Guardian Cryptic #29212

2023-10-27

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Across

8a

Test one conservative holding back effort diversifying unions (8)

Generating...

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

EXAM (test) + I (one) C (Conservative) round a reversal (holding back) of GO (effort)

9a

Shakespearean villain trapping maiden for mature monarch, say (5)

Generating...

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

IAGO (villain in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’) round M (maiden – cricket) for the mature stage of a monarch butterfly, for instance (say)

10a

Isolated high point providing some satisfaction, but only some (4)

flowerflowerflower
11a

A low place for bargaining is producing indignities (10)

Generating...

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

A BASEMENT (place for bargaining – ‘bargain basement’) + (‘)S (is)

12a

Rubbish that queen may have to bear (6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Run in without importance in attractive fashion (8)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Condemned left-winger embracing what's wrong (7)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Take to house from food store very shortly (7)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Guided a returning assistant in state capital (8)

Generating...

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

A reversal (returning) of LED A (guided a) + AIDE (assistant)

22a

Made call that's failed without a line (6)

Generating...

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

DIED (failed) round A L (a line) – I winced at the spelling then realised, later, that it was essential for the theme

23a

Person whose job is summarising a short book or penning small treatise (10)

Generating...

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

A B(short book) + OR, from the clue, round S (small) TRACT (treatise)

24a

Creative efforts are raising the stakes, first of all (4)

Generating...

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

Initial letters (first of all) of Are Raising The Stakes

25a

Perhaps Indian Mutiny's leader imprisoned in end (5)

Generating...

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

M[utiny] in TAIL (end) – a neat ‘lift and separate’

26a

Reaching crescendo without middle C, like Four Seasons' variations (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Push through deep exit frenetically (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Site of mausoleum consumed in conflagration (4)

Generating...

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

Contained in conflAGRAtion – reference to the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum built for his wife by Shah Jahan

3d

Damage politician in one broadcast (6)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Disorganised nonsense in note (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Is interrupting the speaker about repeated plea for mercy (8)

Generating...

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

IS in ME (the speaker) + RE RE (about, repeated) – Latin for ‘have mercy’, repeated often in the liturgy; it’s a lovely word to say or sing, as my choir will be doing often in our ‘Gloria’-themed concert next month

6d

Piano then fiddle I learnt as composer (10)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Accommodation that subsumes second accommodation (6)

Generating...

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

HOTEL (accommodation) round S (second)

13d

Blue Danube is in this outinghired Brendan in two cases (6,4)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Twice daily event for island set up, open to change (8)

Generating...

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

A reversal (set up, in a down clue) of TIDE (twice daily event) + ELBA (island) Edit: or better, as KVa @3 suggests, ‘Twice daily event for island’ = ELBA TIDE

18d

Kind of blue, counterpart of shocking pink? (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Supply again includes assorted parts for rockets (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (includes assorted parts) of ROCKETS

21d

Be upset when trapped by girlfriend in argument (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (upset) of BE in DATE (girlfriend)

22d

Scrambled draw at homehe considered selection, naturally (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

It's said to accompany a will from home (4)

Generating...

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

A WAY (as in ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’)