Guardian Cryptic #29902

2026-01-13

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Everything is a burden, it’s said unfailingly (6)

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5a

Bat’s preparatory move, dramatically illuminated when female enters (8)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘when … enters’) of F (‘female’) in BACKLIT (‘dramatically illumiinated’).

9a

Stop working with rock star’s ultimate fixer (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of REST (‘stop working’) plus ORE (‘rock’) plus R (‘sta R ‘s ultimate’).

10a
13a

Explosive agent and critic put off introducing one (6,4)

Generating...
11a

Many a flutter initiated by this US money (and a bit English) (7,5)

Generating...

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

A charade of CABBAGE (‘US money’) plus WHIT (‘a bit’) plus E (‘English’), with a cryptic definition and perhaps a hint of the butterfly effect.

13a

See 10

14a

Trainee mobile phone, yet complicated (8)

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17a

Pure iodine added to a tobacco (8)

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18a

Low temperature? That’s debatable (4)

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20a

Exaggerating what a sewer might be doing (12)

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23a

Hot sort of scarf with neck opening (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of STOLE (‘sort of scarf plus N (‘ N eck opening’).

24a

Maybe Burton’s ex at piano, learning rock intro (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of ‘ex’ plus (‘at’) P (‘piano’) plus LORE (‘learning’) plus R (‘ R ock intro’). The definition refers to Sir Richard Francis Burton, 19th century British explorer..

25a

One has copies, right, to correct and certify (8)

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26a

Presidential term: ‘Career’s over in golf course support’ (6)

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Down

2d

Glad eye? Wind-up! (4)

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3d

Norman Tebbit’s roleto have a go at setter? (6,3)

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4d

Abandons theatre wear (6)

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5d

Cheap gibes at barman ineptly carrying measure (7-8)

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6d

Scam merchant gets rid of diamonds for union official (8)

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7d

Bar entrancestrip clubs inside (5)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘inside’) of C (‘clubs’) in LATH (‘strip’). For the definition, read ‘bar’ as a verb.

8d

Serious affair? No, not if trial’s rigged (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘rigged’) of ‘not if trial’.

12d

Divisive school is Mother Theresa’s first international college (10)

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15d

Local gets in wrong rum (4-5)

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16d

United takes sending off to be lacking certification (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of U (‘united’) plus NSIGNED, an anagram (‘off’) of ‘sending’.

19d

Mediocre elected president blocking measure (6)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘blocking’) of IN (‘elected’) plus P (‘president’) in TOT (‘measure’ of drink).

21d

One who regrets welcoming Latin dictator? (5)

Generating...

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

An envelope (‘welcoming’) of L (‘Latin’) in RUER (‘one who regrets’).

22d

Successor’s appearance reported (4)

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