Guardian Cryptic #29675

2025-04-22

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Across

8a

Prime number heard fighting with indefinite number (8)

Generating...

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

definition: “Prime” as a verb meaning to prepare someone for a future situation FORE sounds like (“heard”) ‘four’=”number”; plus WAR=”fighting” plus N=”indefinite number” e.g. in a maths equation

9a

Clamour from attention seeker, case of someone beyond redemption, ultimately (5)

Generating...

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

OI=exclamation to attract attention=”attention seeker”, plus outer letters (“case”) of S-[omeon]-E; all after the last/ultimate letter of [redemptio]-N

10a

Fellah in deer? Not entirely! (4)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Our etching, though sketchy, improving (10)

Generating...

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

anagram/”sketchy” of (Our etching)*

12a

Stuff lying around flat interminably, one hasn’t quite grown up (6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Surrender, wobbling one run short of century, ending on ninety-nine (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”wobbling” of (one run)*, plus C [short for century] plus ending of [ninety-nin]-E the surface references ‘runs’ in cricket: ninety-nine runs would be one short of a century

15a

See 24 Across

17a

Procedure on defining both possibilities for batter? (7)

Generating...

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

RE=about, concerning=”on”; plus around OUT and IN=”both possibilities for batter” in cricket edit thanks to KVa in comments

20a

Sin ends in tragedy, prophetic in month of Aquarius, saythe Water Carrier? (5,3)

Generating...

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

ERR=”Sin” plus the ends / last letters of [traged]-Y and [propheti]-C; all inside JAN=January=”month of Aquarius, say”

22a

Name associated with lectures announced award (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Cold Scottish island toured by a dog expert (10)

Generating...

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

C (Cold) + IONA=”Scottish island”; inside (toured by) A FIDO=”a dog”

24a
15a

Cryptic clues for gags with sketch (4,7)

Generating...
25a

See 22 Down

26a

Liquid starter from waitress, so doubled up, put in sketch? (3,5)

Generating...

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

definition: a comedy sketch written by Victoria Wood [wiki] anagram/”Liquid” of ( w so so put )* … w from “starter from waitress”; so so from “so doubled up”; put from surface

Down

1d

Wee collected by clinician north of a Caribbean country (8)

Generating...

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

MINI=”Wee” in the sense of ‘small’; inside DOC=doctor=”clinician”; above/”north” of A (from surface)

2d
3d

Sketch very average, rubbish (4,6)

Generating...
3d

See 2

4d

Base 17 yet to be delivered? (2,5)

Generating...

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

anagram/”Base” of ROUTINE, from 17ac “Base” as an adjective meaning improper or corrupt for the anagram indicator

5d

Popular as might be spanking bottom, oh I say? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink! (8)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Use toilet humour at first comedically in basic sketch? (10)

Generating...

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

for the definition: a sketch as in an outline, rather than a comedy sketch anagram/”comedically” of (Use toilet h )*, with the h from h -[umour] at first

7d

Fox News in charge, toxic in the extreme (6)

Generating...

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

N N (n for new twice, so new-s), inside FEE=”charge”, plus the end/extreme of [toxi]-C

13d

Highlight when still a teenager? (10)

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16d

Coming or going round top of creekas salmon might be? (2,6)

Generating...

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

definition: a cooking technique often used with salmon EN ROUTE=”Coming or going “, going round the top letter of C-[reek] edit thanks to KVa in comments

18d

Possible call from male in rush, on getting up (2-6)

Generating...

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

definition refers to bidding No Trumps in the card game bridge M (male) in SPURT=”rush”, plus ON (from surface); all reversed “up”

19d

Find intimate in book without cover (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Heading for Exmoor, oxygen-fuelled females take a hike (3,3)

Generating...

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

first letter of E-[xmoor] plus O (oxygen) inside F F F F (each f for ‘female’, so “females”)

22d
25a

Western entertainer gets a grip of issue, something wooden in sketch? (4,2,5)

Generating...
24d

Sweet clown (4)

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