Guardian Cryptic #27757

2019-03-01

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Withdraw from competition, having a slight injury (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Sheltered area where diesel is spilt at end of lane (3,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

DIESEL* + [LAN]E

9a

Could be rasher returning no cab, it seems (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Former church leader's beginning to be superior (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Clumsy American baulks at first jump (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

KLUTZ (American slang for a clumsy person) less its first letter. The Lutz is a type of jump in figure-skating

12a

Rambling around Corinth, seen topless (10)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Mariner finally leaves golf spectators' boat (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

GALLERY (spectators at a game of golf) less [marine]R

15a

Medical officer bags Aussie owls (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Egyptian city's stone home in highway that's not deserted (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SETT (badger’s home) in ROAD less D – reference to the Rosetta Stone , whose discovery led to an understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs

18a

Flying Gulf Air, one missed out having to use economy (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram of GULF AIR less I (one)

20a

Rewrote scene or act? Bless! (10)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Some conservatoire backing debauchery (4)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Man the pumps regularly, having finished the lot (3,2)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Alternate letters of mAn ThE pUmPs

25a

Oceanarium, not posh, spilt coffee (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram of OCEANARIUM less U (posh, as in U and non-U)

26a

Pasta coursedip into it! (7)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Vestand what finishes it off (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

The word vest ends in a SINGLE T. An example of a clue where it would be impossible to get the answer from the wordplay alone On second thoughts, I take back the last sentence – I was confused by the fact that SINGLET also ends in a single T.

Down

1d

Oracle is upset near the top side of lake (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Reverse of IS + BY (near) + L[ake]. For some reason the girl’s name Sybil is usually spelt with the vowels interchanged

2d

Cheese for girl in bed? On the contrary (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Man and dog associated with jug (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A man’s name, a traditional name for a dog (especially the dog I Punch and Judy) and a type of jug ; technically three definitions, but very closely related

4d

London Taxi: sorry horse (grey): in a race, nobbled (7,8)

Generating...
6d

Examthis one makes twelve (6-4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

King under threat turns chicken(2,5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

early stone implements working the soil (7)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Sheet anchor? (7,3)

Generating...
16d

Shipping area, which is proverbially steady on everything (7)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Boy at practice session getting lines! (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Old lady's maid is a sizeable American, one needing leading liposuctionist (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Tutor rearranged piano quintet (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Regularly taking out cloisonné cat (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Alternate letters of cLoIsOnNé