Times Cryptic #29042

2024-10-08

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Singer's sad attempt to pick up start of recitative (8)

Generating...

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

BLUE (sad), BID (attempt) containing [to pick up] R{ecitative} [start of…]

5a

Hare-brained sort initially apt to make spiteful remarks (6)

Generating...

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

S{ort} [initially], CATTY (apt to make spiteful remarks)

10a

Give up work, releasing son to hold sway (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Jerks following celebrities reflected meaningful study? (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Nothing absorbing on skin is unique (9)

Generating...

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

NIL (nothing) containing [absorbing] ON + PARE (skin – peel)

13a

Dodge eastern fellow going west (5)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Emergency flight served by express elevator (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Religious teacher given time to chatter (6)

Generating...

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

RABBI (religious teacher), T (time)

18a

Quick bite bishops demanded in middle of river (6)

Generating...

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

B+B (bishops) contained by [demanded in middle of] NILE (river). I’m not sure about ‘demanded’ here as it seems a bit excessive.

20a

Chewy sweet painter fed to artiodactyl mammal (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Muslim lawyer's everyday clothing (5)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Sailor's right to lead managers (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Ruse devised by informer in theatre musical to begin with (9)

Generating...

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

RAT (informer) contained by [in] STAGE (theatre), M{usical} [to begin with]

26a

Old wash round ears at first, and go (5)

Generating...

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

LAVE (old word for wash) containing [round] E{ars} [at first]

27a

Chaperon about to arriveretired woman (6)

flowerflowerflower
28a

National flag originally hoisted by crew (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Cut of beef, one almost entirely fit for a nobleman (8)

Generating...

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

BARON (cut of beef), I (one), AL{l} (entirely) [almost]. Not a cut one hears much about these days but ‘The Baron of Beef’ is a rather good pub in Bridge Street, Cambridge.

2d

University acceptable for workers' group (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Composer's predicament in African stateand his own, we hear (8,7)

Generating...

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

JAM (predicament) contained by [in] BENIN (African state), BRITTEN – aural wordplay [we hear] “Britain” (his own – BB’s native state)

4d

Consider others, concealing muscle (7)

flowerflowerflower
6d

See beautiful girls cutting last of ornate flowers (10,5)

Generating...

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

CANTERBURY (see – cathedral city), BELL{e}S (beautiful girls) [cutting last of {ornat}e]

7d

Neat, adopting Indonesian island's loyalty to race (9)

Generating...

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

TRIM (neat) containing [adopting] BALI’S (Indonesian island’s)

8d

Servile types principally seen in Arabian republic (3,3)

Generating...

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

S{een} [principally] contained by [in] YEMEN (Arabian republic)

9d

English thriller writer left in shade? (6)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Strengthen army corps having legal validity (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Move forward, carrying large club (8)

Generating...

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

BUDGE (move) + ON (forward) containing [carrying] L (large)

19d

Junior officer's quarters good for stopping crime (6)

Generating...

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

E + N (quarters), then G (good) contained by [stopping] SIN (crime)

20d

Attractive person, dear to the French, seizing power (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Note Clio, for example, departs, seeing the funny side (6)

Generating...

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

A (note), MUSE (Clio, for example), D (departs)

24d

Wake-up call in the style of the jollies? (5)

Generating...

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

À LA (in the style of), RM (the jollies – Royal Marines)