Guardian Cryptic #29926

2026-02-10

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Across

1a

Those working in very quiet store (3,4)

Generating...

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

*(those) [anag:working] in PP (pianissimo, in music notation, so “very quiet”)

5a

Free jumble sale held by Greece occasionally (7)

Generating...

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

*(sale) [anag: jumble ] held by (g) R (e) E (c) E [ occasionally ]

9a

Great leader (5)

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10a

Program rejects Number 10 supporter being given job (9)

Generating...

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

APP (“program”) + [ rejects ] <(N (number) + IO (ten) ) + TEE (“supporter”) The appointee is the (human) being given a job.

11a

‘Fish surprise’ specialnut and originally dairy-free (4,6)

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12a

Dessert offered as part of starter? (4)

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14a

Scheming politician to claim ‘I have contrived to kidnap Liberal’ (11)

Generating...

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

*(claim i have) [anag: contrived ] to kidnap L (Liberal)

18a

Monarch learnt about bony growth (5,6)

Generating...

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

CROWN (“monarch”) + *(learnt) [anag: about ]

21a

Looks like they agree with judge’s conclusions (4)

Generating...

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

[ conclusons (i.e. last letters) of ] (lik) E (the)Y (agre) E and (judge) S

22a

Numbers covered up by one who has followed British sycophant (5-5)

Generating...

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

( Nos . (numbers) covered up by OWNER (“one who has”)) followed Br. (British)

25a

Description of skilled footballers and most people? (3-6)

Generating...

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

A skilled footballer can use both feet rather than strongly favouring either, and the vast majority of people have two feet.

26a

Oscar and Penny are returning to work (5)

Generating...

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

O (Oscar, in the NATO phonetic alphabet) + P (penny) + <=ARE [returning]

27a

Happy about 19 + 500? (7)

Generating...

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

*(asleep) (the answer to “19” down) + D (500 in Roman numerals)

28a

Popular nightclub area with wifi (7)

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Down

1d

Father’s attempt to make small cake (6)

Generating...

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

PA’S (“father’s”) + TRY (“attempt”)

2d

Subjects of King leaving degrees of latitude (6)

Generating...

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

R (Rex, so king) leaving T (r) OPICS (“degrees of latitude”)

3d

Has Starmer mostly dithered over national aggravation? (10)

Generating...

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

*(has starme) [anag: dithered ] over N (national) where STARME is [ mostly ] STARME(r)

4d

Precious thing given by queen, evenly wrapped by friend (5)

Generating...

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

ER (Elizabeth Regina, so “queen”) wrapped by the letter of PAL (“friend”) so that they make up the even letters of P(E)A(R)L

5d

Predatory rodent bites prince first during test (9)

Generating...

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

RAT (“rodent”) bites P(rince) + I (one, so “first”) during ORAL (“test”)

6d

Woman removing clothing in den (4)

Generating...

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

(c) LAIR (e) (“woman”) [ removing clothing (i.e outside layers)]

7d

Friend supports gold-plated courtreally? (8)

Generating...

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

ALLY (“friend”) supports CT (court) plated in Au (chemical symbol for “gold”)

8d

Thrilling type of car (8)

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13d

Dismissed off the final ball? We’re done (4,3,3)

Generating...

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

The umpire in cricket says “over” at the end of an over (“the final ball”) and “out” if the player is given out (“dismissed”)

15d

Fish circling new island formed into a solid mass (9)

Generating...

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

COD (“fish”) circling N (new) + CRETE (“island”)

16d

Ship’s company breaks into capsized vesselsthat’s some bottle (8)

Generating...

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

CREW (“ship’s company”) breaks into [ capsized ] <=POTS (“vessels”)

17d

Party ballot over European Commission where fliers can be found (8)

Generating...

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

DO (“party”) + VOTE (“ballot”) over EC (European Commission)

19d

1 takes off 13 for the count (6)

Generating...

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

A (one) + <=PEELS (“takes off”, OVER) AND “OUT for the count” is the definition. You need to replace the 13 in the clue with the solution to 13dn (OVER AND OUT) to make this clue make sense .

20d

Imagined rogue trade pocketing millions (6)

Generating...

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

*(trade) [anag: rogue ] pocketing M (millions)

23d

Arrow I’d thrown some distance (5)

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24d

Young men float soundly on sea’s surface (4)

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