Guardian Cryptic #29618

2025-02-14

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Across

1a

So, taxis on rank outside pub; one sounding horn (11)

Generating...
9a

Being in America fancy that new motor, retiring earlier (7)

Generating...

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

[ COO!(like “fancy that!”, an exclamation of surprise) + N(abbrev. for “new”) ] placed after ( … earlier ) reversal of ( …, retiring ) CAR(informally called a “motor”). Defn: Creature/….

10a

Swear whenever irritable drinking (7)

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11a

They order madras, not when drunk (9)

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12a

Heavy metal fan to leave gathering on bike at front (5)

Generating...

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

GO(to leave/depart) containing ( gathering ) [ RE(with reference to/on) + 1st letter of ( … at front ) “ bike ” ]. Defn: …/a youth favouring heavy metal or punk rock music.

13a

Bend ruler with no metres on (4)

Generating...

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

“monarch”(ruler, say, a king or queen) minus ( with no ) [ “m”(abbrev. for “metres”, units of distance) + “ on ” ].

14a

This has chromatic scales for harpist to play (6-4)

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16a

They’re in fast car describing rubbish acceleration (10)

Generating...

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

GTI(abbrev. for “Grand Tourer Injection” from “Gran Turismo Iniezione”, denoting a high performance /fast car with a fuel-injection engine) containing ( describing ) [ LITTER(rubbish left lying in an open or public place) + A(symbol for “acceleration” in physics) ]. Defn: …/they are members of the fashionable set.

19a

Men in jazz show (4)

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20a

Ring true legend, ultimately getting into a party (3,2)

Generating...

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

Last letter of ( …, ultimately ) “ legend ” contained in ( getting into ) [ A + DUP(abbrev. for the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland) ]. Defn: …/make sense.

21a

Old record label into rock’s musical intervals (9)

Generating...

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

EMI(old/former British record label, since taken over by Universal Music) contained in ( into ) STONE(a small piece of rock) ’S .

23a

Hold swingers at either side to screw (7)

Generating...

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

1st or last letter of ( … at either side ) “ swingers ” + TO + WAGE(an amount of salary/screw).

24a

Hopeful? Initially getting off painkillers (7)

Generating...

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

“aspiring”(hopeful/ambitious) minus 1st letter of ( Initially … off ) “ getting ”.

25a

Arrange band in part of theatre (5,6)

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Down

1d

Support minor criminal in old age? (6,9)

Generating...
2d

People in south taken in by foolish hoax (5)

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3d

First woman occasionally read letters for Post Office on top (7)

Generating...

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

1st and 3rd letters of ( occasionally ) “ read ” placed below ( … on top , in a down clue) [ P AND O ](or PO, letters/abbrev. for “Post Office”]. Defn: … who was created, according to Greek mythology.

4d

Slower operator holding up old phone company (7)

Generating...

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

USER(operator of a machine or equipment) placed below ( holding up , in a down clue) [ O(abbrev. for “old”) + BT(abbrev./popular name for British Telecom, a phone company). Defn: …/descriptive of one who is less intelligent/dimmer.

5d

Wearing spectacles to show wisdom (8)

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6d

Regularly told migraine affected face: it’s connected with facial muscles (10,5)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … affected ) [ 1st and 3rd letters of ( Regularly ) “ told ” + MIGRAINE ] + NERVE(boldness or, informally, face). Defn: One of a pair of nerves that stimulate the facial muscles that result in biting and chewing. The clue is missing an apostrophe?

7d

Seeing caramel in order for custard (5,8)

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8d

Guessing John, finally is eighty: posh spread? (13)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … spread ) [ last letter of ( …, finally ) “ John ” + IS EIGHTY: POSH ].

15d

Break crockery over on side (8)

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17d

Romeo escorts dashing people (7)

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18d

Part of victim panic-stricken: they’re beaten with sticks (7)

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22d

Item for discussion along with image (5)

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