Quick crossword

No 16,298

Across

1 Makes an abrupt and total reversal of policy (4-5)

8 Eat like a rodent (4)

9 Hard grey-white metal, Zr, used in nuclear reactors (9)

10 A French father (4)

13 Useful (5)

15 Top order batsman (6)

16 Limber (6)

17 Light-sensitive area at the back of the eyeball (6)

19 Measured amount of medicine taken at any one time (6)

20 Colourless, odourless inert gas, Ar, used in some electric lights (5)

21 That’s gross! (4)

24 Shoreline bird (9)

25 Discourteous (4)

26 The basics! (4,5)

Down

2 Private retreat to go to when wanting to get away from others (4)

3 Eat like a bird (4)

4 Progressing sequentially (6)

5 UK money (6)

6 Make (something) seem less important than it is (9)

7 Sugar substitute (9)

11 Open area surrounded by buildings (9)

12 Chemical used to kill insects (9)

13 Plant-based hair dye (5)

14 Canadian territory, home to the

Klondike gold rush of 1897-99 (5)

18 Secrets – cards in a tarot pack (6)

19 Draw aimlessly (6)

22 Store for grain (4)

23 Autry or Hackman? (4)