Guardian Cryptic #29778

2025-08-20

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

It’s impossible to manufacture a bird (6,2)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Latest fake ‘art’ may be seen here (6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Removing bottom from lacy gown isn’t half irresponsible (9)

Generating...

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

NEGLIGE[e] + Half of [is]N’T

11a

Bit of lightheartedness in western martial arts (3-2)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Squeezebox lost in a thousand pounds of Royal Albert Hall gear (7,5)

Generating...
15a

Unexplained phenomena among retrograde moons of Uranus (4)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Bench-sitters shift buttocks (10)

Generating...

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

AFTER (shift) + NATES (buttocks). Another word for a substitute in various sports, who would be “on the bench” until needed

18a

Former wife’s grip that’ll need painkiller (10)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Went to neaten garden (4)

flowerflowerflower
21a

One taking it to the edge fancifully guzzling rotten gin and a fifth of mulled wine? (5,7)

Generating...

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

GIN* + the fifth letter of mullEd in BRINKER (one who goes to the brink, perhaps); I think the whole clue is also the definition, making it an &lit or cad

24a

Invitation word Don expressed? (5)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Deep-sea swimming, both directions, for sunken gem (4,5)

Generating...

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

DEEP-SEA* + R (right and left)

26a

Rover was one sort of dog (6)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Top Android, say, goes after toxic element in hazardous material (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Almost slice up rat (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Joplin composition: a Bollywood soundtrack tune (4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Tesla rival is done screwing around (6)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Photo edges cropped from crude close-up pictures of ephemeral art (3,10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of CLOSE-UP PICTURES less P[hot]O

6d

Sophocles heroine in favour of sticking around? (8)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Genteel affairs in which pirates ate bats (3,7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Get out of way of bear chased by first-string team? (5,5)

Generating...

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

STAND (to bear) + A-SIDE

10d

Wise monkeys count dogs in long baskets (5-8)

Generating...
13d

Great Hooters contests, stateside (5,5)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Able to contain it with internal force? It’s conditional (10)

flowerflowerflower
17d

You can see Venus with this device externally held by eccentric Yankee (5,3)

Generating...

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

D[evic]E in YANKEE*

20d

Part of the head’s religious centre (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Lisa’s brother is a spoiled brat! (4)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Chains raised in child’s play (4)

Generating...

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

A third reverse hidden: childS PLAy