Times Cryptic #29231

2025-05-16

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Quiet lanes meandering one after another (10)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Sons pitch compasses and ruler (4)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Refuse to get drawn in by current flap about rich and famous (10)

Generating...

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

LITTER (refuse) contained by (drawn in by) a reversal of (about) I (current) and TAG (flap).

10a

Heavenly influencer's famous channel retired (4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Penalty scored by Rugby International changed match? You can bet on it (5,7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Slate counter, perhaps with wine beside it (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Firth and Grant beyond popular (5)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Sanctions precluding tons of Hungarian wines (5)

Generating...

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

tOKAYS (Hungarian wines) minus (precluding) the ‘t’ (tons). I thought of the wine almost immediately having recently completed the WSET Level 2 (yes, I am now qualified to drink wine), but continue to have difficulty with Tokays/Tokaji. I have the same difficulty with Islay/Isla, but these are the only problems with alcohol that I’m prepared to admit.

19a

Confess and reveal unique diamond in one's hand? (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Head explorer's meaning to spend time in North Pole base (12)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Shamelessly look at withdrawing hotel goody bags (4)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Humour in function hosted by enviable neighbours moving east (10)

Generating...

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

COS (cosine, function) in (hosted by) JONESES (enviable neighbours) moving the first E (east) left by one.

26a

Vote against large ironclad contract (4)

Generating...

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

X (vote) next to (against) L (large) in FE (ironclad).

27a

In general rage, irritated after new drills failed badly (2,3,5)

Generating...

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

anagram of (irritated) RAGE, after N (new) in (drills) an anagram of (failed) BADLY.

Down

1d

Cereal's over by sink (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Lacking ecstasy, supply crack (4)

Generating...

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

eQUIP (supply) minus the ‘e’ (ecstasy).

3d

Bold board perhaps using leverage (12)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Bones of seafarers found on island (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Person mechanically moving gold and red fruit before noon (9)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Temperature dropped when working clay-pit site in field (10)

Generating...

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

anagram of (when working) CLAY-PIT SITE, minus (dropped) ‘t’ (temperature).

8d

Muscle's cramped by lazing about (10)

flowerflowerflower
11d

Failing general hospital shown up after sick beset by pains (8,4)

Generating...

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

LEE (General) + H (hospital) reversed (shown up), after ILL (sick) contained (beset) by ACHES (pains).

13d

One covering binding request to turn papers over is bound to succeed (5-5)

Generating...
14d

Dig outside channel topped by earthan overlay of just one foot (10)

Generating...

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

SPADE (dig) containing (outside) RILL (channel), after (topped by) E (Earth).

16d

Rambling Liberal used to lie about rival party member (9)

Generating...

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

reversal of (to lie about) L (Liberal) + USED, then TORY (rival party member).

21d

Raised grievance on the radio (5)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Swerve erratically to some extent? (4)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Rum could be what leads to rows in theatre bar area (4)

Generating...

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

aISLE (what leads to rows in theatre) minus (bar) ‘a’ (area).