Trick shots and drooling sportsmen in the pick of the best of the cryptic crosswords
Perhaps it’s a blessing that the American president gets his information about the world from his associates’ extremist sites rather than from professionals. The negative stuff gets him all grouchy, potentially nukey-grouchy, and if he were to work his way through the papers whose approval he craves, we can only guess what his response would be to his coverage on the crossword pages.
2d VAT-free Atlantic trade is something offered by the White House (11,4)
[ anagram (‘trade’) of VATFREEATLANTIC ]
4d/19d According to Spooner, more suitable material for the president’s policy platform? (7,4)
[ spoonerism of synonym for ‘suitable’ and a type of material ]
[ spoonerism of ‘fitter tweed’ ]
20d/23d Diana Ross reportedly arrested on a bench in DC? (7,5)
[ description of D Ross + soundalike for synonym of ‘arrested’ ]
[ SUPREME + soundalike for ‘caught’ ]
5d Drink most of wine with yours truly and Diana Ross? (7)
[ synonym for ‘drink’ + ‘most of’ letters in type of wine + synonym for ‘yours truly’ ]
[ SUP + RE + ME ]
18d A shot on table, drunkard finallygathered (7)
[ A + type of snooker shot + last letter (‘finally’) of DRUNKARD ]
[ A + MASSÉ + D ]
2d A trick shot on area of snooker table gets built up (7)
[ A + type of snooker shot + name of area of snooker table ]
[ A + MASSÉ + D ]
7d John Barnes finally up front — English Liverpool playerdribbled (8)
[ synonym for ‘John’ preceded by (‘up front’) last letter (‘finally’) of BARNES, then abbrev. for ‘English’ + nickname for Liverpool player ]
[ LAV preceded by S, then E + RED ]