Guardian Cryptic #29184

2023-09-25

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Herald's up on one leg, out of control (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Spinning stick, first to break little bulb (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Normal to cut the end off vegetable (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Your lad misbehaving, Mary? (3,4)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Flower seen in a spring month foolish to cut back (9)

Generating...

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

A MAR[ch] (a spring month) + a reversal (to cut back) of SILLY (foolish)

12a

Ready for Nigerian heretic to revert (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Time to fight? (5)

Generating...

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

A rather loose cryptic definition – a play on time being the enemy, which has several times raised discussion here; this time, I decided to consult Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and under ‘Enemy’ I found ‘ How goes the enemy? see under HOW ‘ – but there was no such entry there! See here for an explanation

15a

Resist, as Indian state profits start to tumble (2,7)

Generating...

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

GOA (Indian state) + GAINS (profits) + T[umble]

17a

Meeting two holding hands at bar (9)

Generating...

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

E N – two bridge players (holding hands) + COUNTER (bar)

19a

Half-hearted floor cleaner is a misery (5)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Presumably he doesn't mind being sacked at Christmas (5)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Nerveless behaviour, if dragons are flying around (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Gorge or diet: what's in it for northerner? (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Her Nibs used to take a dip here (7)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Convertible frequently held by red light (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Leave wife the means to settle the bill (2,5)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Swap corded cloth with finer material (7)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Spread round a square in town (7)

Generating...

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

MARGE (margarine – spread) round A T (a square)

3d

Some hold refusal to be irritating (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Best route to the attic? (3,6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Before surgery, medic gives some medicine (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Snort gram to get high and use violence (6-3)

flowerflowerflower
7d

12 up, astride a black horse (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (up, in a down clue) of NAIRA (answer to 12ac) round A B (a black)

8d

Race history put together in moving tribute (3-4)

flowerflowerflower
14d

It was not I who made that remark, I agree (3,4,2)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Fixing drink in Scottish island? Good (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Flags regularly seen with emblems (7)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (regularly) of sEeN + SIGNS (emblems)

18d

Close lane, source of confusion for a special occasion (4,3)

Generating...

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

C[onfusion] + ONE-OFF (for a special occasion) – this might be a UK expression: see here

20d

Demonstration, a nuisance, about to go off (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

One on the pull for 22, showing symptom of a cold? (7)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Check for bugs in room: it's a lottery (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Pretended enthusiasm about karate, losing heart (5)

Generating...

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

FAD (enthusiasm) round K[arat]E