Guardian Cryptic #29885

2025-12-23

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Across

1a

Rust on a tank, if not reversible farm machinery (9)

Generating...

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

ROT=”Rust”; plus A VAT = “a tank”; plus OR=”if not” “reversible” is a separate/additional indicator that ROTAVATOR is a palindrome and reads the same if the order of letters is reversed

6a

Honey and last drop of milk poured over Middle Eastern dish (5)

Generating...

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

BABE=term of endearment=”Honey” + last letter of [mil]-K; all reversed/”over”

9a

Those who’ll believe anything that’s soon beyond question (5)

Generating...

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

definition refers to QAnon members as believers of conspiracy theories [wiki] ANON=”soon” after/”beyond” Q (short for “question”)

10a

Function apparently of Romans to break Bohemian (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Bird hearing sound of cat on the internet? (3)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Explain possible indication of inventor at work? (4,5,2)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Your cups spilling beer then (7)

Generating...

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

THY=”Your” around/cupping an anagram/”spilling” of (beer)*

15a

A builder of nest behind barrier, firm (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Player mightily confused, one snookered (7)

Generating...

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

SO LOST=”mightily confused”; with I=”one” snookered/trapped inside

19a

Arrangement of lines where circle meets square (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Could I be on stylish river vesselto see African natives? (11)

Generating...

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

AM I=”Am I…?”=”Could I be…?”; after/on all of: HIP=”stylish” + the river PO + POT=”vessel”

23a

So, fragile thing ultimately requiring a massage? (3)

Generating...

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

definition refers to massaging a fragile ego wordplay: anagram/”a massage” of (O E G)*, as the last letters (“ultimately”) taken from [s]-O [fragil]-E [thin]-G

24a

Tenor learning technique in holiday destination (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Sparkle back in vogue, glittering dresses (5)

Generating...

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

GLAM=”glittering” goes around/over (“dresses”) the last letter (“back”) of [vogu]-E

27a

Large Australian bouncer, I say! (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Order number checked by fine inspector in the end (4,5)

Generating...

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

definition: ‘eyes right’ is an order given during military drills EIGHT=”number” around all of: YES=I agree=”fine” plus the end of [inspecto]-R

Down

1d

Proposal, that offered by Picasso during siesta (7)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Brother’s style in fashion without a doubt (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Damaged piece, world half lost, half lost (5,2,4)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Unsteadylike a calculator? (7)

Generating...

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

a calculator ‘tots’ things up, it might be called a ‘totter’, so ‘totter-y’ could mean ‘like a calculator’

5d

Tackle skin on rare type of melon (7)

Generating...

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

definition: regalia and tackle can both mean something like ‘gear’/’equipment’/’paraphernalia’ the outer letters (“skin”) of R-[ar]-E; plus GALIA=a “type of melon”

6d

Confinement to bunk, I presume? (3)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Milliner turned up where cap missing, bishop needing one on top? (7)

Generating...

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

definition: a type of cap worn by clergy [h]-ATTER=”Milliner”, reversed/”turned up” and with the first letter/”cap” missing; with B (Bishop, chess abbreviation) and I=”one” going first (“on top”)

8d

Speculation about article that is kind of fitting? (7)

Generating...

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

definition refers to bayonet as a type of fitting for light bulbs BET=”Speculation”, around both of: A (indefinite “article”) + YON=”that”

13d

Musician performing concert tours was dancing wildlyone getting down and dirty? (11)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Academic mark cut by half, or less initially (7)

Generating...

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

SCAR=”mark”, with the initials of H-[alf] O-[r] L-[ess] cutting inside

17d

Blanche Neige et Les Sept Nains in battle? (7)

Generating...

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

definition refers to the battle of Lepanto [wiki] “Blanche Neige et Les Sept Nains” is French for Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs a pantomime adaptation of this might be referred to in French as ‘le panto’ (the panto)

18d

Music genre wife introduced to child and I (3-4)

Generating...

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

definition: a music genre [wiki] associated with the 2 Tone Records record label W (wife) introduced into/inside: TOT=”child” + ONE=”I”

19d

Flier: ruse seen essentially where unknown number posted? (7)

Generating...

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

TRAP=”ruse”, with Z (a maths variable, “unknown number”) posted inside central/essential letters of [s]-EE-[n]

20d

Two at bottom of Pacific, diver, having surfaced, leaves (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Small device, inventor’s best friend on audio? (7)

Generating...

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

definition: grommets are rings inserted into e.g. curtains [wiki] sounds like (“on audio”) ‘Gromit’ from Wallace & Gromit [wiki] , best friend of the inventor Wallace

25d

Some tea in caddy, the latest bits (3)

flowerflowerflower