Guardian Cryptic #29383

2024-05-15

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Paintbrush demo suffering small setbacks (5,2,3,4)

Generating...

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

anagram/”suffering” of (Paintbrush demo)*

8a

What’s worn by one cycling around? (5)

Generating...

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

anagram/”cycling” of UNIT=”one” plus C (circa, “around”) for the anagram, “cycling” indicates that letters are kept in the same order but with UNI moved after the T

9a

Wimp married woman served with court order (5,3)

Generating...
11a

Budding musician finally on the way up (7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Working in Raith? That’s seemingly nowhere (4,3)

Generating...

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

definition as in ‘to appear from thin air’ meaning to come from nowhere anagram/”Working” of (in Raith)*

13a

Alternative accommodation as house lease is reviewed (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Defends guitarist 13 banned (skinhead) (9)

Generating...

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

definition: as a verb, ‘garrison’ meaning to supply with troops G H ARRISON, minus H for HOTEL (13 across); plus “skinhead” indicating the ‘head’ letter of S-[kin] George Harrison was the guitarist in the Beatles

17a

Two gulls and another bird (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

What’s happened to American food? (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Drawing close to Hyderabad, Indian city I’m touring (7)

Generating...

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

closing letter to [Hyderaba]-D, plus I’M touring around AGRA=”Indian city”

23a

Trouble poking nurse’s rear (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Bud’s gone with setter in temper (8)

flowerflowerflower
26a

It’s comparatively straight before turn later (5)

Generating...

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

definition: “later” as in ‘[see you] later’ A DIE, plus U as in a U-turn “comparatively straight” is a reference to the phrase ‘as straight as A DIE’ where something is compared to a die

27a

Man hanged as result of those seeking privacy? (5,3,6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Fancy woman’s mustard, you might say (3,2,3,4)

Generating...

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

definition: ‘fancy woman’ is slang for a mistress mustard can also be described as a bit on the side of a meal/dish

2d

Lacking money in country (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

De Gaulle’s shocked expression because both sides are wrong (5,4)

Generating...

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

definition: a French exclamation of shock anagram/”wrong” of (because L R)*, with L and R as “both sides”, left and right

4d

How to identify a police horse outside (4,3)

Generating...

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

A (from surface) + MET (Metropolitan police); with NAG=”horse” outside

5d

I’ve got you different terms (he does have a lot of cheek) (7)

Generating...

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

HA=exclamation of triumph=”I’ve got you”, plus anagram/”different” of (terms)*

6d

Political sage? (5)

Generating...

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

definition: a rishi is a Hindu sage also a reference to Rishi Sunak the UK Prime Minister

7d

Moola stuffed in passage exit? That’s irregular (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/”stuffed” of (Moola)*, in ANUS=”passage exit”

10d

Bend over stream after large amount of drink, then come to grief spectacularly (5,3,4)

Generating...

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

ARC=”Bend” reversed/”over”, plus BURN=”stream” after SHAND-[y]=”large amount of drink”

14d

In hand, most impressive (3,6)

Generating...

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

“In hand” because a “hand” is a term for a bunch of bananas

16d

Present talk about climber said to be off the record (2,7)

Generating...

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

IN=in attendance=”Present” + PRATE=”talk” + I V=letters pronounced as ‘ivy’ = “climber said to be”

18d

Deputy with president in capital (7)

Generating...

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

definition: capital city of Uganda KAMALA Harris [wiki] the US vice president; with P (president) added inside/”in”

19d

Bird goes round picking up drugs and used rubber (7)

Generating...

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

definition: a RETREAD is an old/”used” car tyre, which will be made of “rubber” DARTER=[type of] “Bird”, reversed/”goes around”; with E (ecstasy, “drugs”) picked up inside

22d

Feel bad about 50’s king and queen? (5)

Generating...

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

RUE=”Feel bad”, around/”about” L=”50″ in Roman numeral; plus R (Rex, “king”)

24d

Woman’s correct over husband (5)

flowerflowerflower