Prey; open excavation	QUARRY
Reddish-purple colour	MAGENTA
Seaweed	WRACK
See 17 Down	RUTH
See you later	HASTALAVISTA
Shy	COY
Unconventional type	BOHEMIAN
Wharf	QUAY
Winner	CHAMPION

December 30 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 553 - Dec 30 2018

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 553 - Dec 30 2018

Clues	Answers
Apple pulp	POMACE
Attractive	PRETTY
Bill	INVOICE
Character	PERSONALITY
Chilled leek soup	VICHYSSOISE
Clue	HINT
Entice	ATTRACT
Eyelash cosmetic	MASCARA
Final	LAST
Form	SHAPE
Hazard	PERIL
Keep	RETAIN
Kestrel, for example	FALCON

Clues	Answers
Part of a door	HINGE
Proceed	ADVANCE
Pursue	CHASE
Ravine	CANYON
Sports field	PITCH
String	TWINE
Sure	CERTAIN
Toboggan	SLEDGE
Type of diadem	TIARA
Type of food store	GROCERY
Upshot	OUTCOME
Voyages	TRAVELS
Wooden post	STAKE

December 29 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,934 - Dec 29 2018

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,934 - Dec 29 2018

Clues	Answers
Abolish	ANNUL
Alpine song	YODEL
Bend	BOW
Cake decoration	ICING
Cede	YIELD
Decompose	ROT
Delay	TIMELAG
Dog's noise	WOOF
East African country	TANZANIA
Heavy staff	CUDGEL
Interrogated	CROSSEXAMINED
King	REX
Live (anag.)	VILE
Mass of bread	LOAF
Metallic element	NICKEL

Clues	Answers
More modern	NEWER
Nippon	JAPAN
Not as wet	DRIER
Ovation	APPLAUSE
Parade ground drill	SQUAREBASHING
Picture puzzle	JIGSAW
Piece	PART
Receive as heir	INHERIT
Severe	HARSH
Sorrow	WOE
Speedy	HASTY
Swollen	TURGID
Tug	TOW
Twitch	TIC
Unsafe	RISKY

December 28 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,933

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,933 - Dec 28 2018

Clues	Answers
Animal, look, chewing length of cloth	GAZELLE
Any number hugged by show girl in seaside area	MARINA
Blessed and married after salutation	HALLOWED
Bloomer is what wise men became aware of	STAROFBETHLEHEM
Captains bring fish aboard ship	SKIPPERS
Chaps needing to take off remain troubled	AIRMEN
Convey obvious message or depart in silence?	GOWITHOUTSAYING
Course taken by some in parliament re-elected	ENTREE
During this action one may have a change of heart	ORGANTRANSPLANT
Enjoy what archaeologists do	DIG
Extra money in box about to be hidden	INCREASE
Floral decoration that is left upside down	LEI
Herald rushed, went down for funny-sounding Oxford don	FORETELL
Lady succeeded ultimately, having superior game	DUCHESS

Clues	Answers
Line given audibly?	CUE
Local jerk's a daft drunk -- will he do any job?	JACKOFALLTRADES
Make a new assessment of what someone says?	REMARK
New student and father somewhere in Surrey	FRESHER
One expressing sorrow afterwards with soldiers getting buried	LAMENTER
Princess good in Indian garment? Take a different view	DISAGREE
Relations terribly insecure, having abandoned biblical city	NIECES
Rushed party with madame initially unmethodical	RANDOM
Sitting like a bird, right over egg -- smart!	ROOSTING
Small farmer in the old Arab territory	YEOMAN
Soldier in a mess? No	ORDERLY
Tool with chrome, odd bits flaking off	HOE
Walked endlessly in plain territory	STEPPE
Warbled with a lurch, not finishing drink	SANGAREE

December 28 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,150

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,150 - Dec 28 2018

Clues	Answers
'Erotic spasms' attracting a bit of derision after publicity -- might one might have expected it?	PREDICTOR
Acrimonious parliament, a scene from the 1980s?	ACIDHOUSE
After fashionable Hollywood setting, wedding's introduction for Meghan to Harry's family?	INLAW
Alert -- data's beginning to be harvested for commercial apps	ADWARE
America's rising rival power with outlines of trade scheme	MACHINATE
Borders of Mexico and United States tense -- long legacy of Zapata?	MOUSTACHE
Classification of this foreign director's 'Last Tango'	CERT
Concise Oxford coming in to name mainly retro word describing bad things	TOXIC
Customs Union has Dover area linked to terminal in Calais	USES
Depleted legislators, president having lost fifth in elections	RUMP
Draw out scandal involving Musk?	ELONGATE
End for May? Total's higher in support	ALLY
Game participant May dancing -- there's something impressive about that!	PLAYMATE
Gives support to summit's contingency plans	BACKSTOPS
Having lost control, minister sacked then given new role by female boss, not so senior	RUDDERLESS
He made drama of EU rupture on fateful March day in Rome	EURIPIDES

Clues	Answers
I'm treated as slave almost	VASSAL
International competition remains	ASHES
Leaders of Iran and USA worried about nuclear and oil, giving cause to behave foolishly	INFATUATE
Mediate with outspoken top tennis player after explosive tie containing new winner finally	INTERCEDE
Minister has journalist baffled	FOXED
Plot to 'study steeple'	CONSPIRE
Prolong UK's final European exit after end of deadline	EKEOUT
Separation agreement last month suffering from stress about borders of Eire and N Ireland	DECREENISI
Small leader meeting Trump succeeded, in brief readings	SKIMS
Strain rising when helm of Ukrainian ship caught by neighbour	RUSSIA
Taking leave in the end, Boris unexpectedly not one for trappings of office?	ROBES
The same money? Three quarters, for top women	DOYENNES
Throwaway line -- guess rubbish word Collins picked	SINGLEUSE
To take over southern state, leaders of Italian nationalists and populists are in debt to right	GAINPOWER
Whiff of US money pursuing leader of Saudis	SCENT
Yield, abandoning Norway to offer accommodation again?	RELET

December 28 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,933 - Dec 28 2018 Clues and Answers

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,933 - Dec 28 2018

Clues	Answers
Accompaniment for turkey?	BREADSAUCE
Act of making	CREATION
Aeroplanes	JETS
Bicycle for two (plus)	TANDEM
Bird of prey	HAWK
Blemish	SCAR
Fall asleep	NODOFF
Fireworks	SQUIBS
First letters	INITIALS
Join in	TAKEPART
Joint	ELBOW
Junior hospital doctor	HOUSEMAN
Mist	HAZE

Clues	Answers
Morsel	CRUMB
Operatic character	FIGARO
Outcast	EXILE
Passionate	ARDENT
Percussion instrument	DRUM
Philatelist's book	STAMPALBUM
Sadden	DISMAY
Secured (as e.g. barge)	BERTHED
Spring back	REBOUND
Striped animal	ZEBRA
Vampire	DRACULA
Volcanic emission	LAVA
Weapon	FIREARM

December 27 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,149 - Dec 27 2018

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,149 - Dec 27 2018

Clues	Answers
Audibly horses chomp on pasture	GRAZE
Balance railway building with works that are shelved?	LIBRARY
Brandy and Peanut, maybe, or another name given to goats?	BUTTERS
Cut down on consuming mead with lunch regularly	REDUCE
Decorate rear of mansion having vulgar exterior	GARNISH
Desert holiday	LEAVE
Distance across river daughter works out immediately	FORTHWITH
Doctor refused to accept female endured pain	SUFFERED
Entire media, on reflection, admitting fault	DEMERIT
Extremely hot theme in Hollywood TV shows	BAKING
Family from Aylesbury possibly getting a horse	BUCKSKIN
Favour from a boxing judge	PREFER
Gradually stop aggressive move by Captain Kirk perhaps, ignoring resistance	PHASEOUT
Greeting to welcome student for hard ski race	SLALOM

Clues	Answers
Have something to do with business	CONCERN
Icy Kent's dreadful day that brings disaster	STICKYEND
Language coach born south of India's capital	CARIB
Mind keeping minutes internally for intensive group discussion?	BRAINSTORMING
Naive girl in grand location going topless	INGENUE
Now and again arrest crook, old-fashioned in style	RETRO
Old woman with new training routines for primates	MANDRILLS
Sad fib one treated in good faith	BONAFIDES
Selfish individual employs a German for gardening work	HOEING
Spooner's interpretation of good-looking Native American as happy-go-lucky	CAREFREE
Token lump by my shoulder's beginning to recede	SYMBOL
Uncertain having organised teatime and dinner	INDETERMINATE
Various traps through an oddly abandoned wood	MAHOGANY
Worried song idea needs new arrangement	AGONISED

December 27 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,932 - Dec 27 2018

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,932 - Dec 27 2018

Clues	Answers
Advance	PROGRESS
Agreement	ENTENTE
Attempt	SEEK
Combined	UNITED
Courage	NERVE
Demands	ASKS
Dry	ARID
Elation	EUPHORIA
Extent	DEGREE
Highest	UPPERMOST
Hypocritical	INSINCERE
Impulse	URGE
Intellect	MIND
Lapse	OVERSIGHT

Clues	Answers
Modify	ADAPT
Motive	REASON
Paradise	UTOPIA
Pseudonym	ALIAS
Quits	EVENS
Rational	SANE
Region	AREA
Sadly	ALAS
Scholarly	STUDIOUS
Selfishness	EGOTISM
Solitude	ISOLATION
Tidings	NEWS
Trick	RUSE
Uneasy	RESTLESS

December 27 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,932 - Dec 27 2018

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,932 - Dec 27 2018

Clues	Answers
Acceptance of right overwhelming upset constituent	RECEIPT
Big top's raised covering debts	SPACIOUS
Broadcast from top group	AIRING
Cane rotter with birch?	RATTAN
Clothing minus uniform for travelling incognito initially	MUFTI
Cold church houses habit support	CRUTCH
Conflict with desperate sweetheart about droop	DISAGREE
Deny United tie voided by match official	REFUTE
Dirty horrid European in sack	BEGRIMED
Display label on a revolting slaughterhouse	ABATTOIR
English love sailor climbing some rigging	RATLINE
It's almost noon, soon	NEARLY
Little tense before Queen gets severe	BITTER
Moved from left embracing leader of Conservatives	EXCITED
New drink lifts spirit	ELAN

Clues	Answers
Old lady's scraps for man's best friends?	MASTIFFS
One audibly snaps round end of suspender	GARTER
One tries food employing ordinary kitchen appliance	TOASTER
Peel lacier bra off, precious!	IRREPLACEABLE
Perfect voice	UTTER
Projectile shot is short flash	BALLISTIC
Quiet, more left-wing one destroys paper	SHREDDER
Routine play with penalty taken outside	PRACTICE
Short old cock gutted in farmyard enclosure	STOCKY
Spouts tripe about eclipse	OUTSTRIP
Struggle to suppress black feeling	VIBE
Subject of article not quite perused	THREAD
This compiler's reportedly composed approach	IMPEND
Unusual seabird found in rural peat, flapping	PRETERNATURAL
Word of warning introducing African republic's structure	FORMALISE

FORMALISE

December 26 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,931 - Dec 26 2018 Clues and Answers

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,931 - Dec 26 2018

Clues	Answers
A sign of excitement after 6?	AUSPICE
Addresses allowances under head of organisation	ORATIONS
Backups needing check because of seals	REINFORCEMENTS
Birthday gift given with loud and offensive anger?	FRANKINCENSE
Chap employed in oil, mostly -- must be one from the Middle East	OMANI
Current offering	PRESENT
Fill in forms at elections	SATE
Good rule to be broken for porridge	GRUEL
Heavy metal, Queen and 'The Boss'	LEADER
Hesitated, conned about time in this place	DITHERED
I reportedly cast aspersions on European	ICELANDER
Immediately suspicious of supporting voting system	PRONTO
Intense fire spread over church	FIERCE
Journey that sees magi gripe, worried about length?	PILGRIMAGE

Clues	Answers
Married prince returned without a birthday gift	MYRRH
Money paid to people at bar for drinks	REFRESHERS
Notice a sport played with such plug-in devices	ADAPTORS
Open one looking embarrassed and needing sleep	OVERTIRED
Put on openers -- absurdly easy, pinching runs for ages	DONKEYSYEARS
Short and stressed needing change of heart	TERSE
Song that's needed for 'The Snowman'?	WHITECHRISTMAS
Sort of window the French put outside room	LATTICE
Superficial application made by players after water shortage discovered	ROUGHCAST
The man in confusion gets engaged	MESHES
The night after 1/11?	TWELFTH
Traders in French sea shanties	MERCHANTS
Trunk sent back with diamonds and precious metal	GOLD
When Christmas arrives part of hospital becomes unseemly	INDECENT

December 26 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,148 - Dec 26 2018 Clues and Answers

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,148 - Dec 26 2018

Clues	Answers
'Obliterated' some of the bowling and got runs	OVERSCORED
A king entertained by six with others providing wine	VARIETAL
Abroad she joins game, having crossed lake in town	ELLESMEREPORT
Bending to authority, playing on tour is a bind	SUBORDINATION
Blokes accepting university name for chemical substance?	MUTAGEN
Complete process for devaluing stock in report	RIGHTDOWN
Cook to stop, having lost start of recipe	BAKE
Father and grandma trapping island mammal	SIRENIAN
Fellow, a solitary person going round about -- or one with a flighty type?	FALCONER
Fool making mess quietly	GOOP
Garment of scientist given new hem	CHEMISE
Greek character unexpectedly moronic	OMICRON
I'd seem troubled with burden, beginning to crave to be this?	DISENCUMBERED
Ineffectual types, not the foremost troublemakers	IMPS

Clues	Answers
Mad fellow, one with a vocation to eliminate fish	MANIACAL
Man maybe hiding behind identity, in a manner of speaking	IDIOM
Mob there so unruly, causing trouble	BOTHERSOME
Number in club ready to be transferred under pressure	IRONON
Shout of surprise -- two ducks found inside rubbish	HOOEY
Show obeisance hearing the first man on the moon?	KNEEL
Shrubs in shady ground either side of mountains	HYDRANGEAS
Stranger offering glass in the bar?	RUMMER
Tail-less parrot visible to all in what was Portuguese territory	MACAU
Tending to go backwards in crises, ever falling short unfortunately	RECESSIVE
The person looking at newspaper? Not the fellow who goes one step at a time	TREADER
Those with cute chat slammed: 'Stop beating about the bush!'	CUTTOTHECHASE
What's said to feed physics unit	DYNE
Work steadily, with inner guidance, making earnest entreaty	PLEADINGLY

December 26 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,931 - Dec 26 2018 Clues and Answers

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,931 - Dec 26 2018

Clues	Answers
Amend text	EDIT
Carbuncle!	EYESORE
Compensate (for)	MAKEAMENDS
Conflict	FEUD
Employs	ENGAGES
Encourage	URGE
Evenly	SMOOTHLY
Express opinion	OPINE
Germs	BACTERIA
Give	DONATE
Gusto; fervour	ENTHUSIASM
Hates	DETESTS
In vogue	TRENDY

Clues	Answers
Intended; doomed	DESTINED
Interrogate	QUESTION
Mean; drunk	TIGHT
Piece of cake!	PICNIC
Releases; topics	ISSUES
Showing love	AMOROUS
Spear carriers	EXTRAS
Submerge	DROWN
Tranquil	PLACID
Viper	ADDER
Vow; profanity	OATH
Wander	ROAM
Wharf	QUAY

December 25 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 100,010

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 100,010 - Dec 25 2018

Clues	Answers
At one's office, bought gold bar?	INGOT
Capture bear	TAKE
Cause of expert calling	PROVOCATION
Complaint made by each girl left out	EARACHE
Deficit in accounts solicitor raised	LOSS
Exact copy in parcel I unwrapped	REPLICA
Give a reason for former partner lacking beauty	EXPLAIN
Goes round introducing religious books to classes	ROTATES
I say nothing	EGO
In attendance, holding papers for chief executive	PRESIDENT
Irritable about doctor cutting in giving evidence	TESTIMONY
Love quiet American work	OPUS
Luminary on a spree, stupidly consuming gallons	PERSONAGE
Move in explosive missile	TRIDENT
Naval officer fine abridged book omitted	ADMIRAL
One giving treatment to the OAPs affected	OSTEOPATH

Clues	Answers
Privy to special information? No, we think otherwise	INTHEKNOW
Record tango, then copy	TAPE
Ring a theatre company about 'Carmen', for example	OPERA
Royal Highness, old Greek character	RHO
See chess piece, rook, taken by one -- first of castles	BISHOPRIC
Small unfeeling quarrelsome woman of old?	SCOLD
Smart carrying it, to avoid becoming an easy target	SITTINGDUCK
Sobriquet of English ambassador entertained by former PM	EPITHET
Sound choice, it's said	PLUMB
Spicy sausage: condiment on top of it	PEPPERONI
Tackle crack soldiers in heart of ghetto	EQUIPMENT
Tired clothes ending in laundry	WEARY
Traveller having brandy before start of online game	MARCOPOLO
Unforeseen difficulty of Italian female wearing shroud	PITFALL
Wind, and so on, battered a national park	SNOWDONIA
Worried about vessel	UBOAT

December 25 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 100,010

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 100,010 - Dec 25 2018

Clues	Answers
& 10 Double brass for a 9?	BREAD
... quiet retreat held in Saint Agnes' basement for a 9	SPROUTS
A measure of William Blake's work?	IAMB
Arrangement of 'Silent Night' not hard, but needing a head for learning -- i.e. brains!	INTELLIGENTSIA
Conscientious editor somewhat worn	USED
First of particularly intriguing gifts staying under wraps for a 9	PIGSINBLANKETS
Forced to stand up inside Palladium	PRISED
Heads up for what a cracker may do?	STUN
Hit the roof with partner after conclusions taken from lab to FBI	BOILOVER
How to work a pantomime horse?	INTANDEM
Interrupt bells during ...	CHIMEIN
Invaluable specification for Vincent's successor?	BEYONDPRICE
Maybe Hamish -- back home -- can give warning	TOCSIN
Mean to bowl Don out, letting India in	BOILDOWNTO

Clues	Answers
Mister Scrooge behind at nothing?	ATOMISER
Queen wears last word in great clothing	GARMENT
Rowing? Take out a loan	RUNINTODEBT
Say performance is coming up to 'not out' -- this could be player's downfall	INSIDEEDGE
Seasonal harbingers perched on trees	ANGELS
See 26 Across	SAUCE
Single-handed mariner's nemesis, oddly featured in cartouch	CROC
Skis go awry with crash; son mouthed 'Greetings'?	KISSOGRAMS
Skivers can be mostly honest workers	TRUANTS
Specify Pinot, perhaps?	POINTOUT
Time to put in a call about Jimmy's interior decoration	TRIMMING
Tip for Christmas -- husband to take off loud top for service!	CHAPEL
Tricky broadcast during carol for 9	STUFFING
Tumbled head first over Victor's car part	DRIVESHAFT

December 24 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,930

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,930 - Dec 24 2018

Clues	Answers
Beat soundly	TROUNCE
Behind time	LATE
Capture	NET
Christmas	NOEL
Colour	RED
Delight	ELATE
Dinner course	ENTREE
Flog	SELL
Get better	RECOVER
Long period of time	EON
Melee	SCRUM
Mozart, e.g.	COMPOSER
Musical	WESTSIDESTORY
Out of contact	INCOMMUNICADO
Overlook	MISS

Clues	Answers
Part of the foot	HEEL
Party game	MUSICALCHAIRS
Portent	OMEN
Protect	DEFEND
Pubs	INNS
Pull	TOW
Refute	DENY
Retribution	NEMESIS
Secret	SURREPTITIOUS
Stick	ROD
Timid	SHY
Tinsel (anag.)	LISTEN
Unflagging	TIRELESS
Vague	SKETCHY
Water down	DILUTE

December 24 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,930

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,930 - Dec 24 2018

Clues	Answers
& 25 Down Very late collection for a seasonal service	MIDNIGHT
A lucky bit of 11?	THREEPENNY
Answer Rodney's brother and assistant: cook turkey on the barbie here?	ADELAIDE
Complain about one girl	NAOMI
Crazily scream 'It's myrrh!' as a festive greeting	MERRYCHRISTMAS
Cut up good English Xmas treat	MINCEPIE
Dodgy Hogmanay tree	MAHOGANY
Doubtful Queen will return after occasionally funny slur	UNSURE
Female relative that is stealing gift, ultimately: it's hard	GRANITE
Get rid of nameless relation playing around with Bet	OBLITERATE
Leader of reindeer facing terrible hold-up?	RUDOLPH
Musical group that keeps things tidy on top?	HAIRBAND
One troubled by the past, present and future?	SCROOGE
Papa surprisingly muddling up what's served with brandy sauce	PLUMPUDDING

Clues	Answers
Possibly meet men to follow shooting star?	METEOR
Praise grown-up getting to grips with a charade at last	ADULATE
Remove limitations on Germany and Spain regarding 75% of Strictly	DERESTRICT
See 20 Across	MASS
Showing anger, aggrieve oddball eating just the outer parts of sprouts	AGGRESSIVE
Sing happily till drunk	LILT
Slump over dessert?	SAGO
Son leaves somewhere cold for somewhere warmer	IBERIA
Sozzled sellers sense stocking books could show persistence	RELENTLESSNESS
Star with allowance for party	CELEBRATION
Stress most of hamper upset little sister	EMPHASIS
Thou shalt broadcast, Noel!	YULE
Trio travelling to take in Eastern newborn, initially -- from here?	ORIENT
Wake up party animal to receive seconds	ROUSE

December 25 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 100,010

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 100,010 - Dec 25 2018

Clues	Answers
Academic term	SEMESTER
Actually	Inpractice
Allurement	BAIT
Almost	NEARLY
Approaching	NIGH
Assistant	AIDE
Bay	INLET
Cartoon sailor	POPEYE
Coniferous tree	YEW
Daily	DIURNAL
Day before	EVE
Diva	PRIMADONNA
Dull pain	ACHE
General rule	CANON

Clues	Answers
Huge stone	MEGALITH
Jury	PANEL
Meadow	LEA
Parrot	COCKATOO
Part of an egg	YOLK
Pool of money	FUND
Rarely	SELDOM
Realm	KINGDOM
Roam	WANDER
Sea trip	CRUISE
Welsh dog breed	CORGI
Wood	TIMBER
Wrist ornament	BRACELET
Writing fluid	INK

December 21 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,147

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,147 - Dec 21 2018

Clues	Answers
A way of cooking swine over scattered ashes	CHASSEUR
Again go up wing on sports ground	RECLIMB
Catch trousers, making hole in suit	HEARTS
Children, drawing with coloured fluid, start to illustrate European capital	STOTINKI
City cook overcome by advance payment for short story	ANECDOTE
Did Labour once stray, backing Miliband Jnr?	AGONISED
Family member tabloid caught in the act?	SONINLAW
Georgia and Charlie are in line for bequest	LEGACY
German agreed about ancient golf club being an exotic wood	JACARANDA
Henry initially admitted to strain in period at work	SHIFT
I'm surprised Carol on piano's forgetting lines	CORPSING
Informally grill fish above Queen's Head	BARBQ
Joe's actual mother revealed in letter	EVERYMAN
Log some of military raids northwards	DIARY

Clues	Answers
Loose hair's found sticking to unknown wine	SHIRAZ
Male witch seen during day in European city	THEHAGUE
Perhaps Victoria will join son Brooklyn's neighbour	QUEENS
Poet's private place to risk meeting maiden in environs of Harlow?	JOHNBETJEMAN
Religious movement's topics regularly cited in dull retrospective	TAOISM
Sarah's heart is touched by rich old statesman	ARAFAT
Senseless talk -- Trump's mouth action that's typical of Donald?	TWADDLE
Sexed-up ad involved duet	PASDEDEUX
Si tracks taxi, half of them leaving ranks	STRATA
Small space husband's given, tucking into nuts and cheese	EMMENTHAL
Soldier lavishly spent ages recollecting service	TABLEWARE
Times secretary outside in storms needing alternative route	BYPASS
Type of idyllic landscape having dark brown evergreen tree	CHOCOLATEBOX
Unspecified eye trouble, the latest to be given priority, that's stinging	ZESTY

December 21 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,928

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,928 - Dec 21 2018

Clues	Answers
'Little green men'?	ALIENS
Attire	DRESS
Brass resembling gold	ORMOLU
Burn slightly	SINGE
Cad	RASCAL
Easy target	SITTINGDUCK
Enemy vessel	EBOAT
Farewell	ADIEU
Food	EATS
Good deed	KINDNESS
Hypnotic state	TRANCE
Instrument of punishment	ROD
Pacific state	HAWAII
Place in 'Kubla Khan'	XANADU

Clues	Answers
Play	DRAMA
Pub	INN
Relaxation	EASE
Remainder	REST
Second-placed competitors	RUNNERSUP
Seen briefly	GLIMPSED
Slope	GRADIENT
Small amount	TRACE
Solemn	GRAVE
Story	TALE
Stuffer of animals	TAXIDERMIST
Support	TRUSS
Taught	EDUCATED
Young lady's protector	CHAPERONE

December 21 2018 The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,928

The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 28,928 - Dec 21 2018

Clues	Answers
& 7 Down Holy Land hit they've arranged for something festive to sing	THEHOLLY
'Cook me a steak', husband interjected. 'Hurry up!'	MAKEHASTE
Animal fashioned by clay-worker without head	OTTER
Appreciate loch in depiction	LIKENESS
Big noise at university, Oxford's No. 5 rower	UPROAR
Card that has a cutting edge	SPADE
Christmas pudding maybe with hair turning up	DESSERT
Church occasion? A bishop and I may be entertained by ancient priest	MARRIAGE
City house with French art showing parrots	ECHOES
Container inverted over many a pantomime character	BUTTONS
Contribute to ding-dong and stir the memory	RINGABELL
Discern unhappy girl kept at home	CINDERS
Dramatic performance making one gasp in time? The opposite!	PAGEANT
Grand guide, one exuding enthusiasm	GUSHER

Clues	Answers
Group of believers manifesting Oedipus complex	OPUSDEI
Having excessive girth, concealed by robe seemingly	OBESE
In harmony, lacking a yen to be avaricious	GREEDY
Joining senior in chorus	SOLDERING
Like family members, very happy after end of supper	RELATED
Most flavoursome champagne substitute revealed in experiment	TASTIEST
Plant that is trodden on by sheep	RAMIE
Practise act prior to lucky-dip grab	GETONESHANDIN
Process when spirit is released? I'd bet demonism is involved	DISEMBODIMENT
Report from shed outside Cheltenham?	DISPATCH
Reserve card for a group of readers	BOOKCLUB
See 23 Across	ANDTHEIVY
Sheets for egg producers	LAYERS
Tricky situation -- my tie's getting loosened	STYMIE

December 20 2018 The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,146

The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,146 - Dec 20 2018

Clues	Answers
1 soldier, British (a lieutenant) upset regiment	GIBRALTAR
1/100, formerly	ONCE
Apache helicopter paratroops' departure call?	GERONIMO
Bad hombre guzzling over a bottle	REHOBOAM
Compere almost crushing supporter in bear-hug?	EMBRACE
Connery's Arab citadel where the vodka martinis aren't free?	CASHBAR
Enormous tunnel blown up with ammo	MONUMENTAL
Force to accept two thousand in trade	COMMERCE
Genius's curt order for beer at the Oktoberfest?	EINSTEIN
Highly-paid actor Ethel undressed Hudson	THEROCK
Hit back, punching a notorious Roman baddie	ANTIHERO
In Paris, my uncle loses second new lens	MONOCLE
It might be part of green fee, touring Southern Corfu on vacation	FESCUE
Lead with clubs; partner's overweight	CHUBBY
Legless chum, annoyed, bottles German barman	SCHUMANN

Clues	Answers
Legside boundaries keeping everyone in a defensive position	ONALLFOURS
Madame la Reine originally mixing confiture	MARMALADE
Maeve's exposed Irish island	INCH
Mo -- bald head -- runs weekly	HEBDOMADAL
Native American, similar to Caligula and his consul	CRAZYHORSE
Phone card flipping low -- that's a blow	SIMOOM
Pressure on Hants opener without runs mounting -- lots of movement through the air here	HEATHROW
Record drift in Scripture, English and arithmetic?	REGISTER
Retiring Greek character garlanded with wild send-off	FUNERAL
Stops lessons	PERIODS
Stupid, like current 9?	ASININE
Teacher married Daisy	MASTER
The first spreadsheet entry goes here, pop	COLA
What about about about a head?	EACH
When mate's expected on board?	ENDGAME

December 20 2018 The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,927

The Telegraph - QUICK CROSSWORD NO: 28,927 - Dec 20 2018

Clues	Answers
Admits	ACCEPTS
Advance	PROCEED
Agreement	ACCORD
Blood vessel	ARTERY
Cast off	SHED
Couch	SOFA
Disguises	CLOAKS
Display	SHOW
Dissimilar	UNALIKE
Doctrines	TENETS
Elapse	PASS
Engaged in	UNDERTOOK
Excerpt from a film	CLIP
Ghost	SPECTRE
Hot curries	VINDALOOS
In a gentle way	MILDLY

Clues	Answers
Indifference	APATHY
Leave out	OMIT
Madness	LUNACY
Meat of a cow	BEEF
Native quarter in North African cities	MEDINA
Notice	ESPY
Pubs	INNS
Removed the skin of	PEELED
Scribble	SCRAWL
Sets (down)	LAYS
Shape	FORM
Small	PETITE
Small rodents	MICE
Soak through	DRENCH
Started	INITIATED
Thwarted	SNOOKERED