Guardian Cryptic #29804

2025-09-19

Solve on Guardian →

Across

9a

I am at concert, and put out a piece of music (9)

Generating...

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

A charade of I’M (‘I am’) plus PROM (promenade ‘concert’) plus PTU, an anagram (‘out’) of ‘put’. I am particularly fond of Schubert’s Impromptus.

10a

One rascal that can beat nine or ten (5)

Generating...

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

A reference to card games where a KNAVE or Jack ranks higher in a suit than the 9 or 10.

11a

Composer’s heart problem returned (7)

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12a

Fail to appear for pub performance perhaps (5,2)

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13a

Unoccupied, love to be cast in a film (4)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to be cast in’) of O (‘love’) in VID (video, ‘film’).

14a

Queen bee only confused by a new name (4,6)

Generating...

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

A charade of ‘a’ plus N (‘new’) plus N (‘name’) plus EBOLEYN, an anagram (‘confused’) of ‘bee only’.

15a

Create lines on paper for soft toy (3,4)

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17a

Runs on the shore, having to live with twinges (7)

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19a

Old Chancellor not going about town (10)

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22a

Energy from writer, one moving along (4)

Generating...

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

BIRO (‘writer’) with the I moved along one.

23a

Recoil from being pierced by a stone shaped like a spear point (7)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘being pierced by’) of ‘a’ plus ST (‘stone’ 14 lb) in HATE (‘recoil from’).

24a

I won’t mention the rest, even quickly (3,2,2)

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26a

Study one initially complicated section of maths (5)

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27a

Edible grains in near frozen state stuck to part of face (5,4)

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Down

1d

Was first to see a pattern that threatens the monarch (10,5)

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2d

Arranging to take power, but refusing to take advantage (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘to take’) of P (‘power’) in SORTING (‘arranging’).

3d

Frustrate one buttoned up for Olympic event (4)

Generating...

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

Two and a half definitions. In the Olympic event, the foil has a button on the point so you cannot actually impale your opponent.

4d

Not forced to disband one platoon (8)

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5d

Be after contract United accepted (6)

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6d

State that is briefly satisfactory (8)

Generating...

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

OK (‘satisfactory’) is the USPS approved abbreviation for the state.

7d

Cut of meat, second to go bad (6)

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8d

Be very discreet and retain a personal lawyer (4,4,7)

Generating...

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

Definition and literal interpretation.

16d

Say, Roman soldier up in old tree (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘in’) of IG, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of GI (US ‘soldier’) in O (‘old’) plus LARCH (‘tree’). The definition is a reference to the Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich (one-time owner of Chelsea F.C.).

17d

Express disapproval of girl with glasses going to dance (8)

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18d

March round in ragged sort of progression (8)

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20d

Object to being given another errand? (6)

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21d

As authority, accepts passes (4,2)

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25d

Dip into Brown Book at last (4)

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