Guardian Cryptic #29228

2023-11-15

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Across

7a

Second half of Mozart's organ composition is imperious (8)

Generating...
9a

Meghan's opening Spare for old lady (6)

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10a

Grey area's shrinking (4)

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11a

Sculpture of T'ang empire is steep (10)

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12a

Jumper cleared ditch in Irish festival (6)

Generating...
14a

Rat Scabies finally backing metal singer (8)

Generating...

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

[scabie]S + a reversal (backing) of TIN (metal) + CHER (Crosswordland’s favourite singer – with a  clever ‘lift and separate’ of another singer at the beginning to provide the ‘singer’ in the definition): one of my two top favourite clues I’d like to highlight NIT but that would be stretching it, I think!

15a

Spiteful wife's like a viper? (7)

Generating...
17a

Revolutionary force concerning mardy bum (3,4)

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20a

24ac loos unfortunately out of use (8)

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22a

Moaned audibly after hip locked up (6)

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23a

Players in cocaine blunder before Queen's (10)

Generating...
24a

Speculate about the end of Joe Root (4)

Generating...
25a

This is one party game (6)

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26a

John pinching Nick's lines in chat room (8)

Generating...

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

LOO (john) round CUT (nick) + RY (railway lines) – a room for conversation, particularly in a monastery

Down

1d

Supporter trouble is on the rise for City (8)

Generating...

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

BRA (supporter) + a reversal (on the rise, in a down clue) of AIL (trouble) IS

2d

Angler pulled up unknown fish (4)

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3d

Shower in toilet is hot (6)

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4d

Here, the Marseillaise wins award for muppet (8)

Generating...

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

ICI LE (‘here the’ in French, so ‘Marseillaise’) round MBE (award)

5d

Spooner's old woman skewers seafood (5,5)

Generating...
6d

Car sounding like FAB 1? (6)

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8d

Outspoken Bond intoxicated secretary (6)

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13d

Tackled editor following program on fish (10)

Generating...
16d

Kent lose badly in sporting event (8)

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18d

22dn edges away from Pulp singer (5,3)

Generating...
19d

Bar pulled up about adult show (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (pulled up – again) of LEVER (bar) round A (adult)

21d

Drinker is only just fine for start of evening (6)

Generating...
22d

Vet dropping soft animal (6)

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24d

The Two Ronnies initially leaving soup (4)

Generating...