Guardian Cryptic #28978

2023-01-27

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Across

1a

Blackened items in kitchen? Domestic gets given the third degree (11)

flowerflowerflower
9a

In Rome, I maybe run into foreign character before lunch? (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Absent-minded scientist using width instead of depth (7)

Generating...

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

Michael FARA-d-AY [wiki] ="scientist", with W (width) in place of d (depth)

11a

Peevish Le Pen jumpily interrupting a lot of criticism (9)

Generating...

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

definition: bad-tempered, irritable anagram/"jumpily" of (Le Pen)*, inside STIC-k="a lot of" the letters from 'stick'="criticism" as in 'they got stick for arriving late'

12a

Malay food recipe leaving a man with large appetite? (5)

Generating...

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

SAT-a-Y="Malay food" + R (recipe), minus "a"

13a

Succeeding in goal without evidence of mistake (4)

Generating...

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

NET="goal" e.g. in football, around/"without" X=cross="evidence of mistake" e.g. on marked schoolwork

14a

Jenny, say, cutting duets in jazzy solo (10)

Generating...

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

ASS="Jenny" (a female donkey), inside anagram/"jazzy" of (duets in)*

16a

Agree to cut frame Bogart bungled, embracing a star (5,5)

Generating...

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

the outer letters/"frame" cut from [A]-GRE-[e], plus anagram/"bungled" of (Bogart)* around "a"

19a

Main hazard in Britain: Tories like Rees-Mogg! (4)

Generating...

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

definition: an iceberg is a hazard in the sea/'main' B (Britain) + ERG (European Research Group [wiki] ) a group of Tories including Jacob Rees-Mogg

21a

Some disrespect etc offended backing musicians (5)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Ineptitude from eg Macron briefly meeting Blair (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Extra-large collars no good for cur (7)

Generating...

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

MORE="Extra" + L (large), around NG (no good, e.g. used to describe a TV recording)

25a

Cool smart actress, one of a pair (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Mean criminal head in police force set free (11)

Generating...

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

anagram/"criminal" of (Mean)*, with PATE="head" in CID (Criminal Investigation Department, "police force")

Down

1d

Contest law and punishment in longish piece of text (7,8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Protective covering being worn after 30 days (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Grand and endlessly thrilling setter (7)

flowerflowerflower
4d

It's clear dope's seized by copper? Quite the reverse (2,5)

Generating...

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

INFO'S="dope's" e.g. 'get the inside dope on the city', seizing rather than being "seized by" CU (symbol for "copper")

5d

What you may call a bigwig with LSD or rolling joint (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"rolling" of (LSD or)*, plus HIP="joint"

6d

Fully drink little drink? That man with drinks drinks gallons (4,2,3,6)

Generating...

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

DOWN="drink" + TOT="little drink", plus HE="That man" and ROUND="drinks" around G (gallons)

7d

Places to learn about harmony (6)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Content to leave Hardy and The Woman in White unfinished, getting cross (6)

Generating...

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

inside letters/"Content" leaving H=[ard]-Y, plus BRID-e="The Woman in White unfinished"

15d

Tailless camel biting earl: it may cause a complaint (8)

Generating...

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

BACTRIA-[n]="Tailless camel", around E (earl)

16d

White House wanting leader gracious and sombre (6)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Sweet American pin-up with mostly pleasant clothing (7)

Generating...

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

A (American), plus LEG="pin" reversed/"up" inside NIC-e="mostly pleasant"

18d

Make respectable-looking career, you heard, in oil company (5,2)

Generating...

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

RUSH="career" + U="you" when spoken aloud/"heard", all inside BP (British Petroleum, "oil company")

20d

Party food for the health conscious (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Take a hike in Native American territory's western part (3,2)

Generating...

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

HOPI="Native American" [wiki] + the leftmost/"western" letter from T-erritory