Guardian Cryptic #29873

2025-12-09

Solve on Guardian →

Across

8a

Individual who’s busy protecting pit boss (8)

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9a

Hoard of money for the auditor (5)

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10a

Blimey, it’s actually devoid of content (1,3)

Generating...

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

‘ I t’ S A ctuall Y ‘ minus the interior letters (‘devoid of content’).

11a

Place for playing poker maybe up for discussion (2,3,5)

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12a

More rum accompanying fine food (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of F (‘fine’) plus ODDER (‘more rum’).

14a

Ace Roman possibly captured, in a way (2,6)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘ace Roman’.

16a

In pieces, and sure to be rebuilt (7)

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18a

Track distance with the best computers (7)

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21a

Old jazz legend James covering a G&S work? (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘covering’) of PER (‘a’) in O (‘old’) plus ETTA (‘jazz legend James’ – Etta James ). The question mark is for the indication by example.

23a

Club owner about to strike back (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘back’) of RE (‘about’) plus FLOG (‘strike’).

24a

Delinquent fella with influence (10)

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26a

House in very central London neighbourhood (4)

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27a

Criticise list of potential candidates (5)

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28a

Facecloth perhaps made from thin cotton sample (8)

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Down

1d

Where you’ll see officers in the vicinity of Melbourne’s charity outlets? (3,5)

Generating...

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

A charade of C ( circa , ‘in the vicinity of’) OP SHOPS (‘Melbourne’s charity outlets’ – an Australian and NZ term).

2d

Well-ventilated farm building without windows in the middle (4)

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3d

Gritty film genre led by extremely reputable artist (6)

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4d

Important delivery definitely happening around 13:25, say (7)

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5d

Top component from system carefully lifted up (4)

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6d

Smart place for recycling industrial waste? (5,5)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘for recycling’) of ‘smart place’.

7d

Good location to store wine, merchant declared (6)

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13d

OK beer and terribly second-rate takeaway food (5,5)

Generating...

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

A charade of DONERKEBA, an anagram (‘terribly’) of ‘OK beer and’, plus B (‘ssecond-rate’).

15d

Drink some horchata (3)

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17d

Have energy and tenacity at the outset (3)

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19d

God features in prayer a lot (8)

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20d

Preserve later Bach choral piece? (7)

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22d

Wage increase follows partner’s first commendation (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of P (‘ P artner’s first’) plus RAISE (‘wage increase’).

23d

Grey rabbit regularly pursued by large rodent (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of GERBI (‘ G r E y R a B b I regularly’) plus L (‘large’).

25d

Treeone alongside river (4)

Generating...

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

A charade of ACE (‘one’) plus R (‘river’).

26d

Forecaster ultimately predicts the same weather (4)

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