Guardian Cryptic #29204

2023-10-18

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Sort of stop exchanging rook for bishop: what's left for you? (7)

Generating...

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

definition: a bequest is a legacy or inheritance left to someone R EQUEST=”Sort of stop”, exchanging R for B (rook and bishop in chess annotation) a ‘request stop’ is a train station where the train will only stop on request (it will continue past if there is no one coming on or off)

5a

Being on duty, stop light reflecting through airport (7)

Generating...

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

definition: “Being” as in a ‘human being’ who is on duty RED=”stop light” reversed/”reflecting”, inside ORLY=”airport” in Paris

9a

Millions offered in exchange are overwhelming (5)

Generating...

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

definition as in ‘foreign imports swamp [are overwhelming] the domestic market’ M (Millions), inside SWAP=”exchange”

10a

Long to have maiden on rug shortly? Seize the chance! (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Study arousing the body by mutual agreement (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Paid less, content to be shirking (4)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Sounder of body? Keep it firm with pressure, squeezed into tights (11)

Generating...

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

STET=”Keep it”, with: CO (company, “firm”) + P (pressure) both inside HOSE=”tights” stet is an instruction left by a proof-reader that the original wording should be kept

18a

Appear to have cried piteously for so long (11)

Generating...

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

definition: ‘so long!’ meaning something like goodbye ARRIVE=”Appear” + anagram/”piteously” of (cried)*

21a

Eleven? You have two (4)

Generating...

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

wordplay/first definition: ‘legs eleven’ is a bingo call for the number 11

22a

Considers turbulent times a pointer (5-5)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Wasn't that a great fight! Have you forgotten? (4,5)

Generating...

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

definition: e.g. ‘What about us’ or ‘Have you forgotten us?’ ‘what a bout?’ could mean “Wasn’t that a great fight?”

26a

Cathedral men returning to follow the faith? No way (5)

Generating...

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

OR (other ranks, “men”) reversed/”returning”; following TRU-[ st ]=”faith” with no ST (street, “way”)

27a

Dare one to blow up school (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Glass, one taken after mate in one (7)

Generating...

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

definition: opaline as a noun meaning a kind of glass material I=”one” after PAL=”mate”; all inside ONE (from the surface) “taken after” to be read as ‘placed after’

Down

1d

What are essential pens like being gripped? (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

One of several children holds a tango old-fashioned (6)

Generating...

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

QUIN (short for quintuplet, “One of several children”), around A (from surface); then plus T (tango, NATO alphabet)

3d

Mark on score, one very obscured by coffee (10)

Generating...

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

definition: an instruction marked on a musical score I=”one” + V (very); all inside ESPRESSO=”coffee”

4d

Changes course, not a time for assaults (5)

Generating...

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

definition: to tack is to change course on a boat [ at ]-TACKS=”assaults”, without the first letters A T (“a” and “time”)

5d

Petition the family's obese woman (3,6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Act certainly in this (4)

Generating...

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

“certainly” = in + this = IN + DEED = ‘indeed’

7d

Soldiers doing parachuting, a bit of a shower (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Married before, after a month was up daughter sounded off loudly (8)

Generating...

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

M (Married) + ERE=”before”; both after MAY=”month” reversed/”up”; and then D (daughter)

13d

Killer I sidetrack, caught leaving plant (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

One to take to bed, I wondered idly? (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Small letter, more yellowy (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Cricketing medic accepting a test of acceleration (4,4)

Generating...

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

DR GRACE=”Cricketing medic”, around A (from the surface) W.G. Grace [wiki] was one of the greats of cricket, and was qualified as a doctor

19d

Oriental sort of bean these days unknown to British Isles (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

In the cold, abandon trade fair, having seen half (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Fight over old earth (3-2)

flowerflowerflower
24d

I agree, German police not content it's a prank (4)

Generating...

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

JA=”I agree [in] German” + P-[olic]-E without inner letters/contents (“not content”)