Guardian Cryptic #29707

2025-05-29

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Across

5a
13a

Where hopeful suitor Lee’s practised? (6,2,3,6)

Generating...
6a

Rider revealed as demanding type gets marching orders (6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Investigator many rejected for not showing emotion (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘rejected’) of DI (Detective Inspector ‘Investigator’) plus LOTS (‘many’).

10a

The runs unfortunately going round, one discovers (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Head of family better off to begin with (4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Opposes how new stadium is to be built (10)

flowerflowerflower
13a

See 5

18a

Rubbish, mush! Weather’s awful outside, not hot (5,5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Very rich man in Bow area not academic (4)

Generating...

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

E LON[don] (‘Bow area’) E for East, and removing DON (‘not academic’). The definition refers to Elon Musk; they don’t come any wealthier.

22a

China on the same wavelength but no-one else, it’s said (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Making every effort for tax cheat and boor (3-3)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Be amorous with sound from lower school covering (6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

What clearly is time for British to get promotion (6)

Generating...

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

ADVERB (‘what clearly is’) with the B replaced with T (‘time for British’).

Down

1d

Beginning of game offering respite for put-upon schoolkid (5,3)

Generating...

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

Definition and literal interpretation.

2d

I object to Old Bill initially taking wife in field (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of ME (‘I object’ – object grammatically) plus AD (‘Bill’) plus O (‘old’) plus W (‘wife’). ‘Initially’ is not its usual cryptic use, but indicates that AD comes before O.

3d

Whitewashes pay for drink (6,2)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Follower of Romeo with attractive quality holding one boob (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘holding’) of I (‘one’) plus ERR (‘boob’) in SA (sex appeal, ‘attractive quality’). Romeo is R in the NATO alphabet, and SIERRA, S.

5d

Finishing off his work (6)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Suckers with a local Tory grandee (6)

Generating...

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

A charde of ‘a’ plus PH (Public House, ‘local’) plus IDS (Iain Duncan Smith, ‘Tory grandee’).

8d

Crude! Is past being diverted by such elements of humour (7,4)

flowerflowerflower
14d

One paid to attend clean form of entertainment? Maybe not (3,5)

Generating...

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

I think this must be: an envelope (‘to attend’) of A (‘one’) plus PD (‘paid’) in LANCE (‘clean’ – to pierce an abscess). ‘Maybe not’ completes an extended definition. As pointed out first by Dr. WhatsOn @3, LANCE is an anagram (‘form’) of ‘clean’.

15d

Depression? That could be Everton (3,5)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Well-publicised articledoctor getting into a lot of trouble (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘getting into’) of A (indefinite ‘article’) plus MO (Medical Officer, ‘doctor’) in FUS[s] (‘trouble’) cut short (‘a lot of’).

17d

Gripped by desire, occasionally touch stripper (6)

flowerflowerflower
19d

National hero working in shop (4,2)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Country club for golfers admitting women (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘admitting’) of W (‘women’) in R AND A (‘club for golfers’ – The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews).