Guardian Cryptic #29749

2025-07-17

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Across

1a

Military department’s butterfly test not right (9)

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6a

Old Northerner caught in coalmine (4)

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8a

One requiring payment from managing director (8)

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9a

Universal acts amounting to policy reversals (1-5)

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10a

What I’m presenting is the ultimate in petty unorthodox belief (6)

Generating...

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

HERE'S='here is…'="What I'm presenting is…"; plus the last/ultimate letter in [pett]-Y

11a

Old university teacher’s form of address hosting a gala opening (8)

Generating...

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

definition: a title associated with teachers in medieval universities MISTER="form of address", around/hosting: A (from surface) + opening letter of G-[ala]

12a

Body image display of soldiers (6)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Frank’s antithesis not long agoit’s about being on the inside (8)

Generating...

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

definition: the opposite of being frank/open RECENT="not long ago", with IT (from surface) reversed/'about" and on the inside

16a

Knife loosened tilesflipped over the top (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/"loosened" of (tiles)*, plus a reversal/"flipped" of OTT (over the top)

19a

Onset of panic attacks is around where white water occurs? (6)

Generating...

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

definition refers to white water rapids in a river first letter/"Onset" of P-[anic], with RAIDS="attacks" going around

21a

One’s following intended course at lastfor now (8)

Generating...

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

I'M=I am=One is="One's"; following MEANT="intended", and plus the "last" letter of [cours]-E

22a

Block request for material (6)

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24a

Sound honest over the radio (6)

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25a

Ring Ben to remove top theatre seating (8)

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26a

See 6 Down

27a

He had thoughts, so he was a philosopher (9)

Generating...

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

Descartes is associated with the phrase 'I think, therefore I am' i.e. "He had thoughts, so he was"

Down

1d

Grant’s one vice: dropping date (5)

Generating...

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

A="one", plus GREE-[d]="vice" dropping the 'd' for "date"

2d

US region where ‘e’s located (7)

Generating...

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

the letters of 'e's from the surface are located in the middle of [w]- es -[t], or mid-w es t

3d

Judas-like cross (5)

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4d

Blimey, Brummie’s about to turn harness-worker! (7)

Generating...

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

definition: someone who works making parts of a harness for horses LOR (lor', a form of 'Lord!' as an exclamation of surprise)="Blimey"; plus I'M=I am=Brummie is="Brummie's"; plus RE=concerning="about" reversed/"to turn"

5d

After play’s end, tongues wagging‘Rep’s top juvenile!’ (9)

Generating...

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

"end" letter of [pla]-Y, plus anagram/"wagging" of (tongues)*, plus first/"top" letter of R-[ep]

6d
26a

Cupid’s arc is possibly a deadly threat (7,4)

Generating...
7d

Heartless men, caught by Fraud Act, declared unfit (9)

Generating...

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

M-[e]-N, without inner letter i.e. "Heartless", caught inside: CON="Fraud" + DEED="Act"

13d

Real gold, so automatic response (9)

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14d

Got the better of a demand to depose Edwardnot hard (9)

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17d

Whistle at the end of this Dylan composition describing Arkansas? (7)

Generating...

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

definition: a whistle can be attached to the end of a cord/lanyard to be worn around the neck anagram/"composition" of (Dylan)*, around/describing AR (abbreviation for the state of Arkansas)

18d

Unity’s only cape (7)

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20d

Sweet wrestled from pet (7)

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22d

In demand: a charming country house (5)

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23d

Poor souls, alone on the stage (5)

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