Guardian Cryptic #29603

2025-01-28

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Check, one related to ear that’s messy (7)

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5a

Lay out clues with a solver’s tip (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of SECUL, an anagram (‘out’) of ‘clues’; plus ‘a’ plus R (‘solve R ‘s tip’).

9a

Light, so aren’t moving in line regularly? (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Current game’s unfinished (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Spam is ‘the works’ for the rest of the crew (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘works’) of ‘spam is the’.

12a

Kidnap missing leader? Certainly (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Anglo-Saxon hairy creature one’s neglected until now (2,3)

flowerflowerflower
15a

City in which a pair takes daily exercise initially (9)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘takes’) of CHAR (‘daily’ – these terms for a cleaning lady have come up frequently in crosswords, but there always seem to be some for whom they are unfamiliar) plus E (‘ E xercise initially’) in BUST (‘a pair’ – does that need an explanation?).

17a

Lying about copper (crooked) raking in millions (9)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘raking in’) of M (‘millions’) in RE (‘about’) plus CU (chemical symbol, ‘copper’) plus BENT (‘crooked’)

19a

Brummie goes on record over animated artificial human (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘over’) of ME (‘Brummie’) plus (‘goes on’) LOG (‘record’), for the being in Jewish folklore.

22a

Sheen appearing at last on Casualty? (5)

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23a

One who belittles journalist reversing vehicle (9)

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25a

Say, Loren’s excited to go inside soon! (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to go inside’) of RELON, an anagram (‘excited”) of ‘Loren’ in E.G. ( exempli gratia , ‘say’).

26a

Union-related joke about ‘turning tail’ (7)

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27a

Reserve cast put by lake (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Admit high speed force used in breaking noses (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of C (‘high speed’ – of light) plus ONFESS, an envelope (‘used in’) of F (‘force’) in ONESS, an anagram (‘breaking’) of ‘noses’.

Down

1d

‘It’s played in confidence’Les Taylor (7)

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2d

Unit involved in some unspecified periodic payment (7)

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3d

Article on empty space unit (5)

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4d

Officer deceives board (9)

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5d

Vicious drugs parties? (5)

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6d

Convicted felons with connections (5,4)

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7d

Ambassador: he commonly is a beneficiary (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of LEGATE (‘ambassador’) plus ‘E (‘he commonly’).

8d

Toothy thing’s liberal chatter (7)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Ben’s motto translated as ‘That’ll be over my dead body!’ (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘translated’) of ‘Ben’s motto’.

16d

Rigid Tom needs a boost (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

‘Get back to your old state!’ gives Republican a way out (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of R (‘Republican’) plus EGRESS (‘a way out’).

18d

Cask-maker’s craft: weaving rope in modest surroundings (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Art arranged in row for convenience (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Game that Greece would like to see making a return? (7)

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23d

Painter’s daughter turned up a shade of green (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of D (‘daughter’) plus EGAS, a reversal (‘turned up’ in a down light) of SAGE (‘a shade of green’). Does anyone admit responsibility for that picture of a green-faced woman? It certainly was not Degas.

24d

It quivers, similar to a swan (5)

flowerflowerflower