Guardian Cryptic #29656

2025-03-31

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Across

1a

Justice created hold-up in charity (7)

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5a

Cider’s a novel form of cocktail (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Bundle ambassador into almost secure housing (5)

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10a

Found her a way out that’s without precedent (7,2)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘way out’) of ‘found her a’.

11a

Live with stroke that’s happened earlier? (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Reportedly vote against revealing wife’s former title (3)

Generating...
14a

I assure you, I don’t want it (4,2,4,2)

Generating...

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

Definition and literal interpretation (although the latter is near to a second definition).

18a

Demand placed on trial witness would shame devil (4,3,5)

Generating...

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

A reference to the maxim “tell the truth and shame the devil”.

21a

Worry penalty is oddly deficient (3)

Generating...

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

‘p E n A l T y’ minus the odd numbered letters (‘oddly deficient’).

22a

Psycho’s hospitality business Seattle mob destroyed (5,5)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘destroyed’) of ‘Seattle mob’, for the setting of Robert Bloch’s novel Psycho and Alfred Hitchcock’s film adaptation of the same name (and various other spin-offs).

25a

Are so many able to provide pets? (9)

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26a

Cutting short recording is an easy goal (3-2)

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27a

Sailed from the centre to get royal’s lunchtime schedule (7)

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28a

Computer hacker initially takes on risk for play (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of MAC (‘computer’) plus BET (‘risk’) plus H (‘ H acker initially’), for the play by some geezer called Shakespeare.

Down

1d

Qualify on times but keep going (4,2)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Individual not working? It won’t happen again (3,3)

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3d

Workers performing well as tellers (10)

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4d

Minor solver that is 50% out (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Unusual Cretan ship lacks a muscular sealing system (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘unusual’) of ‘cret[a]n ship’ minus the A (‘lacks a’).

6d

Disorder erupts as dance starts late (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Arrived holding old study that reveals spy’s secret identity (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘holding’) of O (‘old’) plus DEN (‘study’) in CAME (‘arrived’).

8d

Instinctive responses touching cables (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Subject I’m chattier about (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘about’) of ‘I’m chattier’.

15d

I screeched aloud when examined (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Nearly throw up visiting farm building that’s plastic (8)

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17d

Ideal stimulant to support mountain climbing (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

It’s essential to keep documents together (6)

Generating...

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

A sesquidef (one-and-a-half definitions) or two, if you like; a staple as an essential item or ingredient, and as the wire joiner.

20d

Simple job to acquire large land (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to acquire’) of L (‘large’) in CINCH (‘simple job’); CLINCH as in “clinch a deal”.

23d

Derby location covered in sheep sometimes (5)

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24d

Fur old pet swallowed (4)

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