Times Cryptic #29254

2025-06-12

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Across

1a

Flamboyant lawyers love what Manuel says (7)

Generating...

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

Lawyers collectively form the BAR. Love is O in, for example, tennis, and then Manuel is either a generic Spaniard, or more likely the hapless waiter from Fawlty Towers, whose sketchy command of English prompted a ¿QUE? to whatever instruction Basil gave.

5a

Issue pound, having gained backing, more or less (7)

Generating...

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

Pound (weight) is LB, having gained provides UP, the two being joined and reversed. -ISH is a suffix denoting more or less, of which I  am sureish.

9a

Roots tangled in the densely packed place (9)

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10a

See a police officer gets a round in, perhaps (5)

Generating...

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

Not drinks, then, but a bullet. See is LO, add A and D[etective] S[ergeant]

11a

Have a hankering for chicken, mostly (5)

Generating...

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

An adjectival form of chicken is CRAVEN. All but the N for your entry.

12a

Really not far from home on island (2,7)

Generating...

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

Not far from home is NEAR NEST, to follow I[sland]. Lose time by assuming “home” is always IN

13a

In photo, auntie thanks new salesperson (4,9)

Generating...

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

Here’s where I lost time. Photo is SHOT, thanks is TA and N[ew] is standard. To assemble the answer (which thankfully can’t be anything else) you need to derive PASSIS from auntie. You’ll be pleased to know light has dawned: auntie is PA’S SIS[ter].

17a

Poet whose children were naughty smearing earlobe with chilli (7,6)

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21a

Talk of the old days, short skirts in the playground back in style? (9)

Generating...

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

MINIS for short skirts inserted into REC for playground and finished off with the back (end) of [styl]E

24a

Sail boatbuilder shortened after trimming edges for ages (5)

Generating...

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

NOAH the ark builder minus the H following [a]GE[s] (edges trimmed).

25a

Nap before noon having so many hours until then (5)

Generating...

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

Nap gives DOZE, add N[oon]

26a

Ban plagiarism in written work (9)

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27a

Sopranos cast short of a godfather? (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (cast) of SOPRANOS with the A removed.

28a

Classic sandcastleGeraldine holds with symmetry (2,5)

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Down

1d

Make pale line in the sand (6)

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2d

Try splitting beam of light up in practice (9)

Generating...

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

HEAR is from try, insert into a reverse (up) of LASER for light beam.

3d

Case of Ecuadorians occupying capital? Yes (5,2)

Generating...

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

The first and last of E[cuadorian]S contained in the local capital, QUITO.

4d

Fresh lime in tea to remove, maybe from the cup (9)

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5d

One's balance improves certainly during gymnastics lesson (5)

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

Certainly gives AYE, and gymnastics lessons are P.E. One inside the other.

6d

Area trading with rubles (7)

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7d

Mad assessor's self-explanatory statement? (5)

Generating...

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

As in hopping mad. An assessor says “I RATE”

8d

Doubt that boy will chase mates out of bounds (8)

Generating...

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

That boy will chase translates to HE’S IT in the playground game of tag. Strip the bounds (outside letters) of [m]ATE[s]

14d

Holding broken TV, consult office's tech whizz (5,4)

Generating...

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

The letters TV are split into SEE for consult. Chambers gives “settled duty or employment” for office, so I offer that as an equivalent  to JOB (adding the ‘S)

15d

Equally cold final section on the way up (9)

Generating...

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

Equally cold is AS C. Add ENDING from final section.

16d

Game in which king swaps letter, initially for a D (8)

Generating...

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

King is a CHARLES. The first letter of -um- L[etter] is swapped out for A D.

18d

Knock top off pot taken by gambler? (7)

Generating...

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

From cricket. The pot taken by a (successful) gambler is WINNINGS. Remove the top letter.

19d

Well grounded soldier enters the nearest pub (7)

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20d

Rush someone who minds taking drug (6)

Generating...

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

Someone who minds: CARER. Insert E for drug.

22d

Singer joined then given audition (5)

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23d

Quality of drink that's uncertain (5)

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