Guardian Cryptic #29920

2026-02-03

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Across

7a

Squid Game uncovered racial manoeuvring (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Harpo dealt with new undesirable counterpart of widow? (6)

Generating...

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

HARPO* + N[ew] – “widows and orphans” are stereotypical examples of the needy

10a

Firm’s fine when internally upset (4)

Generating...

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

OKAY with the middle letters swapped

11a

Coping with much support, adults bear struggles (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Trouble held back plant (6)

Generating...

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

Reverse of AIL HAD

14a

Update mehe wants different wife? (5,3)

Generating...
15a

Ineffectual sort of check on unopened list of options around university (6)

Generating...

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

U[niversity] in [m]ENU + CH[eck]

17a

Disappear à la goods vehicle? (6)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Bombastic outburst breaks cautious guarantee (8)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Fruit bar, 50% pineapple (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Self-governing modus operandi in car intelligence (10)

Generating...

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

MO in AUTO NOUS (intelligence)

24a

Small piece of timber hit with heavy blows (4)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Payment contributing to current allowance (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Work out tax spanning years, off and on (8)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters of yEaRs in EXCISE (tax)

Down

1d

Information store starts to defrag and thus degrade (8)

Generating...

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

First letters of Defrag And Thus + ABASE

2d

Simple Minds ultimately stops cycling old agreement (4)

Generating...

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

[mind]S in YEA with the letters cycled

3d

Second adult to abandon Latin dance character overseas (6)

Generating...

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

LAMBADA less its second A

4d

Tense aquatic bird crushed by snake somewhere in South Africa (8)

Generating...

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

T[ense] SWAN in BOA. “South Africa” in the sense of the southern part of the continent, rather than the country of that name

5d

Breaking in, proposes tyranny (10)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Gangster that is holding up police HQ? (6)

Generating...

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

YARD (Scotland Yard, HQ of the Metropolitan Police) + I.E.

8d

Relations slain violently around west (2-4)

Generating...

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

W in SLAIN*

13d

Time taken for nearest neighbour to come round again? (5,5)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Pet food not wrapped in something waxy (8)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Shelter with presumably one or more layers under roof (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Former farewell involves lifting drink (6)

Generating...

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

Reverse of NOG in BYE

21d

Charm a beast, given time (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Hamper opinion about demand (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Setter and solvers upset church so much (4)

flowerflowerflower