Guardian Cryptic #29088

2023-06-05

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Across

1a

A bachelor meeting Elizabeth, a superior woman (6)

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5a

Warders' wages small (6)

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8a

One slides over nail to avoid a puncture (7)

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9a

Condiment given a false rating at first (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of VINEGA, an anagram (‘false’) of ‘given a’; plus R (” R ating at first’).

11a

Health centre for hypochondriacs? (4-5,6)

Generating...

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

If a woman is well, why would she need a clinic?

12a

Arguments got louder, as we hear (4)

Generating...

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

Puzzling: ROWS as ‘arguments’ sounds like ROUSE, which does not mean ‘got louder’; ROWS as tiers sounds like ROSE, which can mean ‘got louder’.

13a

Two terms of golf that go with your card (4,3,3)

Generating...

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

CHIP and PIN separately are golf terms, and together describe a smart payment card technology.

17a

Unauthorised disposal of insect? (3-7)

Generating...

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

A play on FLY as an insect.

18a

Manage to get last member of oil cartel into leading position (4)

Generating...

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

OPEC (‘oil cartel’) with the last letter (‘last member’) moved to the front (‘into leading position’).

20a

Coming to the end of touring holiday with no alternative available? (2,3,4,6)

Generating...

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

Definition and literal interpretation.

23a

Line and wriggly worm (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Under compulsion, old boy told a story about golf (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘about’) of G (NATO alphabet, ‘golf’) in OB (‘old boy’) plus LIED (‘told a story’).

25a

Gravedigger working after an hour in church (6)

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26a

Furious desire to live (6)

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Down

2d

The aisle, do we hear, where horses may be ridden? (9)

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3d

Be slow about forcing one's way through with these? (6)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘about’) of ‘be slow’.

4d

The old SS had power to move you (9)

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5d

So many taking part in athletics event (5)

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6d

Foul-smelling fish causing irritation (8)

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7d

Keep shaking the cart (5)

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8d

A listed building? (5,2,4)

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10d

Wrongly record eventit's changed back (11)

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14d

Drunk port, No 1 in wine (5,4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘drunk’) of ‘port no I in’ with I for ‘1’, for wine made from the grape varietal.

15d

No amateur was keen to be dragged out (9)

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16d

Paper, large amount, for an appointment (4,4)

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19d

Fields of study concerned with charitable giving (6)

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21d

Slight colour in metal regularly grey (5)

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22d

Extra notice given to teacher (3-2)

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