Guardian Cryptic #29878

2025-12-15

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

They share a parent: could this be hers? (4,8)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Bird from Tower starts to navigate across Italian city (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

A youth died during pantomime (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Antelope, second one caught in short pursuit (7)

Generating...

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

MO (a moment, a “second” of time) plus I=”one”; all caught inside CHAS-[e]=”short pursuit”

12a

His team suffering lack of belief (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Sharp point ripped across end of cloth (5)

Generating...

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

TORN=”ripped” around end of [clot]-H

14a

Antenatal exercises for doomed islander (9)

Generating...

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

definition: someone from the doomed island of Atlantis anagram/”exercises” of (Antenatal)*

16a

Hurried departure vital for one often depressed on board (6,3)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Resin is firm, partly also liquid at first (5)

Generating...

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

definition: a type of tree resin CO (company, “firm”); plus “first” letters of P-[artly] A-[lso] L-[iquid]

21a

Scuttle round car to see one of our family (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Serious listener: where to find songbird? (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Bob or Ian’s brightly-coloured fabric (7)

Generating...

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

references to Bob Paisley the football manager [wiki] and Ian Paisley the politician [wiki]

25a

When this goes in there is nothing left over (7)

Generating...

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

definition: a number that divides into another number leaving zero remainder e.g. 2 is a divisor of 12, so when 2 goes into 12 six times there is nothing left over

26a

Where to practise swinging, a worry perhaps in an EV (7,5)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Take one’s turn to tackle robber (4,1,2)

Generating...

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

second definition / wordplay: a ‘have-a-go’ hero might tackle a robber, to ‘have a go’ can mean to tackle a criminal as a member of the public

2d

President Green is in the city (7)

Generating...

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

triple definition: Abraham Lincoln the American president; Lincoln green the colour; Lincoln the city

3d

Some coffee and chat in the plant (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Map makers also named oriental city (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

To warm up chicken is barbarian (7)

flowerflowerflower
6d

One not to be crossed declaimed out loud a bit of verse (3,4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Watch her pick nuts and demand more effort (5,3,4)

Generating...

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

anagram/”nuts” of (Watch her pick)*

10d

Terminology unclear to men needing translation (12)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Service provider reclined with textbook (3,6)

flowerflowerflower
17d

More relaxing, shifting from ice (7)

Generating...

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

anagram/”shifting” of (from ice)*

18d

Severely criticises ladies perhaps, including many East Europeans (3-4)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Two vehicles boxing in a trailer (7)

Generating...

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

CAR and VAN=”Two vehicles” around (“boxing in”) A (“a” from the surface)

20d

Cupboard that is a gift (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Senior figure to make money abroad (5)

flowerflowerflower