The Independent Crossword Answers February 22, 2023
Across
| Son breaking computer given books, lucky thing | MASCOT |
| Lecturing before feeling the effects of flu? | PREACHY |
| States in America against leaving US | AVERS |
| As practice, start to execute dance | QUADRILLE |
| Drying out hoop of willow sticks? | WITHERING |
| Fly from trenches in retreat | SPEED |
| Long throw needing power | ITCH |
| Shrimp, possibly brown one that’s tinned? | CRUSTACEAN |
| Early post I sorted consisting mainly of letters | EPISTOLARY |
| Dodgy dealer finally sells tap with drip | SPIV |
| Hungarian composer Franz L_. What? No not he, another | LEHAR |
| In recession, director has rooms built on side of mansion | DOWNSWING |
| Don’s 6 mostly love hosting a dance | CABALLERO |
| Musicians turning to entertaining and so on | OCTET |
| Note to little sibling creates division | MITOSIS |
| Sherpa maybe more exposed protecting European | BEARER |
Down
| Excellent trick for the audience in the interval | MEANWHILE |
| I doubt Conservative’s bed is full of bugs | SCEPTIC |
| Miscreant used to being expelled | OUSTED |
| Crash a new Golf after spin | PRANG |
| Express, on reflection, singer’s nothing to regret | EUROSTAR |
| Group of academics pass on a bit of erudition | COLLEGE |
| Give up drifting idly around Spain | YIELD |
| Tree dweller runs into landowner on top of ladder | SQUIRREL |
| Small hands best for access to jar? | SCREWTOP |
| Guide’s a good leader who was terrible climbing hill | NAVIGATOR |
| First art lesson with clothing off is astonishing | STARTLES |
| People finding hotel slightly inferior to home | INHABIT |
| Looking glum, bury dog | POINTER |
| Timber and seaweed on the beach | ASHORE |
| Substitute delivered when copper put in large order | LOCUM |
| The worst cars from 1986? | DREGS |
