Guardian Cryptic #29818

2025-10-06

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

I am angry; I may become fanciful (9)

flowerflowerflower
6a

In beds, one’s flipping long-suffering (5)

Generating...

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

I="one" is in COTS="beds", reversed/"flipping"

9a

Quaint insolence upsetting but trivial (15)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Believe king should be deposed, being weak (4)

Generating...

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

definition: 'thin' can mean 'weak' in e.g. a 'thin argument' THIN-[K]="Believe" with K ("king", chess abbreviation) removed

11a

Tree flattened, by psychic power? A fib, right? (8)

flowerflowerflower
14a

A magazine to deliver, one filled with party spirit (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Tried the patience of top managers when speaking (5)

flowerflowerflower
16a

From the start, no ancient historian underestimated minor prophet (5)

Generating...

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

definition: a prophet in the Bible starting letters of N-[o] A-[ncient] H-[istorian] U-[nderestimated] M-[inor]

18a

Hurried to finish the ironing? (7,2)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Gets wrong impression of motorway cuts (8)

flowerflowerflower
21a

A service returns from a distance (4)

flowerflowerflower
25a

In funny cartoon, wag omits enough space (4,2,5,1,3)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Had extra sleep, to build up supplies (3,2)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Prohibited area, as hygienic kitchen should be? (2-3,4)

Generating...

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

a hygienic kitchen would have no flies (the insects)

Down

1d

Fool, standing up to African dictator (5)

Generating...

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

reversal upwards (standing up) of TO (from surface) + IDI (Idi Amin, African dictator)

2d

From which you may come away with a lot (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

North Europeans won’t open pubs (4)

Generating...

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

[F]-INNS="North Europeans" without the opening letter

4d

Top copy, with illiterate’s signature (4)

Generating...

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

APE="copy" + X=symbol that could be used as a signature by the illiterate

5d

QI signature for solvers (10)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Saturday better for smart clothes, but … ? (6,4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Old organ drowning one actor (7)

Generating...

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

definition: Laurence OLIVIER the actor O (Old); plus LIVER="organ" around I="one"

8d

American statesman has some guts, touring drama school (9)

flowerflowerflower
12d

Barmen itch excitedly to pour this? (10)

flowerflowerflower
13d

In contrast, firm with a thousand working across Olympic city (10)

Generating...

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

CO (Company, "firm"); plus M (thousand in Roman numerals) + ON="working" around PARIS="Olympic city"

14d

Burn ample rubbish, somewhat shady (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/"rubbish" of (Burn ample)*

17d

Man’s right-wing background (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

In practice, certainly about to perform (2,5)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Bind over again, reducing sureties (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Cockney burglar’s land grant? (4)

Generating...

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

someone with a Cockney accent might pronounce the word 'thief' ("burglar") like FIEF

24d

Like something scrambled, say, extremely gently (4)

flowerflowerflower