Guardian Cryptic #29596

2025-01-20

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Across

8a

Crumbling bone found in barrow (8)

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9a

Bombast of husband provoked a riot (3,3)

Generating...

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

A charade of H (‘husband’) plus OTAIR, an anagram (‘provoked’) of ‘a riot’.

10a

Some assume owls sound like cats (4)

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11a

Grasp twisted hempen cord (10)

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12a

Wish father to follow leads of distinguished elite (6)

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14a

Caution ex-PM, cycling on motorway in front of Tesla (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of MI (i.e. M1, ‘motorway’) plus STRUS, which is TRUSS (Liz, ‘ex-PM’ If you blinked, you may have missed her) ‘cycling’ plus T (‘Tesla’, unit of magnetic flux density). “Treat any Special Offer on the internet with caution. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”

15a

Head of Anatomy Department eviscerated lamprey with skill (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of A (‘head of A natomy’) plus DEPT (‘department’) plus FY (‘eviscerated L ampre Y ‘).

17a

Singing and strip poker after strong drink knocked back (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of KARA, a reversal (‘knocked back’) of ARAK (an anise-flavoured spirit, ‘strong drink’); plus'[p]oke[r]’ minus its outer letters (‘strip’ as an imperative)

20a

Rubber blanket reused interminably (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of MASS (‘blanket’ as in “blanket pardon”) plus ‘[r]euse[d]’ minus its outer letters (‘interminably’).

22a

Poet in squalid room without alcohol (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Result of shaving beard off a furry animal (10)

Generating...

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

A charade of CHIN CHILL (‘result of shaving beard off’) plus ‘a’.

24a

Retrospective benefit for apprentice (4)

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25a

Bears almost killed badger (6)

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26a

Dismantled esoteric cabals (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘dismantled’) of ‘esoteric’.

Down

1d

Idiot born with a certain effervescence (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of B (‘born’) plus ONE (‘a certain’) plus HEAD (‘effervescence’).

2d

Struggle with belief (4)

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3d

Strength of mollusc escaping trap (6)

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4d

European lady taking mum’s pulse (7)

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5d

Allure of pharmacist dancing naked (8)

Generating...

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

An amagram (‘dancing’) of ‘[p]harmacis[t]’ minus its outer letters (‘naked’).

6d

Ignoring pressure, Pat Cash prepared for action (2,3,5)

Generating...

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

A charade of ‘[P]at’ minus the P (‘ignoring pressure’) plus THE READY (‘cash’).

7d

Aims to support motor racing addicts (6)

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13d

Filling one’s head with nonsense and mischief (10)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘filling … with’) of PISH (‘nonsense’ as an interjection) in I’M (‘one’s’ – that is, one is) plus NESS (‘head’).

16d

Hilarity left child with face flushed (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of L (‘left’) plus [d]AUGHTER (‘child’) minus the first letter (‘with face flushed’).

18d

Hearing vital flame is faint (4,4)

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19d

Gentle, quivering embraces start to compensate for inattention (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (’embraces’) of C (‘start to C ompensate’) in NEGLET, an anagram (‘quivering’) of ‘gentle’.

21d

Retreat in silence, following alpha male on farm (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of A (‘alpha’) plus SH (‘silence’ as an interjection’) plus RAM (‘male on farm’).

22d

Want touch of romance in the end (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘in’) of R (‘touch of R omance’) in DEATH (‘the end’).

24d

Emperor amid Eddystone Rocks (4)

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