Guardian Cryptic #29273

2024-01-08

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Pair observed in theatre favoured massage of Austrian musician? (6,6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Extra bill passed, one withdrawn (5)

Generating...

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

AD (bill) + DE[a]D (passed) minus a (one)

10a

Small wave tapped in source of water (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Very small house, Oxford home? (7)

Generating...

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

Play on Oxford being a type of shoe – here’s an example of a shoebox home

12a
18a

What criminal might do with key before door's opening - might that prove lucky? (7,4)

Generating...
13a

Youth appearing 18 down, less so in DJ? (6,4)

flowerflowerflower
15a

A bird busy as a bee? (2,2)

Generating...

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

A TIT (a bird)

18a

See 12

19a

Manually-operated toy hit with tool (4,6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Frank in striker's role? (2,5)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Something for a Yorkshireman opening for Spooner? (4,3)

Generating...

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

Spooner’s CAT FLAP (opening) – we haven’t seen this commenter for a while, I think

25a

Rely on family for supply of claret? (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Scent old motor manufacturer has lifted bonnet? (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Grant including a loan chased by auditor for specific period (8,4)

Generating...

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

CARY (Grant) round A LEND (a loan) + EAR (auditor)

Down

1d

Familiar voice replied initially: "farewell Jack" (5,4)

Generating...

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

R[eplied] + ADIOS (farewell) + TAR (Jack)

2d

Kick in the teeth, or punch further down? (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Kent area, looking north: the other county (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (looking north, in a down clue) of S[outh] E[ast] (Kent area) + SEX (the other)

4d

Car's kit shifted, first say switched up? (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Old road and river dropping? (6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Author of manifesto, I learned, doing a U-turn (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Even though deeper than US state, it's a group of mountains (6)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Torrid, Spooner's corruption of the mind? (3-3)

Generating...

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

Spooner’s ‘head rot’ (corruption of the mind) – two Spoonerisms in one puzzle is one too many for me

14d
20d

Worker in spotty shirt mistaken for secretary (9,6)

Generating...
16d

Greatest striker, marker after shirt, say? (3,6)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Smoker deciphering formulae (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (deciphering) of FORMULAE – a new word for me: a hole emitting gases from a volcano

18d

Porky and fishy? (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

See 14

21d
24d

Ladies' man loafed about during game (6-5)

Generating...
23d

Vegetation left that's fenced off by councils (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

See 21