Guardian Cryptic #28981

2023-01-31

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a
2d

Winning spirit with just defeat and a tiea draw in 17? (7,6)

Generating...
5a

God, one with a magic bullet? (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Conceal a capital city on island (5)

Generating...

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

PALM (conceal, as magicians do) + A – the capital of Mallorca

10a

See 24

11a

Separation of state and religion curses Mali after Reformation (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a
21a

A law committed to memory by 1st of October for test (4,4)

Generating...
14a

Allergic reaction having taken LSD, perhaps: expression of support welcomed (11)

Generating...

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

OLÉ (expression of support) in IN TRANCE (having taken LSD perhaps)

18a

Appalling? It's impossible to say (11)

flowerflowerflower
21a

See 12

22a

Those carrying lots of money in shops act stupid (10)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Delicious salami in the soup, sibling tucking in (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Tree in lime, leaning backwards (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Cocktail fruit dropping on needle shortly (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Boris playing intellectual game, heavens above, admitting 'I haven't a clue' (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Key worker is involved in exer­cise after Tuesday's vacation (6)

Generating...

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

IS in PT (exercise) after T[uesda]Y

2d

See 1 across

3d

A huge organ, always (2,3,5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Cap removed from playwright put in grave (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Where reporters meet with two irons? (5,4)

Generating...

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

Self-explanatory, I think

6d

Gas in 7 only (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Backbone injected with liquid initially, or gas (8)

Generating...

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

L[iquid] OR in CHINE (backbone)

8d

Contra gets deal after revolution in Caribbean islands (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Hashemite city rising up on account of a creative movement in Italy (4,6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (rising up, in a down clue) of PETRA (Hashemite city) + OVER (on account of) + A – I didn’t know this creative movement

15d

Go rambling and get lost! (4,1,4)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Evangelist affable? Not that interested (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

O constant plecity? (8)

Generating...

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

I’m sure this is very clever and probably staring me in the face but I can’t see beyond TAN (constant) and ‘city’; I’m pretty sure that, as soon as I’ve posted this, the first half dozen or so comments will put me right – thanks in advance Please see comments 1 and 2

19d

See 23

20d

Harden, if held captive by authoritarian, blowing top (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d
19d

Are they riding up and down? (5,6)

Generating...
24d
10a

Irish county where one goes, in a failed state (4,3,6)

Generating...