Guardian Cryptic #29901

2026-01-12

Solve on Guardian →

Across

9a

Worn grass protects cultivated earth (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

President’s point about drinking alcohol (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘about’) of PT (point) round or ‘drinking’ RUM (alcohol)

11a

Weapon shot bears (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

No, no high-ranking woman entertains man with flaws (9)

Generating...

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

no BLE (high-ranking) with no ‘no’ + MISS (woman) round or ‘entertaining’ HE (man)

13a

Lazy question about soldiersheartless killers? (7)

Generating...

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

WHY (question) round OR (other ranks – ‘soldiers’) K iller S missing the middle letters or ‘heartless’

14a

Wow, current ruler to lose face (7)

flowerflowerflower
17a

In California, fill glasses with cold drink (5)

Generating...

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

OO (‘glasses’ – a pair of spectacles) round or ‘filled with’ C (cold) in CA (California)

19a

Fashion school sacks head (3)

Generating...

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

e TON (school) missing or ‘sacking’ the first letter or ‘head’

20a

Well-known description of David Miliband? (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Footballer, one not working (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Group’s silver mirror received by newly-wed (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘mirror’) of AG (silver) in or ‘received by’ BRIDE (newly-wed)

24a

Promote companion’s right to describe A.I. as ‘a little buggy’ (9)

Generating...

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

PUSH (promote) CH (‘companion’ – of honour) R (right) round or ‘describing’ AI

26a

Richard I guarded by 100 large fellows (5)

Generating...

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

I in or ‘guarded by’ C (100 in roman numerals) L (large) FF (fellows)

28a

Inexperienced men taken in by naked spy (5)

flowerflowerflower
29a

‘Finished’visionary outlines Tesla driving problem (9)

Generating...

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

OVER (finished) SEER (visionary) round or ‘outlining’ T (Tesla)

Down

1d

Has garments but no top (4)

Generating...

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

g OWNS (garments) missing the first letter or ‘no top’

2d

Bend in the road? (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Followers fell over hard knot (10)

Generating...

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

SHEEP (followers) SANK (fell) round H (hard)

4d

Dirty, gross husband not starting to Hoover (6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Bond smashes heads in to secure globe (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘smashes’) of HEADS + IN round or ‘securing’ O (globe)

6d

Case for Ukraine training European infantry has leaders worried (4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘worried’) of U, T, E and I (first letters or ‘leaders’ of Ukraine Training European Infantry)

7d

Butcher angry and cross with Northumbrian saint (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Copies jokes joker left out (4)

Generating...

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

j APES (jokes) with the ‘j’ (joker) ‘left out’

13d

They burn witches primarily on pieces of wood, not stone (5)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Building can eclipse location of writers (6-4)

flowerflowerflower
16d

In class, I’d learnt to move along (5)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Short sides, centre cut into bobs (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Herb Alpert’s finale arranged past noon (8)

Generating...

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

T (last letter or ‘finale’ of Alpert) ARR (arranged) AGO (past) N (noon)

22d

Bedrock resident in trouble? (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Endured American president not quite all there by day (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Small dog carried by hot actress (4)

Generating...

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

PUG (small dog) ‘carried by’ (in a down clue) H (hot) – Florence Pugh, English actress

25d

Are unable to pour outcase of Drambuie is missing (4)

Generating...

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

de CANT (pour out) missing ‘d e’ (first and last letters or ‘case’ of Drambuie)

27d

Tree snake finally in sack (4)

Generating...

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

FIR (tree) E (last or ‘final’ letter of snake)