Guardian Cryptic #28874

2022-09-28

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Across

1a

Posh bloke is a Tory bastard? Not unknown (6)

Generating...

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

anagram/”bastard” of (is a Tory)*, minus letter ‘y’=”unknown in maths

5a

Usual performance quietly meets with approval (6)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Changed key before end of ballad (7)

Generating...

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

ALT=”key” on computer keyboard + ERE=”before” + end of balla-D

9a

Plant roses at front except in centre (7)

Generating...

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

R-oses at front + BAR=”except” inside HUB=”centre”

11a

Big Tech (and Ted's dosh) could possibly bring material success (3,5,7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Good book plausible on the surface (4)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Sure to make a move after trick one's played (10)

Generating...

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

CERT- A -IN=”Sure”, “to make [the letter] A move” to the end, after CON=swindle=”trick”

17a

Invaders ignoring rule left with ground unclaimed (2-4-4)

Generating...
18a

Idiot holding back star pupil? On the contrary (4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Steal script craftily when Charles is inside dressing (8,7)

Generating...

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

anagram/”craftily” of (Steal script)*, with KING=”Charles” inside

23a

Doubly small for a defender (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Want to carry gun but denied (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Chance to wear revolutionary dress (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Stay on team (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

2d

Rare element of sexual excite­ment with femaleI'm keeping out, essentially (9)

Generating...

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

RUT=”sexual excitement” + HEN=”female” + I’M around the centre/essential part of o-U-t

3d

Soldiers arrested by police officers around base (6)

Generating...

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

OR (other ranks, “soldiers”), inside “police officers” DI (Detective Inspector) + DS (Detective Sergeant) both reversed/”around”

4d

Getting on coach is traditional (3-6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Child's yellowdoctors gathering round (5)

Generating...

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

OR=gold colour=”yellow” inside GPS (General Practitioner-S, doctors), all reversed/”round”

6d

Roars during day end squabbling (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”squabbling” of (end)*, inside/”during” THURS=”day”

7d

Desperately want to be in Conservative Party? (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Makes an enemy of worker and worries deeply (11)

flowerflowerflower
10d

Dirty resort has improved on the surface (11)

flowerflowerflower
14d

See something useful in the kitchen (3-6)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Bothered by independence, rightjudged it to be divisive (9)

Generating...

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

I (independence) + R (right) + RATED=”judged” divided by IT

16d

Advice about protecting endlessly vulnerableit's a nasty place (8)

Generating...

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

TIPS=”Advice” reversed/”about”, around NAKE-d=”endlessly vulnerable”

19d

Polluted river in which crew's emptied effluents (6)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Dancing ladies beginning to strip offthis couldn't be better (5)

Generating...

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

anagram/”Dancing” of (ladies)*, with the beginning of S-trip taken off

22d

Square up over drinker's last bottle (5)

Generating...

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

EVEN=”Square” reversed/”up” around drinke-R even=square as in ‘we’re even/square’=’we don’t owe each other anything’