Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from three to thirteen letters, and four are capitalized) then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Five across words and six down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is omitted. Those eleven letters, taken in order as they occur in across and down words, spell a three-word phrase. In addition, two other words, one across and one down, won't fit unless they are appropriately compacted, you must determine how. Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an
Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid. [Want to see some hints?]