Guardian Cryptic #29263

2023-12-27

Solve on Guardian →

Across

8a

Spooner's only visitor died (4,4)

Generating...

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

definition: ‘to go west’ is to die, or to become lost/destroyed Spoonerism of ‘one guest’=”only visitor”

9a

Where copper needs to go to get old-school jazz fan up for relations? (2,4)

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10a

Takes horse say, and climbs rapidly (6,2)

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11a

Develop play oddly following cross into goal (6)

Generating...

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

odd letters from P-[l]-A-[y], following X=”cross”; all inside END=”goal”

12a

Awful Prime Minister is, alas, ultimately missing opposition to growth? (4-11)

Generating...

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

anagram/”Awful” of (Prim-[ e ] Ministe-[ r ] i-[ s ] ala-[ s ])*, edited thanks to Jay in the comments – with the last/ultimate letters of each word removed/missing with the last/ultimate letter of ala s removed/missing

15a
16a

Sailor into the waterwanting a river to get clean (5,5)

Generating...
16a

See 15

20a

Suit pursuing net damages somehow getting result from court (4,3,3,5)

Generating...

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

definition refers to a result on a tennis court MATCH=”Suit”, following anagram/”somehow” of (net damages)*

21a

Using rag as well for ink (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Computer equipment from any other business in recession on main road (8)

Generating...

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

A.O.B. (‘Any Other Business’, in a meeting’s agenda) reversed/”in recession”; after KEY=”main” and followed by RD (road)

25a

Wrong about following number 20's sport (6)

Generating...

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

definition: solution to 20ac is a tennis phrase SIN=”Wrong” reversed/”about”; following after TEN=”number”

26a

Votes against adopting explosive candidates (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Times going after Foreign Office and Chancellorthey're out for blood? (3-4)

Generating...

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

X=”Times” (e.g. 2×3 / two times three); after FO (Foreign Office), and followed by Jeremy HUNT=UK “Chancellor” of the Exchequer

2d

Adjusting one leg a bit on the table (10)

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3d

Fed sons stew (4)

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4d
18d

Scientist's flight-component placed on two birds with clipped wings (7,7)

Generating...
5d

Made during a concert with, say, Robin Williams essentially entering profession (10)

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6d

Boots, maybe Hush Puppies' first with zip set in (4)

Generating...

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

definition: Boots is the name of a chain of pharmacy shops in the UK SH (be quiet, “Hush”) + first letter of P-[uppies]; with O=zero=”zip” inside

7d

Husband joining a navy ship under European control (7)

Generating...

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

H (Husband) + A (from surface) + RN (Royal Navy); plus SS (steam ship) after E (European)

13d

Relocate to protect independent American cinema (5,5)

Generating...

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

MOVE HOUSE=”Relocate” around I (independent)

14d

Make merry as poet gets a drink for everyone in shed (4,6)

Generating...

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

[Philip] LARK IN =”poet” + A ROUND=”a drink for everyone”; with “ in shed” i.e. the letters IN removed

17d

Wall Street's conclusion after forging a paper (7)

Generating...

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

final letter/”conclusion” of [Stree]-T; after anagram/”forging” of (a paper)*

18d

See 4

19d

Escape in sports car perhaps (7)

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22d

Play securing new award (4)

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24d

Politician supporting closures from January to March (4)

Generating...

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

definition: a UK term for a march (e.g. done by a soldier) MP (Member of Parliament, “Politician”) after closing letters to [Januar]-Y [t]-O