Guardian Cryptic #29931

2026-02-16

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Across

1a

Liable to involuntary laughter in such a tricky situation (8)

Generating...

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

It’s not something I’d come across before, but Chambers includes difficult/tricky as meanings for ticklish and I’ll try to remember to use that in future conversations when such situations arise.

5a

I say purchase pasta, for example, that goes in kitchen cupboard (6)

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9a

One called up to study one’s lines (9)

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11a

Criticise minor injury in time at the crease (5)

Generating...

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

Triple definition – knock can mean to criticise, a small or minor injury, or having your turn to knock some balls when batting at the cricket crease.

12a

Possibly made radioactive, so no admittance, unfortunately (12)

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15a

Food for Nancy that may stick in the throat (4)

Generating...

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

Nancy is a city in France so this is referring to the association of frogs’ legs with French cuisine, as well as ‘having a frog in one’s throat’.

16a

Emphasise how one’s counted as a teenager? (10)

Generating...

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

Someone aged 13-19 would be aged ‘under [a] score’ i.e. less than 20 years old.

18a

Irish saint almost laid out, harbouring unfatherly thoughts? (10)

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21a

Lack of guile in what may be shown on the screen (12)

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24a

Italian team doesn’t take the lead in some three months (5)

Generating...

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

Referring to the the common name Inter Milan for Football Club Internazionale Milano. I think this is WINTER (some three months) minus the first letter (doesn’t take the lead).

25a

From abroad obtain more unusual diet (9)

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26a

Irritating person after wander about has to race away (6)

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27a

Pilgrim’s Progress for example involves travel right through narrow lane (8)

Generating...

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

GO (travel) + R (right) inside (through) ALLEY (narrow lane) for the literary device, of which Pilgrim’s Progress is an example.

Down

1d

Friar stabbed, not the first (4)

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2d

Calorie associated with single ice-cream (4)

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3d

Reader in church sounds like Hannibal? (6)

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4d

Emitting gasp, I staggered to see my double (8,5)

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6d

Gathering family I head for black state (8)

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7d

Mark address wrong too, perhaps (10)

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8d

Something on toast for hotheads? (5,5)

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10d

Moody secretary taking age without using any paper (13)

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13d

Disconcerting, to be away on the golf course? (3-7)

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14d

Signed up, but got less (10)

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17d

Singer in large church lifting one hand, then the other (8)

Generating...

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

MINSTER (a large church) with the R shifted up (lifting one hand), + L (the other hand)

20d

Bad scare about parking: a scuff (6)

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22d

Cover over swimming pool (4)

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23d

Married over a year, so eyed as naive (4)

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