Guardian Cryptic #29211

2023-10-26

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Across

8a

Looking after Barnet Hospital, show anxiety (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Ferret and small marsupial let out to lunch (6)

Generating...

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

definition: to rootle is to rummage around or "Ferret" ROO (short for kangaroo, "small marsupial") + anagram of (let)* anagram indicator is "out to lunch", slang for 'slightly crazy'

10a

If so, loser becomes poser, in a manner of speaking (4)

Generating...

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

L -oser becomes P -oser, if L IS P

11a

Thus entering wood, Picaroon moving clumsily (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

English firm receiving tax returns in standard interval (6)

Generating...

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

E (English) + CO (company, "firm"), both around VAT (value added tax); and all reverse/"returns"

14a

Travelling Martian bearing right in vessel (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"Travelling" of (Martian)*, around R (right)

15a

Pair of old ladies maintaining this compiler stinks! (7)

Generating...

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

definition: "stinks" as a plural, more than one thing that stinks a pair of MAS="old ladies", around I="this compiler"

17a

When spotted, thong is tight (2,5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Roundabout in Rome's outskirts? Charge around it (8)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Argos supply entertaining new donatable items (6)

Generating...

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

anagram of (Argos)*, around N (new) "supply" as anagram indicator as in 'supple'

23a

All those present when the news is broadcast party (10)

flowerflowerflower
24a
2d

Daughter's scrubbed wild bird's cage? (4)

Generating...

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

anagram/"wild" of (bird's)*, with the d for "Daughter" removed/scrubbed

25a

Disreputable, heartless lowlife admitting this is agony (6)

Generating...

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

L-owlif-E heartless without its inside letters; around OUCH="this is agony"

26a

Wrongly label item, with list in shambles (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"in shambles" of (item list)*

Down

1d

Street musician's song from West Side Story character (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

See 24

3d

Don't pass on coat of lace fabric that's ribbed (6)

Generating...

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

definition: a type of cloth fabric that is ribbed FAIL="Don't pass" + outer letters (coat) of L-ac-E

4d

Spy that thing in rotten tree? You might spy this thing in rotten tree (7)

Generating...

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

M=codename of a "Spy" in James Bond [wiki] + IT="that thing;" all inside anagram/"rotten" of (tree)*

5d

Supplier of beef and chips popular around America (8)

Generating...

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

definition: a breed of cow i.e. a source of beef FRIES="chips" + IN="popular" around A (America)

6d

Patient guy's making a career in work practice (shown in pairs of across answers here) (3-7)

Generating...

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

JOB'S="Patient guy's" + HARING=speeding around=careering="making a career" Job was tested by God in the Bible [wiki]

7d

Engineering manual for student once (6)

Generating...

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

anagram/"Engineering" of (manual)*

13d

Laying off flipping idiot involved in non-23 (10)

Generating...

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

for definition e.g. 'to lay off the sauce' meaning to give up drinking reversal/"flipping" of NIT="idiot"; inside ABSENCE=non- ATTENDANCE (using solution to 23ac)

16d

A dieter regularly visiting capital city up north (8)

Generating...

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

A (from surface); plus regular letters from D -i- E -t- E -r inside BERN="capital" of Switzerland

18d

Possible reason for booking manual worker before party (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

I never did insist on emerald rings (5,2)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Fancy a round, stopping out (6)

Generating...

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

definition: "Fancy" as a noun for a thought or idea O="round" letter; inside/"stopping" NOT IN="out"

22d

Threatening words worried lessee? There's nothing odd in that (2,4)

Generating...

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

w- O -r- R -i- E -d L -e- S -s- E -e, without any of the "odd" letters

24d

Bit of a shower head in receptacle in a rubbish dump (8)

Generating...