Guardian Cryptic #29640

2025-03-12

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Transfer over a million pounds at first for 17/6 (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘over’) of ‘a’ plus M (‘million’) plus P (‘ P ounds at first’) in VIRE (verb, ‘transfer’ – funds, to where they are more needed, or to erase a debit).

5a

Last lines of sonnet recalled trapping end of penis in flies (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘trapping’) of S (the first in the answer, ‘end of peni S ‘) in TETSES, a reversal (‘recalled’) of SESTET, the second half, six lines, of an Italian ‘sonnet’, following an octave, eight lines. Shades of There’s Something about Mary – well, too close for comfort.

10a

Bonkers attempt to make a comeback (4)

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11a

Marx brothers finally check out star of 19 (3,7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘out’) of ‘Marx’ plus S (‘brother S finally’) plus ‘check’, for the star, not of the 2024 film, but the 1922 film directed by F W Murnau (full title Nosferatu: a Symphony of Horror – or in the original German Nosftratu – Eine Symphonie des Grauens , but often referred to just as Nosferatu ).

12a

Bird mum keeps at home (4)

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13a

Are Converse stocked by dispenser of style at Covent Garden? (8)

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14a

English footballers entertained by Rolling Stone’s version of Don’t Stop Believin’ (4,5)

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16a

Digger regularly on motorway is a nuisance in Scotland (5)

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17a

Kids swapping sides to make descent (5)

Generating...

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

B[r]OOD (‘kids’) with the R replaced by L (right by left, ‘swapping sides’)

19a

17/6 for Austen novel (9)

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23a

Hack maybe with Times tucking into top-notch biscuits (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘tucking into’) of MARE (‘hack maybe’ – not all horses are hacks, and not all are mares) plus (‘with’) TT (‘times’) in AI (given the recent attempt, reported here, to use AI to solve a crossword clue, probably not Artificial Intelligence, but A1, ‘top notch’)

24a

Walker is one with no answer for parasites (4)

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25a

Republican heavyweight following game show on Netflix (10)

Generating...

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

A charade of BRIDGE (‘game’) plus R (‘Republican’) plus TON (‘heavyweight’).

26a

Slice from return of Kyle Edmund is like 18 (4)

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27a

Writer of Lady In Red ultimately inspired by pop duo (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘inspired by’) of NDH (‘lad Y i N re D ultimately’) in WHAM (‘pop duo’), probably for Max Wyndham.

28a

Noel Gallagher on vacation abroad eating hot chicken (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘eating’) of H (‘hot’) in LEGORN, an anagram (‘abroad’) of ‘noel’ plu GR (‘ G allaghe R on vacation’).

Down

2d

Greed of girl going both ways with 1 author (7)

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3d

Dad consuming endless wine and food (5)

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4d

Traveller collecting a stamp in country (7)

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6d

Shoot gull (6)

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7d

Deeper level supporting cast in audition (9)

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8d

Female leaving attractive impression (7)

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9d

Retired people bending over backwards perhaps to expel Tory 17/6s (13)

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15d

Stuck out reminder about pastry’s filling (9)

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18d

Sea creature picked up young victim (7)

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20d

Doctor can feel Banquo’s issue (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘doctor’ as imperative) of ‘can feel’, for Banquo’s son in Macbeth .

21d

Heart is broken by Brockwell’s latest puzzle (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘broken by’) of L (‘Brockwel L ‘s latest’) in TICKER (‘heart’).

22d

Attributes of Gaia, the nature goddess (6)

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24d

Old doctor from General Hospital snorting cocaine (5)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘snorting’) of C (‘cocaine’) in LEE (Robert E, ‘General’) plus H (‘hospital’).