Times Cryptic #28837

2024-02-12

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Card game with limits on pack, reportedly? (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

As is surface of mirror, reflecting shops entered by minister (8)

Generating...

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

reversal of REV in DELIS

10a

Companion taking time out from first part of novel? (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Bill's partner visited by doctor in group (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Hobson's choicewith only sugar cubes? (4,2,2,4,2)

Generating...

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

slightly odd wordplay: if you use cubes rather than granulated sugar, you use lumps. Hobson’s choice refers to situations where you have no real choice.

14a

Heading past it, leaseholder's housing (5)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Flower put on garlands also by priest (9)

Generating...

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

AND (also) ELI (priest) in DON (put on); or, if you prefer, DON  wraps (‘garlands’) AND & ELI

18a

How to contain runs after evident result of fielding error (9)

Generating...

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

first cricketing clue: OVERT (evident) followed by (‘after’) HOW containing R (runs)

20a

Fighting earlier involving leaders in Glorious Revolution (5)

Generating...

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

G R in AGO

21a

Note I tremble after death march's beginning (14)

Generating...

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

DEMISE M[arch] I QUAVER

25a

Poetry in very old language (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Blunder in Caribbean location not initiated by an irregular soldier (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Monk's home brewing Mary's ale (8)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Music genre for example, a type of jazz that's retro (6)

Generating...

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

reversal of EG (for example) A RAG (type of jazz); not a genre I am familiar with

Down

1d

Risky investmentnot the firstembezzlement! (10)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Phoney call from pond life? (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Recluse wound up watch in middle of week (7)

Generating...

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

TIMER reversed (‘wound up’) in [w]EE[k]

5d

Current transaction, visionary (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

French nobleman failing to keep order, ending in defeat (7)

Generating...

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

OM (order [of merit]) [defea]T in VICE (failing)

7d

Left at the crease doubled up, player upset about that (9)

Generating...

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

IN IN (batting in cricket – twice) in GAMER (player) reversed

8d

Portal with bar up, zero getting in (4)

flowerflowerflower
9d

Enthusiastic volunteer having to improve before grammar lesson? (2-6)

Generating...
13d

Aggressive and popular solver's champion, keeping fine (2-4-4)

Generating...
15d

At this point, Father carried by boy out of that place (9)

Generating...

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

HERE (at this point) FR (father) in TOM (boy)

17d

Piece hot off the press, Times cryptic (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Fuel in test that's explosive, ladies and gentlemen (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Tanks in piazza stripped, one occupying area after evacuation (7)

Generating...

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

[s]QUAR[e] (piazza ‘stripped’) I (one) in A[re]A (after the middle part has been ‘evacuated’)

22d

Hungry vampire, Dracula biting the vicar last of all (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

House where burglar, say, drops in? (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Bad to be wrongly directed (4)

flowerflowerflower