Guardian Cryptic #29254

2023-12-15

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a
12a

Vlad must cut inSpooner's call-girl makes proposal to the gullible (1,4,1,6,2,4,3)

Generating...
8a

Mike's spoken message (5)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Not much money in bank lately (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Always first to get into bar ... which might explain this (4,3)

Generating...

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

E’ER + G[et] in BUT (bar,as in “all bar/but one”)

12a

See 1

13a

Ultimately confusing toilets without identifying symbols (5)

Generating...

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

[confusin]G in LOOS

15a

Board and lodging for priest in the Underworld (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Like daughters, speaks about youth (5,4)

Generating...

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

A LA (like) D D in SAYS – meaning one’s youth, from Antony and Cleopatra : “My salad days, When I was green in judgment”

20a

Bird nightly entertains returning primate (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Fleming returned with Gallico and another author (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Boring, rubbish kind of humour (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Hello! Are police back probing who sent this? (4,4)

Generating...

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

A (are, unit of area) + reverse of MET (Metropolitan Police) in HAIL

26a

Rita's broken bones (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Farce! Set right Truss's mismanagementit's likely to be painful (6,8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of FARCE SET R TRUSS

Down

1d

Crippling one motorway, I tell the police, is about oil giant (12)

Generating...

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

MOBIL (oil company) in 1 M + I SING (I tell the police about a crime)

2d

Correspond with a nameless politician (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Pop Idol segue highly praised (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Told off sleeping judge? (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Sort of ironic about Stimpy's original canine companion (7)

Generating...

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

S[timpy] in IRONIC* – the incisors are next to, so companions of, the canine teeth

6d

Cheeky angel representation (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Unlikely end to Tory do, ehCleverly shouted at Hunt (9)

Generating...

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

TALL (unlikely, as in a tall story) + [tor]Y + anagram (“cleverly”) of DO EH

10d

Perhaps why issue's raised in political show (8,4)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Having lost tablets, unfortunately, late leaving for jaunt (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of LATE LEAVING less two Es (Ecstasy tablets)

16d

Caught taking type of acidI'm involved bringing about resolution (9)

Generating...

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

C + I’M in LACTIC

18d

Listening intentlydebt's twice changed hands (3,4)

Generating...

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

ARREARS with the first two Rs changed to L

19d

Sister about to confuse worker in leather (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Singer and presenter Richard getting naked (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Hidden diamonds in country ( 5)

flowerflowerflower