Guardian Cryptic #28824

2022-08-01

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Commonly, chap had a mass of hair slicked back with this (6)

Generating...

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

Edit: Widdersbel has a better explanation for the first part of the wordplay: HE’D=he had=”chap had”, dropping the ‘h’ as indicated by “Commonly” ED (short for e.g. Edward, “chap”) + A MOP=”a mass of hair”, all reversed/”back” “Commonly” indicates the shortening of Ed-

4a

About to make a mistake, wearing sensible white (8)

Generating...

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

definition: a white wine C (circa, “About”) + ERR=”to make a mistake”, all inside SANE=”sensible”

9a

This to eat gives one bellyache (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Vigorous, I shake the talc around (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Garment that only half suits one (4,2,8)

flowerflowerflower
13a

It's clear rebel got drunk down here (4,6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

One coming from Holland forced to return (4)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Using head, attack bum (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

The whole country after one day backing candidate (10)

Generating...

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

NATION=”The whole country”, after I=”one” plus MON (Monday, “day”) both reversed/”backing”

21a

Innovative way to make dog run? (6-8)

flowerflowerflower
23a

No danger of fog, it's understood (3,5)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Have nothing to do with row about pig (6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Died, I make quite clear, in great suffering (8)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Sly creature in pop song? (6)

Generating...

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

reference to the song / nursery rhyme ‘Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Down

1d

Shakespeare's mistress and attendant (4)

Generating...

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

Mistress Page is a character in Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor

2d

Perhaps a place in hotel raised charge to stay (7)

Generating...

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

E.G.=”Perhaps” + A + ROOM=”place in hotel”, all reversed/”raised”

3d

Departs one precise area (8)

Generating...

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

D (Departs) + I=”one” + STRICT=”precise”

5d

Different tea interval organised (11)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Pass our flag (6)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Retired person returning has to go over the same ground (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Duty officer (9)

flowerflowerflower
12d

A field of runners is so energetic (4,2,5)

flowerflowerflower
13d

One played with infant: kind of mother! (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Supports suggestion not to finish bottom (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Title character misspelled in our list (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Sort of rock, belting out half-ugly noise (7)

Generating...

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

anagram/”out” of (ug noise)*, where ug is “half” of “ugly”

20d

Rod left in rage (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

As dye plant, use some vanilla (4)

Generating...

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

definition: source of indigo dye hidden in v-ANIL-la