Guardian Cryptic #29783

2025-08-26

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Across

1a

Is cutting politician not all there? That’s obvious (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘cutting’) of ‘is’ in TRUM[p] (‘politician’) minus the last letter (‘not all there’).

4a

Objects for experiment satisfactory (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Breasts extremely large, and does my bum look big in this? (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Before children’s party, taking pill not planned (2,6)

Generating...

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

A charade of BY (‘before’ – ‘before Wednesday’ should mean “by Tuesday at the latest” but often does not) plus CH (‘children’) plus ANC (African National Congress, ‘party’) plus (‘taking’) E (ecstasy, ‘pill’)

11a

Loss of trust in ICE (and prat) biglyI’d run (11,3)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Tree in Wigan sheep attacked (7,3)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Marge and Homer’s second sign (4)

Generating...

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

A charade of O (‘h O mer’s second’) plus LEO (‘sign’ of the zodiac), for (oleo)margarine.

16a

Early singer’s a joke (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Embarrassed aunt with secret observations (10)

flowerflowerflower
21a

They take up defender’s responsibilities (5,3,6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Playing well, Arsenal wingers relaxed (8)

flowerflowerflower
24a

What Vlad liked to do to support church (6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

‘Don’t mess with her!’ Hubby’s last lament (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘mess’) of ‘don’t’ plus ‘her’ plus Y (‘hubb Y ‘s last’).

26a

Heard A,I,O,U might be complicated (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Moving about after leaving centre not allowed (4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘moving’) of ‘ab[o]ut’ minus its middle letter (‘after leaving centre’), for an alternative spelling of taboo.

2d

United clear-out involving boss finally leads to boost (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘involving’) of S (‘bos S finally’) in U (‘united’) plus PURGE (‘clear-out’).

3d

Dirty like Duke found inside dressing (5,3)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘found inside’) of À LA (in the style of, ‘like’) plus D (‘Duke’) in SOIL (‘dirty’, verb).

5d

Bill needs this bloke unfortunately transferred (5,6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Back shortly going round affected island (6)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Dope turned up in secure country (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Female setters possibly receiving letterthey may be put on trial (9)

flowerflowerflower
12d

John’s bar is pretty basic (3-8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Rugged cowboys not involved if so (4,5)

Generating...

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

I suppose that the remainder of the clue is intended as a second definition; if a well is built, cowboys would not be needed to herd cattle to water.

15d

Not allow back (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Support announcement of D road (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Dog eating left-over pie crustit follows he’s the guilty party (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of CULPR, an envelope (‘eating’) of L (‘left’-) plus (-‘over’) P (‘ P ie crust’ – but I would have thought that ‘crust’ would indicate both ends) – or you might interpret LP as (‘ L eft-over P ie crust’, which strains ‘crust’ even further) – in CUR (‘dog’); plus (‘follows’) ‘it’.

20d

Risk coming a cropper on one in Chamonix (3,3)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Animal refugewhy say it’s fake news? (4)

Generating...

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

A charade of DEN (‘animal refuge’) plus Y (‘why’ – I would like to add ‘say’ here to make the sound-alike clear, but ‘say’ is required for the definition, so we will have to pretend we are texting).