Guardian Cryptic #29588

2025-01-10

Solve on Guardian →

Across

7a

Relate where Italian author inspired by Hamlet? (7)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Messy home embraced by pig, in a way (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a
23d

Pig in competition to cross terrain? (8)

Generating...
10a
21d

Drink, plonk with fish guzzled by pig (9,4)

Generating...
12a

Fully matured beef, we hear? (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Training one side, I take charge? (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (training) of ONE SIDE I

15a

Laid-back pig makes plans (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (laid-back) of SPAM (pig – see here for how SPAM got its name

16a

Ring-leader almost throttling head of Mafia (5)

Generating...

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

CHIE[f] (leader almost) round M[afia] – a neat ‘lift and separate)

17a

Beef sandwiches right for winger (4)

Generating...

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

COW (beef) round R (right)

18a

A painful delivery? (3,5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Hollow heart in darkish sci-fi warrior (5)

Generating...

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

DALE (hollow – this isn’t in my dictionaries but I found it in several online lists of synonyms) + [dar]K[ish]

21a

Heart flutters, and grass skirts worn (9)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Average corps unavailable? (4)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Where pig rider seen heading for ditch, committed (2,5)

Generating...

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

ON BOAR (where pig rider seen) + D[itch]

25a

Give performance originally in lacy pants (7)

Generating...

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

P[erformance] + an anagram (pants) of IN LACY – neatly hidden definition

Down

1d

Guess a second letter (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Rasher drivers? (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Concert, issue of educational institution? (6)

flowerflowerflower
4d
11d

Husband kids lean on tragically swallowed by pig, completely (4,4,3,6)

Generating...
5d

See fit boxing champions ultimately drawing (6)

Generating...

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

DEIGN (see fit) round (boxing) [champion]S – another neat ‘lift and separate’

6d

Sound of bell or drum curtailed (4)

flowerflowerflower
11d

See 4

12d

Jar opening, finger finally poked in (5)

Generating...

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

[finge]R in GATE (0pening)

14d

Small pig eating hybrid? (5)

flowerflowerflower
16d

County where treasury cut rent (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

9 23 being slaughtered, its days are numbered (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (being slaughtered) of LANDRACE (9 23) – neat definition and use of 9 23

19d

Lighter pig fed last of cabbage (6)

Generating...

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

BACON (pig) round [cabbag]E

20d

Fleece carried out, then ring stolen from charity (6)

Generating...

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

DID (carried out) + D[o]LE (originally, charity) minus o {ring)

21d

See 10 Across

23d

See 9 Across