Guardian Cryptic #29339

2024-03-25

Solve on Guardian →

Across

7a

Government department taking soldiers to meeting-place (7)

flowerflowerflower
8a

From the start, roubles usable all round here (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

A medic’s a prophet (4)

Generating...

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

definition: an Old Testament prophet A (from surface) + MO’S (medical officer’s, “medic’s”)

10a

Easy situation of a criminal catching disease (9)

Generating...

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

A (from surface), plus FENCE=dealer in stolen goods=”criminal” around FLU=”disease”

12a

One ridden may be brought to shore (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Pessimistic, say, in local (8)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Greedy Biblical king losing his head (4)

Generating...

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

[D]-AVID is the “Biblical king”, losing the first letter/”head”

16a

It’s for you once to enter (5)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Yob in school finally excluded (4)

Generating...

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

final letter of [schoo]-L, plus OUT=”excluded”

18a

Cabbage or turnip as carbs? I must need correcting (8)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Grab bottle to offer head of house (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Exclusive vote that may be taken between the reds (9)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Right at the back in small ferry (4)

flowerflowerflower
24a

The reverse of support? (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Motivation of troublemaker at university, a London one (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

A broad smile from Ray (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Relaxedidle? Sure (8)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Clergyman is to organise an exhibition (6)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Stupidly begrudge person fixing some code (8)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Turning up, keep complaining over trap for seabird (6)

Generating...

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

reversal/”turning up” of NAG=”keep complaining”; plus net=”trap”

6d

Project to end in multiple sacking, potentially (4)

Generating...

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

definition: a fibre that can be used to make fabric for e.g. sacks JUT=”Project”, plus “end” letter of [multipl]-E

11d

Amusing (and not peculiar) (5,2-2)

Generating...

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

reference to the phrase ‘funny ha-ha, not funny peculiar’

12d

Hesitate: it’s hard to be positive (5)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Boast by very close relative (5)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Female gambling or gambolling? (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Poisonous tree left active? Set fire to ‘em, I say (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Son has no trousers (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Looking very embarrassed, being licked by tongues? (6)

Generating...

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

someone can be aflame with emotion or embarrassment; or aflame as in licked by tongues of fire

21d

Show off black cloth (4)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Don’t eat so quickly (4)

flowerflowerflower