The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Thursday, 17th April 2008 There are 17 across clues and 12 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Thursday, 17th April 2008. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 1: Clambers up to signSCALESAAcross 5: Buckle isn't worn to show defianceWAR PAINTAAcross 9: Decline to take the easy wayDOWNHILLAAcross 10: Alternative queue for Americans going to town?UPLINEAAcross 11: Ponders initial loss by customsUSESAAcross 12: Gaudy old pulpit traced by knowing workerFLAMBOYANTAAcross 13: Token of love interrupting part of service: touching!COUPONAAcross 14: Settled to live as a theologian, bounded by eastern seaEMBEDDEDAAcross 16: Sailor is withering about passengerSEAFARERAAcross 19: A modicum of personal covering provided by the recessALCOVEAAcross 20: Concealed weapon in jam, catching verbal rowSWORD STICKAAcross 20: Concealed weapon in jam, catching verbal rowSWORDSTICKAAcross 22: Offend greatly at first and confessSINGAAcross 23: Passionate desire to party in country interminably retreatingARDOURAAcross 24: Wimp accepts success that's due to formal dressWHITE-TIEAAcross 25: Competently keeps back clutter in meetingASSEMBLYAAcross 26: Bold lawyer with quirky grinDARINGDDown 2: Poor show? So do encores! Be careful what you sayCHOOSEONESWORDSDDown 3: Joins with beginners to learn in new kids' schoolLINKSDDown 4: Stays, as of old, for a drinkSTIFFENERDDown 5: Remarkably few real creature comfortsWELFAREDDown 6: River with unpleasant smell: note the courseRHUMBDDown 7: Squinting, start off with back lanesALLEYEDDDown 8: No Verne? No Tintin comic? No meddling!NONINTERVENTIONDDown 15: Jet flier?BLACKBIRDDDown 17: Held back from warning about globeFORBOREDDown 18: Lines that complain bitterly at MethodRAILWAYDDown 21: Cancel cleanup?SCRUBDDown 22: Quarter taken in by the palmist's curl of the lipSNEER