Guardian Cryptic #29730

2025-06-25

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a
4a

‘Bee’ for braiding, basting, backstitchand blather (6,6)

Generating...
4a

See 1

9a

But in the cryptic world this person would be content (3,1,5,6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Partisan seizing a little Japanese-US grandchild (6)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Bomber Harris finally left low barracks (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘barracks’) of S (‘Harri S finally’) plus QUIT (‘left’) in MOO (‘low’). The de Havilland Mosquito was a World War II warplane, and Bomber Harris, Marshall of the RAF, was CinC at the height of the bombing campaign.

12a

Patient’s originally malign agent checked by hospital oxygen? (8)

Generating...

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

A clue with the main definition (as part of an &lit) in the middle: a charade of P (‘ P atient’s originally’) plus ATHOGEN, an envelope (‘checked by’) of H (‘hospital’) plus O (‘oxygen’) in ATGEN, an anagram (‘malign’) of ‘agent’.

14a

Boob initially pops out of bra when it splits sides (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘splits’) of ‘it’ in ‘[b]ra’ minus the B (‘ B oob initially pops out’) plus AS (‘when’); ‘sides’ as side dishes, condiments (often cucumber raita).

15a

Millions, peculiarly, invested as a gamble (2,4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Gentle person acts up, say, extremely odd (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘odd’) of ‘acts up’ plus SY (‘ S a Y extremely’).

21a

Dragon-fighter gets mauled by man-eater, stomach churning (2,6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Increasingly shrewd politician and author sign for Advent (6)

Generating...

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

Triple definition: the second is a reference to Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, and the third to Sagittarius, the astrological sign of the zodiac, with the sun in that sign in the season of Advent.

24a

Her termination at the guillotine ultimately, following Revolution (5,10)

Generating...

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

This harly needs any wordplay, but yes, it is there: an anagram (‘following revolution’) of ‘termination at’ plus EE (‘th E guillotin E ultimately).

25a
26a

Cousins maybe think sister’s taking care of William’s wife (6,6)

Generating...
26a

See 25

Down

1d

Openings perfectly captivating Master in it (7)

Generating...

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

A double envelope (‘captivating’ and ‘in’) of M (‘Master’) in TO A T (‘perfectly’) in SA (sex appeal, ‘it’).

2d
13d

How are you doing the list of events? (5,9)

Generating...
3d

With one’s love expressed, appropriate item about to be produced? (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of ‘[o]ne’ minus the O (‘love expressed’) plus A RING (‘appropriate item’ – to express one’s love, that is).

5d

Apple piercer saving son, William Tell’s father keeps child’s head up (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of an envelope (‘keeps) of C (‘ C hild’s head’) in ROS[s]INI (‘William Tell’s father’ – well, he was the author of the opera, with its famous overture) mnus an S (‘saving son’).

6d
23d

NYC custom: I’m working with the Greenwich Village fund? (9,5)

Generating...
7d

Complex individual soon to take over the Army (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Primate standing out each year (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘standing’ in a down light) of NAME (‘out’ as a verb) plus PA ( per ammum annum , ‘each year’).

13d

See 2

16d

School falling short, girls excepted? Undoubtedly (3,4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘school’) of ‘falling short’ minus the letters of ‘girls’ (‘girls excepted’).

17d

Old pirate radio station primarily on air south of Colombia (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of CO (‘ Columbia Colombia ‘, IVR) plus R S (‘ R adio S tation primarily’) plus ‘air’ .

18d

Fairly clever (6)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Feeling swell? Yes and no (7)

Generating...

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

A play on ‘swell’ as waves.

20d

A more suitable partner in crime? (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of ‘a’ plus BETTER (‘more suitable’).

23d

See 6