Guardian Cryptic #29544

2024-11-19

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

First of all the Apple store knows Steve Jobs (5)

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4a

Non-magical type in school Dumbledore initially ran (8)

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8a

Wild cat didn’t start to eat mouse oddly (14)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘oddly’) of ‘cat didnt’ plus E (‘start to E at’) plus ‘mouse’. All kinds of subterfuges to mislead the unwary (would-be) solver.

10a
11a

Eyes plastered with gooey mascara as artist hides nonchalant attitude (4,4,4,2)

Generating...
11a

See 10

12a

Cause of confusion in second donkey race (5,4)

Generating...

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

A charade of S (‘second’) plus MOKE (‘donkey’) plus BOMB (‘race’ as to move at high speed).

15a

Occasionally plump for Tangogoing back for refill (3,2)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘going back’) of PUPO, alternate letters (‘occasionally’) of ‘ P l U m P f O r’) plus T (Nato alphabet, ‘Tango’).

17a

Maiden I see after regularly visiting guest house, for example (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of M (‘maiden’, an abbreviation used in cricket) plus US (‘regularly visiting g U e S t’) plus ‘I’ plus C (‘see’ as the letter), with ‘after’ indicating the order of the particles.

18a

Evan Davis extremely relaxed starting Radio 4 show (5,4)

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19a
21a

Vacuous boy getting into briefs slowly (6,2,6)

Generating...
21a

See 19

24a

Witch’s cat maybe understood real meaning (8,6)

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25a

Sign of distress as Predator’s broadcast (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘broadcast’) of ‘predator’.

26a

Supermarket converting a lake into huge outdoor pools (5)

Generating...

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

LIDL (‘supermarket’) with the final L replaces by OS (‘converting a lake into huge’).

Down

1d

General effect of solicitor seen working with Mel B (4,8)

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2d

Perhaps Powerpoint presentations left out incidental activities (9)

Generating...

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

A subtraction: S[l]IDE SHOWS (‘perhaps Powerpoint presentations’) minus the L (‘left out’).

3d

Spice American’s looking up on computer? (5)

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4d

Fed by geisha every now and thentucking into ground stir-fry ingredient? (6,3)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘tucking into’) of ESA (‘g E i S h A every now and then’) plus (‘by’ indicating the order of the particles) ME (‘Fed’) in SOIL (‘ground’).

5d

One can opener to use in retirement (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘in retirement’) of TIN (‘can’) plus U (‘opener to U se’).

6d

Bond somehow assures agents SPECTRE’s leader never appears (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘somehow’) of ‘a[ss]ure[s] agent[s]’ minus every S (‘ S pectre’s leader never appears’).

7d

Recalling my entertaining line on ultimately very sad song (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of ELEG, a reversal (‘recalling’) of an envelope (‘entertaining’) of L (‘line’) in GEE (‘my!’); plus Y (‘ultimately verY ‘).

9d

Sound dressing is used to bandage soldiers (6,6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to bandage’) of MEN (‘soldiers’) in COMPOST (‘dressing’) plus ‘is’.

13d

Supply Rolexesprices essentially will be higher still (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘supply’ – adverb from supple) of ‘rolexes’ plus IC (‘pr IC es essentially’). The Latin motto of New York State (and currently appearing on its new car licence plates), and (probably hence) the title of one of the more ridiculous poems, by Longfellow (“The shades of night were falling fast”…).

14d

Do jeer British over practical joke (5,4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘over’) pf PARTY (‘do’) plus BOO (‘jeer’) plus B (‘British’).

16d

Burst of powercritical moment when striking Jack Dempsey’s head (9)

Generating...

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

A charade of P (‘power’) plus [j]UNCTURE (‘critical moment’) minus the J (‘when striking Jack’) plus D (‘ D empsey’s head’).

20d

Find live cartridge shells on the counter (5)

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22d

Force politician that is Liberal to comprehend (5)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to comprehend’) of MP (‘politician’) in I.E. (‘that is’) plus L (‘Liberal’).

23d

Trailblazer losing one’s support (4)

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