Guardian Cryptic #29742

2025-07-09

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Across

1a

Distress in hearingstop being crooked (8)

Generating...

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

definition: to distress, especially in the context of financial difficulties sounds like (in hearing): ‘straighten’=”stop being crooked”

6a
14d

One of your relatives gift wraps a book! (6)

Generating...

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

definition refers to the baboon species being genetically related to humans BOON=”gift”, wrapping around A (from surface) + B (book)

9a

Journalist: Balls maybe yellow after sex (6)

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10a

Excessively complimented pornographic actor’s first lines – 9 must be abbreviated (8)

Generating...

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

ADULT as an adjective=”pornographic”, with first letter of A-[ctor] inside (“lines” as a verb=to provide an inner lining=to go inside), plus ED (abbreviation of EDITOR at 9ac)

11a

Ordnance Survey cutting about page in misprinted A-to-Zit’s a gem (4,5)

Generating...

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

OS (Ordnance Survey) cutting into RE=concerning=”about”; plus P (page) inside anagram/”misprinted” of (A to Z)*

13a

Misses sleep on board ship (5)

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15a

Unknown firm taken on by heavyweight businessman (6)

Generating...

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

Y=mathematical variable=”unknown” + CO (company, “firm”); both taken inside TON=’heavy weight’

17a

Dawn French to the rescueoften raising awareness for starters (6)

Generating...

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

AU=French word meaning “to the”; plus starting letters of R-[escue] O-[ften] R-[aising] A-[wareness]

18a

Former opponent gutted about discharged cruise missile (6)

Generating...

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

definition: a type of anti-ship missile [wiki] EX=”Former”, plus O-[pponen]-T gutted of its inner letters, around C-[ruis]-E having discharged its inner letters

19a

Goes off instruction to make nice e-readers? (6)

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21a

Dislodge key (5)

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22a

Lad struggling with issue including, ultimately, combat fatigue (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/”struggling” of (Lad issue)*, around the ultimate/last letter of [comba]-T

25a

E.coli must, mostly, spread in bowl (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”spread” of (E coli mus)*, using most of the letters from mus-[t]

26a

Bond villain, Jaws essentially breaking back to get ahead (6)

Generating...

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

DR NO=”Bond villain” [wiki] , with the essentials or inner letters of [J]-aw-[s] breaking inside; and all reversed/”back” for the surface reading, Jaws is the name of another Bond villain

28a

Ship leaves Selsey after dropping off some bits (6)

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29a

Volunteers, once in the forces, not against shocking treatment? (8)

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Down

2d

Small amount of time with Bill (3)

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3d
16d

Hates playing bragturned out friends accepting bluff directly (2,3,4,5)

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4d
24d

Start old games consoleknob needed to spin around (4,2,4,4)

Generating...
5d
20d

New supermarket stops Marmite supplyalmost! (4,2,6)

Generating...
6d

Number 24 buses do use buckles (4,5,5)

Generating...
7d
23d

Lancashire landmark seen when Cilla, say takes in middle of Bolton (9,5)

Generating...
8d

10 deliveries brought up under pressure (11)

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12d

Touching article cast read aloud for sovereign (2,3,6)

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14d

See 6

16d

See 3

20d

See 5

23d

See 7

24d

See 4

27d

Premier Cru can finally flow (3)

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