Guardian Cryptic #29921

2026-02-04

Solve on Guardian →

Across

8a

Dodgy plastic pipes around museum pieces cracked and leaked, perhaps (4,11)

Generating...

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

definition: “cracked” and “leaked” are the past participles of ‘to crack’ and ‘to leak’ anagram/”Dodgy” of (plastic pipes)*; around ART=”museum pieces”

9a

After a couple of days, was the person in charge confused? (6)

Generating...

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

A (from surface) + D D (two ‘d’ for ‘day’, so “a couple of days”) + LED=”was the person in charge”

10a

Frustrated senior journo pursuing hard liquor (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

You shouldn’t have stood up periodically hiding something up your sleeve? (5,3)

Generating...

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

definition: “You shouldn’t have” as an expression of gratitude periodic letters from [s]-T-[o]-O-[d] U-[p]; around/”hiding” HANKY (a handkerchief, that might be kept up one’s sleeve)

12a

Bit of ramen ultimately eaten a lot, but not quite finished (6)

Generating...

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

last/ultimate letter of [eate]-N; plus OODLE-[s]=”a lot” without its end (“not quite finished”)

13a

Carry on being cheeky about female relative (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Love one playing Disintegration (7)

Generating...

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

EROS=”Love” + I=”one” + ON=”playing” (e.g. to have a music record on/playing)

19a

Widely recognised architectural style outside capital of Crete (6)

Generating...

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

IONIC=a classical “architectural style”; around the capital letter of C-[rete]

21a

Elegant features of associations in a French resort? (8)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Family experiences in South America and somewhere in Africa (8)

Generating...

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

definition: capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo KIN=”Family”; plus HAS=”experiences” (e.g. to have/experience difficulty) inside SA (South America)

25a

Animal noises filling stable at sunset (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Part of the UK rioters trashed with such glee (15)

Generating...

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

anagram/”trashed’ of (rioters such glee)*

Down

1d

Moved hods wearing sensible footwear (8)

Generating...

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

anagram/”Moving” of (hods)* inside SANE=”sensible”

2d

Hot German Christmas cake one left out (6)

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3d

Line penned by Victorian author? I don’t think so! (6)

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4d

Academic’s third paper up for discussion (2,5)

Generating...

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

third letter of [Ac]-A-[demic]; plus TISSUE=”paper”

5d

Boat rather packed with deckchairs in the middle (8)

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6d

Misleading promise of payment included in project details (8)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Soap maybe picked up; it’s usually sold in boxes (6)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Posts secured at the front with one stud, possibly (5,3)

Generating...

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

definition e.g. in the sense of to post or send something through the mail first/front letter of S-[ecured]; plus anagram/”possibly”

15d

I need help taking on case for philosopher (8)

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17d

Upset created by obvious item you can dispense with? (8)

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18d

Admirer cheers to support popular Spanish princess (7)

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20d

Dish taken from church illicitly (6)

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22d

Extremely cocky tennis champ is somewhat mechanical individual (6)

Generating...

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

definition: a being with both organic and mechanical parts extreme/outer letters of C-[ock]-Y; plus [Björn] BORG=”tennis champ”

23d

Cut, in a way, assistance for driver, mostly at that time (6)

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