Times Cryptic #29314

2025-08-21

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Standard car coat (5)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Record numbers peer at back of tower (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Hasty notes about using non-slip footwear (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Complete lunatic, off his head (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

I give a hand, at the outset specifying highest standards (6)

Generating...

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

I DEAL giving a hand at cards, plus S[pecifying] at the outset.

12a

Chief not involved in modern industry (8)

flowerflowerflower
14a

What reduces exposure to UV round area better? (5,5)

Generating...

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

Round is O, area is ZONE, and then better as somone who lays a bet gives LAYER. Ozone chicken is not a thing.

16a

Above patronising theatre performance (4)

flowerflowerflower
19a

In the past year turned to a system of exercises (4)

Generating...

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

In the past is AGO, add y[ear] and reverse (turned).

20a

Diesel adds different way to experience horse-power (10)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Bread agency delivered pancake mixture (8)

Generating...

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

The agency is the CIA, followed by what sounds like (as delivered) BATTER for pancake mixture.

23a

Woman's appeal about to make an impact (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Tough only child (5)

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27a

A piece of drapery cushioning husband's heavy fall (9)

Generating...

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

A piece of drapery is A VALANCE, which “cushions”, surrounds H[usband]

28a

Officer in scrap cut just above the chest (9)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Exhausted writer nursed by good man (5)

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Down

1d

Clergyman bored by the author's unknown meanness (9)

Generating...

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

This time “the author’s” gives I’M, to be positioned within PARSON for clergyman, with Y for unknown added.

2d

French wine: dissolute type drinking gallons (5)

Generating...

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

Dissolute type ROUÉ, insert G[allons]

3d

War hero in Far East regularly catching cold (8)

Generating...

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

The even letters of fAr EaSt with CHILL for cold inserted.

4d

Decisive punch, extremely harmful, is cause of black eye (4)

Generating...

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

Dark make-up, from a decisive punch KO and the extremes of H[armfu]L

5d

In hairy situation finally get in a rage (10)

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6d

Revolution supported by what may offer entitlement (6)

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7d

Tea turned out to be free of additives (9)

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8d

Almost broken chain is light to carry (5)

Generating...

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

I think broken must be represented by TORN, from which you cut the end and add CH[ain]

13d

Official publication I run in government (10)

Generating...

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

Publication is MAG, add I then R[un] in STATE for government.

15d

Wildly revelling, so tragic I collapsed (9)

Generating...

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

Another anagram (collapsed) of SO TRAGIC I.

17d

Popular stop where almost everyone gets on (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

They fly in for summer having entered a race from far away (8)

Generating...

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

MARTINS, like swallows, are summer visitors. Enter the extra A.

21d

Painter perhaps turned into almost complete artist (6)

Generating...

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

Our painter is the perennial RA, here reversed (turned) and inserted in  an incomplete WHOL[e]

22d

Copper base raised somewhat (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Ill-gotten gains Hercules stores up (5)

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25d

Vegetable for example not used in keg beer (4)

Generating...

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

knock of the e.g. from Keg and add ALE for beer.