Guardian Cryptic #28867

2022-09-20

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

After mistake on circuit, pressure for F1 starter (6)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Meat from sheep I finished first (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Indigo for a chess computer (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Rural cottage is this writer's bolthole? (6)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Care to relax, after putting energy into a comic song (7,5)

Generating...

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

anagram/”to relax” of (Care)*, after ZING=”energy” in A MAG[azine]=”a comic”

13a

For her, partner (not male) not available (4)

Generating...

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

m-AN=”partner” [for her], minus ‘m’ for “male”, plus N/A=”not available”

14a

Upset voter stumbles against ballot box (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”stumbles” of (voter)* + URN=”ballot box”

17a

Reduce studies in first chapter? (8)

Generating...

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

DENS=”studies” [as in rooms], inside C ONE=Chapter One=”first chapter”

18a

One goes round castle, treading nothing into carpet (4)

Generating...

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

O=”nothing” inside MAT=”carpet”

20a

What did you say, you tosser? (5,2,5)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Tore off from opera, back at top speed to dance (6)

Generating...

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

[IL] TROVA-tore=Verdi “opera”, minus the ‘tore’ and reversed/”back”, after C=speed of light=”top speed”

24a

Partnership lacking say in loyalty (8)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Without imagination, super­market replaces legend's recipe (8)

Generating...

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

LIDL=”supermarket”, replacing ‘r’ (recipe) in STO-r-Y=”legend”

26a

Deer turns over something with one foot (6)

Generating...

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

WAPITI is a name for elk reversal/”turns over” of IT=”something” + I=”one” + PAW=”foot”

Down

2d

In the country I am an unknown animal (4)

Generating...

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

I BE=”I am”, “In the country” e.g. as said by someone in the West Country, plus X=”unknown” in maths

3d

Random bloke caught out over pitfall (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Send fruitlessly from here to post in this box (6)

Generating...

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

reference to the phrase ‘from pillar to post’ to describe moving back and forth aimlessly

5d

Appoint entirely unsatisfactory diplomat (15)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Glittering, like part of American flag (8)

Generating...

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

the American flag is known as the Star SPANGLED Banner

7d

Trainspotter losing headit's like a sieve (5)

Generating...

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

definition: a device used to e.g. press potatoes through holes to make mash G-RICER is slang for a “Trainspotter”, minus the head letter

8d

Went to see a fellow motoring enthusiast to give a bit of a hand (10)

Generating...

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

MET A CAR PAL=”Went to see a fellow motoring enthusiast”

12d

Bigoted, enjoying the bilingual harangue (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

I mark the moment the paper is on the carpetpicked up quietly (4-5)

Generating...

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

TIMES=”[news]paper” + MAT=”carpet” reversed vertically/”picked up” + P (piano, “quietly”) a second use of MAT=”carpet”

16d

Rare single: not running in between (8)

Generating...

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

UNWED=”single”, with anagram/”running” of (not)* inside

19d

Bat showing determination on old wicket (6)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Be out of sleeping bag? That's odd (5)

Generating...

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

Be-DROLL=”sleeping bag”, minus the “Be”

22d

Small incision in tail (4)

Generating...

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

definition: a short tail of e.g. a rabbit or deer S (small) + CUT=”incision”