Guardian Cryptic #29856

2025-11-19

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Across

1a

1000100010000 number this ordinary? (6)

Generating...

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

Over to you

4a

Where short lawyers are getting hotel drinks? (7)

Generating...

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

Whimsically, short lawyers might be in a mini bar

9a

Underwear 12.5% offno good hanging around (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Talk about Romeo initially smoking pot (5)

Generating...

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

GAS (talk) round R (Romeo) + S[moking]

11a

Doing a somersault during embassy ball is void (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Passed public knowledge involving answer (9)

Generating...

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

OVERT (public) + KEN (knowledge) round A (answer)

13a

Team wins penalty to begin with, Rovers gutted by rests (7)

Generating...

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

SIDE (team) round P[enalty] + R[over]S – a spider is a type of rest used in snooker

15a

Escort criminal to district (6)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Sharp one enters currents circling island (6)

Generating...

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

I (one) in AC DC (currents) with the insertion of I (island)

19a

Plots with strange dangers (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Energy moving wheels on to another place (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Financial backer’s article on returns (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Dexterity keeping service in court (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Model Cindy eats in group (9)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Old city in China 500 developed (7)

Generating...

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

UR (old city) in MATE (china – Cockney rhyming slang) + D (500)

29a

I leave pool outside? No, it’s difficult (6)

Generating...

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

K[i]TTY (pool minus i) round NO – I think there may be quibbles about the cryptic grammar here: a common way for setters to get round this is to say ‘I must leave’

Down

1d

Holding areas, holding area and royal vaults (7)

Generating...

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

CELLS (holding areas) round A (area) and R (royal)

2d

M-mark? (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Squander 2 or 6 balls to dispatch, including roof of pavilion (9)

Generating...

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

OVER (six balls) + SEND (to dispatch) round P[avilion]

4d

Mother’s picking up £10,000 drawers? (7)

Generating...

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

MAS (mother’s) round G NET (£10,000?); please see comment 8 – thanks to Steve

5d

Dark, hard spiritabout time (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

British want zero sterling hidden by ambassador where things disappear without trace (5,4)

Generating...

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

B (British) + LACK (want) + HE (His/Her Excellency – ambassador) round O (zero) + L (pound sterling)

7d

Take exception to unwrapped Christmas gifts (6)

flowerflowerflower
8d

They’ve lost partners to nameless operating system (6)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Non-stop tennis, as played around #1 court (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (played) of TENNIS AS round C (court)

16d

In land of automobile fanatics, one’s found in bed (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Gripping end to poker: stopped and folded (7)

Generating...

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

C[r]EASED (stopped) round [poke]r

19d

New York notes some of your five-a-day (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Lithium’s turning so grey (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (turning) of LI’S (strictly Li’s – lithium’s) + VERY (so)

21d

What’s taking digital images, wide, became mostly blurred (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Drink whiskey next, topless (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

In Italy, John finally beat heavyweight (5)

Generating...

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

GIAN (short for Giovanni, Italian John) + [bea]T