Guardian Cryptic #29235

2023-11-23

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Across

1a

Spooner's glimpse behind Spooner's obscuration? (3-6)

Generating...

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

Not a great fan of Spoonerisms and I can’t really make this one out – see (glimpse) pooper? (not a great start) Please see comments 3-6.

6a

Charming thing replacing British leader in PM once with leader in multimillionaire (4)

Generating...

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

[b]OJO (nickname for Boris Johnson, (PM once) with the B (British ‘leader’) replaced with M[ultimillionaire]

8a

Almost nothing that is absorbing moisture, initially, drying mixture (4,4)

Generating...

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

SOD AL[l] (almost nothing) + IE (that is) round M[oisture]

9a

A jacket shortened, very hot? (6)

Generating...

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

A BLAZE[r] (jacket)

10a

Dogspaniel? (6)

Generating...

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

Collins – ‘poodle: a person who is servile’; ‘spaniel: a person who is obsequiously devoted’

11a

Grating a third of cheese, why put on loose fragments? (8)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Small red and white rats (6)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Good long periods after horse vaults (8)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Mixture, potato served to Mennonites, but no starter? (8)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Additional pair of letters for dictator? (6)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Where porridge tasted by European, but not an egg, say (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Left-leaning lefty, minister in speech (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (left-leaning) of LAB[our] (lefty) + REV (minister)

24a

Fireplace, something cold or warm, then hot (6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Still figures increase joining factory (8)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Rock star bedding very old model (4)

Generating...

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

SUN (star) round T (very old model)

27a

Figure in biblical text inspired by head, powerful leader (9)

Generating...

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

TEN (figure) in OT (Old Testament – biblical text) all in PATE (head)

Down

1d

Image, digital fake by the sound of it? (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Drop a girdle over (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Green OBE? (5)

Generating...

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

O LIVE (be)

4d

Firstly, eagle drops after cuckoo leaps over the moon (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (cuckoo) of LEAPS + initial letters of Eagle Drops

5d

Tidy lower field (9)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Cross-country race? (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Nonsense passes as expression of glee (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Article in cereal, something to eat (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Shuttle breaks with it (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Ace of diamonds? (4,3)

Generating...

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

A score made in baseball, which is played on a diamond

18d

One's idiotic hum? (7)

Generating...

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

half of HUM[our] (wit) – I think

20d

Corrupt board after business in Spanish city (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Very repetitive climax in Jimi Hendrix tune then, 'Foxy Lady' (5)

Generating...

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

V (very) + last letters (climax) of [jim]I [hendri]X [tun]E [the]N  – a clever clue

23d

Joint investment in bank ledger (5)

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