Guardian Cryptic #29622

2025-02-19

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Across

1a

Less able to observe an outstanding performance (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Criticize the drink in French, causing stir (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

A threesome that would control your life? (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Moderate version of Delft soap (4-5)

Generating...

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

definition: "Moderate" as a verb meaning 'tone down', diminish' anagram/"version" of (Delft soap)*

11a

Isolation ruins Italy’s cooking (10)

Generating...

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

anagram/"cooking" of (ruins Italy)*

12a

Western power accepts one’s a weak type (4)

Generating...

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

W (Western) + P (power); both around/accepting I'M='I am'='one is'="one's"

14a

Deacon’s lot is somehow sad (12)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Intimidation of Chief of Staff by Prudence on manoeuvres (5,7)

Generating...

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

the "Chief" or first letter of S-[taff] + CARE="Prudence" + TACTICS="manoeuvres"

21a

See 23 Down

22a

Unstable, so disillusioned with Equity (3,7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Biblical wife breaking the Sabbath? Not at first (9)

Generating...

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

definition: wife of King David in the Bible [wiki] anagram/"breaking" of ([t]-he Sabbath)*, without the "first" of the letters for the anagram fodder

26a

Mature mount (3,2)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Narrow arachnid squeezes into cap (7)

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28a

Where there might be a range of gear, hence endless changes (7)

Generating...

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

definition refers to a "range" as in a kitchen cooker/oven KIT="gear" plus anagram/"changes" of (henc-[e])* without its end letter

Down

1d

Research expert Dicky gets stuck into container (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

One question on tax that shows how smart you are? (2,4)

Generating...

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

I="One" + Q (question) + TEST="tax" as a verb

3d

Denial of miracle is revised after departure (10)

Generating...

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

anagram/"revised" of (miracle is)*, after D (departure)

4d

One emerging from the sack found on the stair (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Splayed feetnasty, but a tightrope walker’s requirement? (6,3)

Generating...

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

anagram/"Splayed" of (feet nasty)*

6d

Peaks since holding record (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Song from Ratty, Kit and half a countertenor (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Slipped back (rush to guzzle drinks) (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Handy illumination if right cloth is spread (10)

Generating...

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

for the definition, "Handy" meaning 'held in the hand' anagram/"spread" of (right cloth)*

15d

Michael Caine’s part in raw fuel source (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

‘City Lives’ by Brown & Bigness (not King) (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Information? Ring corporation’s multitasking employee (8)

Generating...

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

FACT="Information" + O=circle="Ring" + TUM=belly="corporation"

19d

Kidnap head of state? Certainly (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

News during Christmas about former famous group member (6)

Generating...

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

definition: John Lennon of the Beatles N (new) + N (new) are "New-s", inside NOEL="Christmas" reversed/"about"

23d
21a

Bad spelling etc creates shortage in London hospital (5,4)

Generating...
24d

A word in your ear: not all chaps stink! (4)

flowerflowerflower