Times Cryptic #29032

2024-09-26

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Leader of risky venture dismissed for embezzlement (10)

Generating...

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

remove the first letter of SPECULATION(risky venture)

6a

Insanely brief response to morning meeting proposal? (4)

Generating...

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

The response to a morning meeting might be A.M. OK

9a

Women's hen party reorganised to include Mike and Daphne, perhaps (5,5)

Generating...

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

W(women), then an anagram of HEN,PARTY containing M(Mike).

10a

Livid initially after fling (4)

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12a

Proclamation of expert male spies on religious books from the east (14)

Generating...

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

PRO(expert) then CIA MEN(male spies) after NUN(religious), then OT(religious books) reversed

14a

Bounder knocked back ale with approval (6)

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15a

One grieving and smarting over argument with king (8)

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17a

Anxious, moving back home for cushy job (8)

Generating...

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

INSECURE(anxious) with IN moved down a place. This clue has attracted a bit of controversy in the comments, “down” was a poor choice of word, at the time I was thinking of “moving down the street”. I think it is fine – IN is moved towards the back of the word.

19a

Active selfish protester finally ousted by the French (6)

Generating...

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

NIMBY(selfish protester) with the last letter replaced by LE(“the” in French)

22a

Snow-white polar bear Eric and he almost shot (14)

Generating...

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

anagram of POLAR, BEAR, ERIC and He minus the last letter

24a

Impressive electronic photograph (4)

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25a

Headstrong imp quaffed cans (4-6)

Generating...
26a

Long to swap husband for new recruit (4)

Generating...

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

SIGH(long) with H(husband) replaced by N(new)

27a

Has first birthday in flat or apartment (10)

Generating...

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

IS ONE(has first birthday) inside MATTE(flat)

Down

1d

Dupe old man with hint of nonchalance (4)

Generating...

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

PA(old man), W(with) and the first letter of Nonchalance

2d

Erotica stunted and corrupted European cabal (7)

Generating...

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

anagram of EROTICa minus the last letter, then E(European)

3d

Suffering narcolepsy, go for help with diagnosis (12)

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4d

Troublesome element of peasantry in Germany (6)

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5d

Inviting punishment by touching French bread with tips of oily fingers (2,4,2)

Generating...

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

ON(touching), PAIN(“bread” in French), and the first letters of Oily Fingers

7d

Are unaware Military Intelligence experts cocked up (7)

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8d

Typist is principal paying guest (10)

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11d

Working at a monitor is paying off (12)

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13d

High spirits following danger (10)

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16d

Ditching goods and trading positions, Greta Garbo gardens (8)

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18d

Canary sings endlessly, rattling cage (7)

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20d

Slug eating black part of plant (7)

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21d

Traces of wear in small areas of shirt (6)

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23d

Half-cut male following urges while away (4)

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