Guardian Cryptic #29830

2025-10-20

Solve on Guardian →

Across

9a

Playing with a huge ball is ridiculous (9)

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10a

Contract for prize money (5)

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11a

Taking back popular one-pound pancake (5)

Generating...

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

[ taking back ] <=(IN (“popular”) + 1lb (one pound) )

12a

Inadequate lobby speaking for such transport (5-4)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Wave from vandal? (7)

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14a

Where to find St John’s University amid a giant redevelopment (7)

Generating...

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

U (university) among *(a giant) [anag: development ]

17a

Reason for swearing as bumper at front drops off rusty old car (5)

Generating...

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

B(umper) [ at front ] drops off (b) ANGER (“rusty old car”)

19a

Frenchwoman shortly married me (3)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Pours money into driving centres (5)

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21a

God that’s passed on without expression (7)

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22a

Warning: boss is on trial (5,2)

Generating...

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

HEAD’S (“boss is”) + UP (“on trial”)

24a

Arbitrator to order a revised mark to start with (9)

Generating...

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

*(to order a) [anag: revised ] with M (mark) to start with

26a

Long period hard to manage in retrospect (5)

Generating...

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

<=(H (hard) + COPE (“to manage”), in retrospect )

28a

18 holes in a sandwich? (5)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Finds money for riverside picnic items (9)

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Down

1d

Burst into tears as tulip falls over (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Like wolf to be leading in procession (6)

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3d

Protective plastic to fall off drug package (6-4)

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4d

A British employer who behaves insultingly (6)

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5d

Audition piece poet made is distributed (4,4)

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6d

Turning over dumps in light rain (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

A frame of snooker (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Knock down member of college: no cry of pain (4)

Generating...

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

FELL (ow) (“member of college”) with no OW (“cry of pain”)

13d

It’s hairy to give birth to a daughter (5)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Read threat to demolish pyramids (10)

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16d

Fabulous ancient author (5)

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18d

Majesty offering a K and no end of currency (8)

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19d

Wild enthusiasm about computer program picked up in province abroad (8)

Generating...

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

MANIA (“wild enthusiasm”) about <=BOT (“computer program”, picked up )

22d

Taking on husband, with one thing to exchange? (6)

Generating...

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

H (husband) with I (one) + RING (“thing to exchange” (at a wedding))

23d

By degrees small and mean (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Take notice of good book (4)

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25d

Play school? (4)

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27d

A number sign for meat dish (4)

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