Guardian Cryptic #29816

2025-10-03

Solve on Guardian →

Across

7a

Erotic dancer moves body half-heartedly (2-2,3)

Generating...

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

‘go’=’move’, so GO GO=”moves”; plus BO-[d]-Y with only half of its heart/inner letters

8a

Federal agents repeatedly patrolling southern lake (4,3)

Generating...

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

DEA DEA (Drug Enforcement Administation, US federal agents, repeatedly); around S (southern)

9a

Succeed in amorous advance (4)

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10a

Vulnerable judge abruptly suspended cases (2,4,3)

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12a

Nothing stopping teacher demonstration (5)

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13a

Thugs struggling with the introduction to Sex On Fire (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”struggling” of (Thugs S-[ex] On)*

15a

Casualty scene not the first for Brian Blessed (4)

Generating...

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

HOL-[b]-Y minus the first of B-[rian] Holby City Hospital was the setting/scene for the UK TV drama Casualty

16a

Spendthrift taking son out for a drink (5)

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17a

Part of organ I covered in university course (4)

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18a

Smelly problem child drinking in rubbish tip (4,4)

Generating...

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

definition: a place that is messy or in disorder BO (Body Odour, “Smelly problem”); plus MITE=”child” around BS (bullshit, “rubbish”)

20a

Poet taking over committee (5)

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21a

Gang confronting alien travellers who are loaded (3,3,3)

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22a

Brown University released record (4)

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24a

Vacant Burmese cat not following most direct route (7)

Generating...

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

B-[urmes]-E vacant of its inner letters; plus [f]-ELINE=”cat” without ‘f’ for “following”

25a

Pervert ultimately hid out around spa (7)

Generating...

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

ultimate letters of [hi]-D [ou]-T; around EVIAN a spa town in France

Down

1d

American’s drink troubles returning (4)

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2d

Menial person supporting Wolves? (8)

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3d

John bored by golf fellows making exit (3,3)

Generating...

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

LOO=toilet=”John”, with G (golf, NATO alphabet) boring inside; plus F and F (fellow, twice)

4d

Architect is gender-fluid (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”fluid” of (is gender)*

5d

Somewhat strange love on degree course (6)

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6d

Saint in revolutionary piece from Claude Debussy (4)

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11d

The Sting shot with special tension (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/”shot” of (The Sting)*, plus S (special)

12d

Still river with hidden current (5)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Luke Perry originally into climbing regime (5)

Generating...

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

definition: ‘luke’ meaning ‘lukewarm’ P-[erry] inside DIET=”regime” reversed upwards/climbing

16d

I want the kinky six-footer (5,3)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Anna Friel’s latest tip for cooking fruit (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”cooking” of (Anna [Frie]-L tip)*

19d

Wurzel reversing the Spanish car (6)

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20d

Queen providing support for bottom fat! (6)

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21d

Flower boxes left out (4)

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23d

Whales crossing North Atlantic (4)

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