Guardian Cryptic #29837

2025-10-28

Solve on Guardian →

Across

8a

A mean dictator destroyed on South Park, perhaps (8,7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Sticky substance found in sycamores, inexplicably (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Complaint resulting from broken rule, again! (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Heavy rainfall starts to move over Newcastle before long (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Show part of a book, then a collection of books (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

This feels ugly, or organised in a smug way (4-11)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Presently present, or completely absent? (7)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Jointly start puzzle that’s missing its first number? (2-5)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Pass on report of decent attendance on match day (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Extremely readable and better summary (5)

Generating...

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

[ extremely ] R (eadabl) E + CAP (“better”)

26a

What she is is also what he is? (8,7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Just the place you might ride a Ferris wheel (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Healthy sloth possibly doesn’t stick out (4,2)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Part of meal I fed to a consumer messily (4,6)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Get support from the French soon (4,2)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Sea creature netted in major catch (4)

flowerflowerflower
6d

14 narcs got redeployed (8)

flowerflowerflower
7d

One-time Quechua speaker in California (4)

flowerflowerflower
9d

Cold alcoholic drink accompanying favourite type of airy cake (7)

flowerflowerflower
12d

Graduates working for someone in the building trade (5)

Generating...

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

MAs (Masters of Arts, so “graduates”) + ON (“working”)

14d

Steak fried in butter may not be this well done (4,3,3)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Played at Holyhead regularly (5)

Generating...

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

(a) T (h) O (l) Y (h) E (a) D [regularly]

17d

Place for a case? (3,5)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Island nation’s unstable danger area (7)

Generating...

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

*(danger) [anag: unstable ] + A (area)

20d

Two-bit firm securing great deal (6)

Generating...

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

Co. (company, so “firm”) securing HEAP (“great deal”)

21d

Fuddy-duddy relative almost about to go, finally (6)

Generating...

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

UNCL (e) (“relative”, almost ) about (t) O (g) O [ finally ]

22d

Rubbish American party’s leader broadcast on the radio? (4)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Declare a very obvious willingness at the outset (4)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Group of whales crossing northern body of water (4)

Generating...

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

POD (“group of whales”) crossing N (northern)