Guardian Cryptic #29138

2023-08-02

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Support poles placed inside track (7)

Generating...

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

N S (poles) in SPOOR (track)

5a

Surface of mine, which allows for quick maintenance (7)

Generating...

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

PIT’S TOP (surface of mine)

9a

Broadcast rally includes some Roman stars (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Spooner understands badge is part of mast (5,4)

Generating...
11a

Negotiates to win tip for these servers (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Imagine writer dropping names? It's a sign (3)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Exploding on some toiletit's a matter of urgency (2,4,2,4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

In theory, time for a period of study (8,4)

Generating...
21a

Work unit essential for creating synergies (3)

Generating...

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

Contained in synERGies

22a

Animals damaging a Paris slum (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (damaging) of A PARIS SLUM

25a

You can't go when you see one, perhaps (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Correct setting for college to bring peace (5)

Generating...

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

TRUE (correct) round C (college)

27a

It's touching when leader becomes married in absentia (7)

Generating...

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

When K (king – leader) – or ‘leader’ could simply indicate the initial letter – becomes ‘m’ (married) we get ‘missing’ (in absentia) – but the clue seems the wrong way round: I can’t quite fit ‘in absentia’ into the surface reading kiss = touch as in snooker, for instance

28a

Record destroyed? That's an insult (3,4)

Generating...

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

A clever triple definition, the third needing a hyphen

Down

1d

Neglected super group almost forced into retiring (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Published call for protest (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Engineer made cellos and a smaller version (5,5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Charged Conservative with expensive cover up (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (up, in a down clue) of DEAR (expensive) round C (conservative)

5d

Good form of one paid to imbue king with devotion (9)

Generating...

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

PRO (one paid) round R (king) in PIETY (devotion) – again, this seems the wrong way round: to imbue means to permeate or instil, so here it’s the devotion that’s being imbued by the king

6d

Express disapproval about a chore (4)

Generating...

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

TSK (express disapproval – although I can find this only as an exclamation rather than a verb eg ‘tut’) round A

7d

This joint let's you go, if you get it? (3,5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Access old information to discover source of disease (8)

Generating...

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

PATH (access) O (old) GEN (information)

13d

Enjoy consuming strange Tibetan pop (3,7)

flowerflowerflower
15d

One in congress bottling it but making an impression (9)

Generating...

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

I (one) MATING (in congress) round (bottling) IT

16d

Surprisingly, UK calmed by this ineffectual person (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Doctor who thought suffering and bereavement were for the best (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

He sang about game like this (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

It's behind the evacuation of Amiens, Toulouse and Rouen (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Exercise allows one to delay retiring (3,2)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Some points of interest raised in civic offices (4)

flowerflowerflower