Guardian Cryptic #29735

2025-07-01

Solve on Guardian →

Across

7a

Hagrid confused over pressure and pH in this solution? (7)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Supermodel in endless pain after knockabout (7)

Generating...

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

for the definition, a PARAGON is an excellent model or a super model AGON-[y]="endless pain"; after RAP="knock" reversed/"about"

9a

Leave out captain (4)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Soap to turn off bloke (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Romance from a special onenot half! (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Spooner’s bottom tortures 3s (8)

Generating...

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

definition refers to solution to 3dn, as redbacks are SPIDERs Spoonerism of 'bed racks', as bed=base=bottom, and racks=puts on the rack, a torture device=tortures

15a

Row involving Bond and Q’s successor (4)

Generating...

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

TIE=connection="Bond" + R=next letter after Q in the alphabet="Q's successor"

16a

I tucked into my bread (5)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Issue returning for predator (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Diver succeeded opening his knife? (8)

Generating...

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

definition: Jacques Cousteau the diver [wiki] S (abbreviation for succeeded e.g. in a family tree), inside/"opening" COUTEAU="knife" in French, with "his" indicating a word for knife in the language of Jacques Cousteau

20a

Article reduced in M&S for little kids (5)

Generating...

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

ITE-[m]="Article" reduced by one letter; inside M and S

21a

Small man from BP? (5,4)

Generating...

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

definition: a "man" or chess piece of low value ("small") B (Black) + P (pawn, chess notation)

22a

Take it easy in nature study (4)

flowerflowerflower
24a

fifteensquared.net is one place to see Arachne’s work? (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Former husband more generous claims old wife (7)

Generating...

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

WIDER="more generous" (e.g. allowing for a wider or more generous margin for error); around O (old) + W (wife)

Down

1d

Mark moment (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Sting held up crucifix to make a theatrical entrance (8)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Broadcast saw a 22 in The Crucible (6)

Generating...

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

definition: The Crucible is a venue for snooker, and in snooker a spider [wiki] is a type of 'rest' to support the cue when in awkward positions sounds like ('Broadcast'): 'spied a' = "saw a"

4d

Introduction to Leo Sayer CD remixed in a divine manner (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"remixed" of (L Sayer CD)*, with the L as the "Introduction to" L-[eo]

5d

Brownie is one advanced artist (6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Malt whiskey for son in class (4)

Generating...

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

definition: a liquid made with malt [s]-ORT=type="class", with W (Whiskey, NATO alphabet) replacing the s for "son"

11d

3 is natural at cooking (9)

Generating...

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

definition: a type of SPIDER (solution to 3dn) anagram/"cooking" of (natural at)*

12d

Fighter entering a ring in China (5)

Generating...

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

definition: "China" as rhyming slang, 'china plate'=mate=friend MIG="Fighter" aircraft [wiki] , inside A (from surface) + O="ring"

14d

Conclusions from Sherlock Holmes surrounding unfortunate murders (5)

Generating...

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

last letters (Conclusions) from [Sherloc]-K [Holme]-S, around ILL="unfortunate"

16d

Animals make 22 distressed (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"distressed" of (make REST), using the solution to 22ac

17d

Playing later in Court No.1 (8)

Generating...

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

definition: Waterloo by Abba was a UK No.1 (Number One) single [wiki] anagram/"Playing" of (later)*, in WOO="Court"

19d

Meagre royalties ultimately accepted by Prince Harry? (6)

Generating...

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

last/ultimate letter from [royaltie]-S, inside SPARE=title of Prince Harry's memoir [wiki]

20d

Ray cut short 50% of I Say a Little Prayer (6)

Generating...

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

definition: a little pray-er, something small that prays, a praying mantis MANT-[a]="Ray", cut short; plus 50% or half the letters of "I S-[ay]"

21d

Power breakfast served up including cup of tea (4)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Shakespearean actor finishes in plays with Laurence Olivier (4)

flowerflowerflower