Guardian Cryptic #29831

2025-10-21

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

One offering unwanted advice to support troubled advertiser (4-4,6)

Generating...
8a

Mathematician’s principle, first to last attached to basis of logarithms (5)

Generating...

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

E (e, base of natural logs – actually named after Euler) + RULE with the R moved to the end

9a

Date energy stabilised (2,6)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Being caught probing religious ascetic (7)

Generating...

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

C in ESSENE

12a

Program linked to a reduced kind of plants (7)

Generating...

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

BOT (type of computer program) + A NIC[e]

13a

Short comic piece brother’s written capturing Queen (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Players in soccer game forming line on another pitch? (6-3)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Keen frost wrecked fasteners (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

US farm subdivision not opening for business (5)

Generating...

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

BRANCH less B[usiness]

21a

Performing for men in unit (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Look at sites, backing corporation’s slice (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Spring not entirely long? There’s an extra day in it (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Krypton, oxygen, neon and tin from Scandinavia (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Twice note collapses in funds for Durham town (8-2-4)

Generating...

Down

1d

A night at the pub may give you it when you want it (7,5)

Generating...
2d

Drinks cold water on leaving bar upset (5)

Generating...

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

C + reverse of SALOON less ON

3d

Release volume dismissing an old rugby player (9)

Generating...

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

SPRING (release, e.g. from prison) + BOOK less one of the Os (“an old”). The Springboks are the South African rugby union team

4d

After a month, satisfied to receive new increase (7)

Generating...

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

AUG[ust] + N in MET

5d

Stop papers reversing demand about book (7)

Generating...

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

Reverse of ID (papers) + B in SALE (“demand, volume of selling” says Chambers)

6d

Still no start of better time (5)

Generating...

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

[f]INER + T. This always reminds me of Sir Humphrey in Yes, Minister struggling to explain what an inert compound is, and finally saying “well, it’s not … ert”, after which Bernard mutters “wouldn’t ert a fly”

7d

Scientist’s wife abandoning marriage fashion (9)

Generating...

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

WEDDING less W + TON (fashion)

10d

Unexpectedly chose to inhale potresounding effects in these places (4,8)

flowerflowerflower
14d

A Parisienne and American together, mostly sleeping? Extremely disquieting (9)

Generating...

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

UNE (French “A”) + A[merican) + SIEST[a]

16d

Extravagant dish largely avoided during occasion (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Finished early race, skipping second part of Cheddar Gorge (7)

Generating...

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

OVER (finished) + HEAT (an early race) less [c]H[eddar]

19d

Colourful parts of plant, small and mainly slight (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Jelly son consumed in a shot (5)

Generating...

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

S in A PIC (photo, shot)

24d

Figure of speech elevated by English Left (5)

Generating...

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

Reverse of E PORT