Times Cryptic #29195

2025-04-04

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Miserable, bitter line recalled Milton's work (7)

Generating...

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

SAD (miserable) + ICY (bitter) + L (line), all reversed (recalled). DNK, and not the first of his that comes to mind, I would suppose.

5a

Acknowledge authenticity of scholarship? (5)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Old climber related to Jacob? (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Inconvenience of salary yet to be paid to auditor (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Chicken soup aroused greed? (7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Word that describes central part in English and French (7)

Generating...

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

PITH (central part) contained by (in) E (English) + ET (and, in French).

13a

Regulator initially blocks licence to supply E (10)

Generating...

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

first of (initially) Regulator) contained by (blocks) an anagram of (supply) LICENCE TO.

15a

High-flier with interest in school fostered by governess (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Circulation of trouble-free newspaper led by senior journalist (4)

Generating...

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

remove ‘ail’ from (trouble-free) DailY (newspaper), preceded (led) by ED (editor, senior journalist).

20a

Take issue with Remain coming to the fore (10)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Go before pressure leads to really embarrassing surrender (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Congress backs reckless offer to surrender (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Plant bottom on silly individual (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Decree this country's European borders American (5)

Generating...

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

UK’S (this country’s) + E (European), contains (borders) A (American). I tried ‘ukame’ first, but thankfully saw more sense. An edict from Tsarist Russia, apparently, NHO.

27a

Piece played without practice session? (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Makes time to welcome earl demanding serious attention (7)

Generating...

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

EARNS (makes) + T (time) containing (to welcome) E (earl).

Down

1d

Position certainly lowering one's spare time (7)

Generating...

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

LIE (position) + SURE (certainly) moving the letter “I” (one) further down (lowering).

2d

Sore toe treated with cream initially and antiseptic (8)

Generating...

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

anagram of SORE TOE.

3d

Trap caught shape-shifting individuals (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Leakage of confidential item carrying charge (9)

flowerflowerflower
5d

In chess, perhaps, manoeuvre ultimately surrendering piece? (6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

One more for each, except this woman (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Article based on paper is plagiarism? (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Mock article fitting for Men Only (8)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Disneyland's precisely where spectacles may be seen (2,3,4)

Generating...

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

where one wears one’s spectacles, and ‘precisely’ in the USA (I certainly use this phrase too, but think ‘on the nail’ is more common over here). I will leave others to comment on the aptness of this description of the great, proud nation of freedom and democracy.

16d

Qualified in final boxing championship (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

American university about to receive fresh opening (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Had to take ecstasy to get calmer (3,4)

Generating...

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

DID (had) containing (to take) E (ecstasy), then OWN (get).

21d

Vague legislation no longer supporting case for intervention (7)

Generating...

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

EX-ACT (legislation no longer) underneath (supporting) the first and last letters of (case for) InterventioN.

22d

What is curbed by supreme command? (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Note head of Greek god captivates heathen (5)

Generating...

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

A (note) + first (head) of Greek, which PAN (god) contains (captivates).

24d

Whistleblower checking books raised a stink (5)

Generating...

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

REF (whistleblower) containing (checks) OT (books), all reversed (raised).