The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Thursday, 24th December 2020 There are 16 across clues and 16 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Thursday, 24th December 2020. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 7: Drug, one fuelling a short runASPIRINAAcross 8: Maverick adoring Zeus or Freyr?RAINGODAAcross 9: Crime award inspiring small informal gatheringSINGAAcross 10: Newton, for one, claims the groundALCHEMISTAAcross 12: Heading off rats, bullHOOEYAAcross 13: In this, essentially head's tormentNUTSHELLAAcross 15: Ultimately ungulates best, Santa employing reindeer, say?STAGAAcross 16: Runner in early event not starting backMILERAAcross 17: See 9SONGAAcross 18: Stay flexible also in motionPROPOSALAAcross 20: Sticky and coarseTACKYAAcross 21: Drink after drink — one attempting to lift another?SUPPORTERAAcross 22: See 12 downMISSAAcross 22: See 12 downMISS.AAcross 24: Teller of jokes — one of which in here?CRACKERAAcross 25: See 2MERRILYDDown 1: Drink in plaudits, audience standingASTIDDown 2: Christmas favourite, almighty drunken fight?DING-DONGDDown 2: Christmas favourite, almighty drunken fight?DINGDONGDDown 3: Crime, through having bagged Yuletide threesome upBIGAMYDDown 4: Floosie put paper up to decorate spruceMAN-EATERDDown 5: See 2ONHIGHDDown 6: Kick-startBOOTDDown 11: Romantic joiner confined to cell, panicking over sexCANDLELITDDown 12: Unpredictable choice between 24 and 20 down?HITORDDown 14: Scrawny neck, but no stuffing, put in placeLANKYDDown 16: Scrooge's Boxing Day uplifting? That's not the right wordMISNOMERDDown 17: Love collecting first of caterpillars in spring after climbing treeSYCAMOREDDown 19: Upper limit raised in money for holy officePAPACYDDown 20: Country bumpkinTURKEYDDown 21: Father Christmas, I remembered stocking?SIREDDown 23: Only part of 6SOLE