Guardian Cryptic #29898

2026-01-08

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Financially reliable American making a bit of money once (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Female getting well and truly overtaken panicked (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Eruption in bees’ homes (5)

Generating...

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

doubled definition: hives as in eruption/swelling on someone's skin; or bee hives

10a

The old man’s account about soldiers in musical composition (9)

Generating...

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

PA'S=father's="The old man's"; plus TALE="account" around OR (other ranks, "soldiers")

11a

Mum and I join forces to a significant extent (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Old deity, trite, heartless (4)

flowerflowerflower
14a

One facing restrictions behind bars for heinous acts (11)

Generating...

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

I="One" + TIES="restrictions"; all behind BAR and BAR or two "bars"

18a

Fake matter surprisingly free, having a certain appeal (11)

Generating...

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

COUNT=to be significant="matter"; plus anagram/"surprising" of (free)*; plus IT=[sex] "appeal"

21a

Pastry itemmaybe attendee at football match has devoured fifty (4)

Generating...

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

FAN="maybe attendee at football match"; around L="fifty" in Roman numerals

22a

Manifestly immoral measure not right for suffering penitent? (10)

flowerflowerflower
25a

I’m US loony, going wild menacingly (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/"going wild" of (I'm US loony)*

26a

Lizard rescuers in vehicles found outside school (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Spiced up in a miniskirt. say (7)

Generating...

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

definition as in to dress or add dressing to a salad to be dressed could mean to be in a dress, or "in a miniskirt, say"

28a

City river penetrating some foreign hideout (7)

Generating...

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

R (river) going into DES="some" in French ("foreign"); plus DEN="hideout"

Down

1d

English arts graduate following reduced school form (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Drink in the course of duty, showing lack of seriousness (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Show lack of respect for accolade in broadcast (10)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Point in the deep provided with barriers (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Become dim about Trump’s country having bad discharge of weaponry (9)

Generating...

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

FADE="Become dim", around all of: US="Trump's country" + ILL="bad"

6d

Very eager to get a medal (not new) (4)

Generating...

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

A (from surface) + GO-[N]-G="medal" without N for "new"

7d

Map out what sounds like zone for flatworms (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Fighter suitable, left on register (8)

Generating...

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

DUE=proper, correct="suitable"; plus L (left); plus LIST="register"

13d

Like some plants Greek character hadn’t given up consuming (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Wicked ruler said to be living out in the country? (9)

Generating...

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

anagram/"Wicked" of (ruler said)*

16d

Somerset’s original eatery with ancient wooden platform? (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Supposed to have set musical show up (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Character carrying an untrue report (6)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Make severe demands on family (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Teased escort audibly (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Signs of displeasureno time for increase in confidence? (4)

Generating...

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

BOOS-[t]="increase in confidence" without the 't' for "time"