Guardian Cryptic #28951

2022-12-27

Solve on Guardian →

Across

5a

Gently scuffed mat fills homethis one's in mine (6)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Old guy provided backing for servant getting married (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (backing) of O (old) + RAG (guy) + IF (provided) – a reference to ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, a play by Beaumarchais and an opera by Mozart

9a

Plot by Jack introducing primarily unjustified smear (6)

Generating...

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

BED (plot) + AB (able-bodied seaman – Jack) round U[njustified]

10a

Not a hope, unfortunately, to get grape for wine (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Reversal of fate, which may be indicative (4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Parisian in silence lying sprawled in charming manner (10)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Rogue calmed a politician being bombastic (11)

flowerflowerflower
18a

South American postman working in Barking again (10)

flowerflowerflower
21a

It's used when serving starter of tinned fish (4)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Sweet male I dressed in tailored suit (8)

Generating...

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

RAM (male) + I in an anagram (tailored) of SUIT

23a

More than one play area swarmed by tots (6)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Stupefied American enjoys tucking into G&T (6)

Generating...

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

A (American) + HAS (enjoys) in G T

25a

Learner in Morgan gripping implement (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Sit around frame of timber, cutting lumber (8)

Generating...
2d

Butler in film concealing right jumble (6)

Generating...
3d

During May, one day before November 12? (8)

Generating...
4d

Small boat, early in the day, going through bridge (6)

Generating...
5d

Glutton penning poem about stray animal in Asia (3-3)

Generating...
7d

Stooge in love with English stage and screen actor (6)

Generating...
8d

As you can see, in each other down solution your plans have been thwarted! (3,4,2,2)

Generating...

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

By the time I arrived at this, I had enough crossers to guess the key to the theme: each down solution, apart from this one, has a game of some kind hidden in reverse

14d

Most bananas in pastries kept in sack (8)

Generating...
15d

Went back over hint, tucking into wine (8)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Priest has installed hot plate (6)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Varnishes Otto's agreed to put on slates (6)

Generating...
19d

Christie's starts to auction goods, I see, over time (6)

Generating...
20d

Not one prearranged fight has European later showing swelling (6)

Generating...