Times Cryptic #29319

2025-08-27

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Plant's beginning to flop down in secluded spot (10)

Generating...
6a

About a thousand following live stream (4)

Generating...

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

BE (live) C (about, circa) K (1000).

8a

Chaps screening short film about tropical islands (8)

Generating...

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

MALES = chaps, insert VID[eo] reversed.

9a

An agreeable sort, bellboy finally succeeded in turning handle (3-3)

Generating...
10a

Nerd wastes no liquor (4)

Generating...

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

ANORAK loses its NO.

11a

Simple versions of the ad, edited to a certain degree (4-6)

Generating...
12a

A comrade comes across military groupsheartless, or fair target? (4,5)

Generating...
14a

Trade union engaged in head count (3,2)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Part of staircase requires fresh coat of enamel (5)

Generating...

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

NEW = fresh, E[name]L.

19a

Mark? He's excited about old English craftsman (9)

Generating...

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

(MARK HE’S)* with OE inserted.

22a

One removes stains from front of coat that's covered in red and nearly ruined (3,7)

Generating...

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

(RED NEARLY)* with C[oat] inserted.

23a

Press retreating, some begrudgingly (4)

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24a

Rock band, half-cut, opening in strange key (6)

Generating...

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

BA[nd], S[trange], ALT = key on keyboard.

25a

Unpolished, one small thing holds ring in place (8)

Generating...

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

I (one) MITE (small thing) insert PL with O (ring) inside that.

26a

Fringe drops penultimate comedy routine (4)

Generating...

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

SKIRT drops its penultimate letter.

27a

Large gathering assembled in part of square (5,5)

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Down

1d

Raging egomaniac or what? (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Master again back around the Spanish Main, at last (7)

Generating...

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

EL (the Spanish) inside REAR (back), [mai]N.

3d

Sweethearts have tête-à-tête? (4,4)

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4d

Whilst hiking, fun somehow turns into false optimism (7,8)

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5d

Accent in Kent town almost grasped by soldiers (6)

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6d

Dance leader, first-class, picked up flower (5,4)

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7d

Informal exchange with Middle Eastern state set up in country house (7)

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13d

Keen swimmer pulls in Resistance soldier (9)

Generating...

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

TENCH (a fish so swimmer), insert R, add ANT = soldier.

15d

As such, always interruptinggo on? (9)

Generating...

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

PER SE = Latin for as such, insert EVER = always.

16d

Shabby journalist turned up and moved quietly around island (8)

Generating...

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

ED reversed, CREPT = moved quietly, insert I[sland].

18d

Reserve electronic weapon on ship (7)

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20d

Man possessing skill in motorsport? (7)

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21d

Safe to cuddle small hound (6)

Generating...

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

PETER (slang for a safe), insert S[mall].