Times Cryptic #29210

2025-04-22

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Across

1a

Tradesman's first to applaud as it's put back into service (7)

Generating...

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

A{pplaud} [first to…], then AS IT reversed [put back] contained by [into] RN (service – Royal Navy)

5a

County embraces introduction of treatment with universal medication (7)

Generating...

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

LINCS  (county – Lincolnshire) contains [embraces] T{reatment) [introduction of…] + U (universal – film classification)

9a

Rogue Conservative friend invested in stolen goods (9)

Generating...

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

C (Conservative) + ALLY (friend) contained by [invested in] SWAG (stolen goods). Happy memories of cartoon strips featuring robbers in striped jerseys carrying bags marked ‘Swag’.

10a

Country's head of agriculture got back around noon (5)

Generating...

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

A{griculture} [head of…] + GOT reversed [back] containing [around] N (noon). At one time known to many as The Friendly Islands. Queen Salote famously attended the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 and this was even celebrated in a popular song of the time. No Noël Coward anecdotes about this please!

11a

One sister has run away to get engaged (2,3)

flowerflowerflower
12a

One arrives in good timeEuropean travelling by rail and road (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Things such as drama roles encapsulating revolutionary from Niger (10,4)

flowerflowerflower
17a

On bed, I explored being kinkyshe's very fair (8,6)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Literary character's motto central to storyline in book, right? (3,6)

Generating...

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

SAW (motto) + {stor}Y{line} [central to…] contained by [in] TOME (book), then R (right)

23a

Sea foam close to outcrop, birds circling around (5)

Generating...

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

EMUS (birds) reversed [circling] containing [around] outcro}P [close to…]

24a

Non-commissioned officer cut back tests (5)

Generating...

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

SM (non-commissioned officer – Sergeant-Major) + AXE (cut) reversed [back]

25a

Welshman tucked into good foodbeef (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Model had to accept university place (7)

Generating...

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

SIT (model) + ATE (had) containing [to accept] U (university)

27a

Pass artist cuddling sick animal (7)

Generating...

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

GO (pass),  RA (artist) containing [cuddling] ILL (sick)

Down

1d

City like to restrict United, and can (6)

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2d

Malign suggestion conveys a bit less than expected (7)

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3d

Handsome older man lives for high times (6,3)

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4d

Yes, end war somehow, with a conclusion to hostility when resolutions come into effect? (3,5,3)

Generating...

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

Anagram [somehow] of YES END WAR, then A,  {hostilit}Y [conclusion to…]

5d

Violent robbery topped former convict (3)

Generating...

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

{b}LAG (violent robbery) [topped]. I’ve always thought of blag as a swindle rather than anything violent but I have now learned that it can mean both.

6d

Stylish tailcoatnothing on the inside, no pockets (5)

Generating...

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

NAY (no) contains [pockets] T{ailcoa}T [with nothing on the inside]

7d

Port is comparatively piquant (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Husband unhappy with friends turning up last-minute (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Ignoring temperature, desperate to support engineersI'm compensating (11)

Generating...

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

RE (Royal Engineers), I’M BURS{t}ING (desperate) [ignoring temperature]

15d

Ultimately, crushing defeat ended in whitewash (5,4)

Generating...

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

{crushin}G [ultimately], LOSS (defeat), OVER (ended)

16d

Observe fewer things without flaws (8)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Unrestrained tirade about a person occupying seat (7)

Generating...

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

RANT (tirade) containing [about] A + MP (person occupying seat – Member of Parliament)

19d

Operating during the day, vessel is brought in by radio control (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Climber eating hard, out-of-date bread (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

A third of biscuit, absorbed by beverage, is lost (2,3)

Generating...

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

A, then {bi}S{cuit} [third of…] contained [absorbed] by TEA (beverage)

25d

My hotel's out of butter (3)

Generating...

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

G{h}EE (Indian clarified butter) [hotel’s out of…]