Times Cryptic #28709

2023-09-15

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Abridged huge article in French, causing confusion (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Officers, the first two each getting uniform (2,1,5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Not exactly small: swell shed! (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Eavesdroppers making a point? (7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Second last? (4)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Divine in the distance summit that's not too demanding (10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

D.D. (divine = Doctor of Divinity) in MILE (the distance) + BROW (summit) This was confusing, but ‘divine’ = “a minister of the gospel” or “theologian”.

15a

Slang somehow combined with fair mix of tongues (9)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Boy of mine employee refused tips (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

{c}OLLIE{r} (mine employee) My older son’s name.

18a

Grant much spoken of (5)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Critical of small boy before gym class (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

DES (small boy) + P.E. (gym) + RATE (class) ‘Critical’ in the sense of “very bad”.

21a

Help with crib at refurbished maternity unit, typically (10)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Party organiser with cheering word (4)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Drive after leaving motorway initially required some guts! (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

MOMENTUM (drive) – M{otorway}

27a

A favourite of Henry I reputedly beat at game (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

A pushover? Yes, am hammered each time! (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Nervous, I thank God : peace finally! (2,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

ONE (I, in Roman numerals) + DG (Dei gratia, “by the grace of God) + {peac}E Ha ha ha! DG I was able to biff this one!

Down

1d

Officer coming in shot cheating brother (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Theatre in Scottish island thus has closed early (5,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

in MULL (Scottish island), SIC (thus) + HA{s} (closed early)

3d

Little room, note for diver (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Reasonable treatment, just a shortage of medicine? (4,3)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Purse containing zeroempty in sadly no time (5,5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

anagram of ZERO EMPTY IN, without T (time)

7d

Yardstick that's abandoned right for English mathematician (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

RULER – R (right) + E (English)

8d

Reinvention of wheel's before finding particular alternative (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

anagram of WHEEL’S + ERE (before)

9d

Cold after a day over a huge area (6)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Thirty odd covers go with the Queen song (1,3,6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

anagram (odd) of THIRTY around GO + H.M. (the Queen)

15d

Very far from the rolling downs? (4,5)

Generating...
17d

Entering plea there, decisively beaten (9)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Bind novel with cover raised higher (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

EMMA (novel) + LID (cover) reversed (raised) coming first (higher)

20d

Bearing unhealthy resemblance to old Soviet symbol? (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

SICKLE-Y

22d

When rook soars, catches birds that can't (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

HEARS (catches) with R (rook) raised (soars) “Can’t [soar]”, that is.

24d

One getting ready to go, indeed must stay in (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Sign seen at hen party? (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

0 (zero) MEN A chestnut.