Guardian Cryptic #29366

2024-04-25

Solve on Guardian →

Across

9a

French scientist is Spooner’s apprentice, some say (5)

Generating...

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

A rather dodgy spoonerism of “rookie” – but we have the “some say”. The scientist had better be Pierre Curie, as Marie was Polish (though she became a French citizen)

10a

Detest dogs initially peeing next to hospital compound (9)

Generating...

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

P[eeing] + HOSP. + HATE (detest), with “dogs” meaning “follows”

11a

Aged nurse upset those with a bib (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Interesting savoury (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Former England footballer is type absorbed by victories (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Soon I see one entering that’s negative (7)

Generating...

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

I in ANON (soon) I C

17a

Confess that hurts before Sally returns(3,2)

flowerflowerflower
18a

and reviews vital instructions (3)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Team the French finally vanquish, having turned the screw (5)

Generating...

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

Reverse of XI (e.g. football team) + LE (French “the”) + [vanquis]H

22a

They might be curly sides I’ve cut (7)

Generating...

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

I’VE in ENDS

25a

Victoria’s finally amused about being taken for granted (7)

Generating...

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

Anagram of victoria’S + AMUSED

26a

Lower wheel about uniform weight (5)

Generating...

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

Reverse of RE (abot) + U + LB (pound, weight); lower as in “more depressed”, I suppose

27a

Building trust with cure arranged (9)

flowerflowerflower
30a

Marketeers showing enthusiasm to drink beers (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
31a

Credit check ignoring capital is a pain in the neck (5)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Peaceful place lacking bitter (4)

Generating...

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

PLACID less PL

2d

Kite flyer getting plain, short string (8)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Greek character in desperate bargaining set up (4)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Performed Sunday instead of Friday the 2nd: satisfied? (8)

Generating...

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

APPEARED witf [f]R[iday] replaced by S[unday] – one of several uses of this trick

5d

Dance around square in native European republic (6)

Generating...

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

S in POLKA. Polska is the “native” name for Poland

6d

Spies with foreign plot involved have accents (10)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Detective’s assistant with a beginning of tricky issue (6)

Generating...

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

W[ith] A + T[ricky] + SON (issue)

8d

Edward rejected the last of smelly refuse (4)

Generating...

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

Reverse of NED + [smell]Y

13d

Healthy swimmer old for gala’s final (5)

Generating...

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

WHALE (swimmer) with [gal]A replaced by O

14d

Bankrupt rascal past his embarrassment (10)

flowerflowerflower
16d

10 in school instructed from the back (5)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Bad credit with debit card makes these (8)

Generating...

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

BAD CREDIT and DEBIT CARD are (perhaps appropriately) anagrams of each other

21d

Briefly hunting after Long Island cattle (8)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Possible university for Australian twin (6)

Generating...

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

DOABLE (possible) with A replaced by U

24d

Relative turning up, is endlessly demanding (6)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Stand deep in pitch, say (4)

flowerflowerflower
28d

Male that indicates the passing of wind (4)

flowerflowerflower
29d

Deer overturned cask leaking contents (4)

flowerflowerflower