Times Cryptic #29357

2025-10-10

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Across

1a

To run slow recording takes (6)

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5a

Lives so devastated after daughters break up (8)

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9a

Remuneration comprises a million, one notes (5,5)

Generating...

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

PAY (remuneration) around (comprises) PER (a) M (million) ONE I knew this ended with ‘money’, but assumed for a long time that the definition would be ‘remuneration’. Once I realized how PAY came into things, the penny dropped.

10a

Small deserts for all that work (4)

Generating...

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

S (small) leaves (deserts) STILL (for all that) A sneaky one!

11a

Send over cross, then thump opener (8)

Generating...

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

reverse (send over) ROOD (cross) then [do the same with] BONK (thump) I’ve not seen the likes of this wordplay before.

12a

I eat by what looks like ten (6)

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13a

Prime locations for cherriesthis one? (4)

Generating...

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

prime-numbered letters in (prime locations for) CHERRIES Primes are numbers that aren’t the product of smaller numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc.

15a

Fit shelves at intervals in loft (8)

Generating...

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

every other letter of (at intervals) SHELVES in ATTIC (loft)

18a

Hide behind young woman as neccessary? (8)

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19a

Probable second option if (a) is no extras (4)

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

“(b) YES” is the probable second option

21a

Court action reversed in the end, defendants in clear (6)

Generating...

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

reversal of (reversed) last letter of (in the end) DEFENDANTS + IN + NET (clear)

23a

No one on the credit side making concessions? (8)

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25a

One at last bound for New College (4)

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26a

Putting on a motley on pain of death? (2,8)

Generating...

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

anagram of (motley) PUTTING ON A

27a

Dancer perhaps announced time for queen and honey? (8)

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28a

Red Putin's agreed to conceal (6)

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Down

2d

Plain figures in rollover of National Lottery (5)

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3d

Fine quality woman is protecting seabirds (9)

Generating...

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

SHE’S (woman is) around (protecting) ERNES (seabirds)

4d

One of 28 days threatening to boycott Trump and co? (6)

Generating...

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

D (days) OMINOUS (threatening) minus (to boycott) US (Trump and co?) Question mark indeed! I guess ‘Pope Leo and co?’ could refer to all the residents of Chicago? Dominoes have blank through six pips on each square. So in ascending order we have 00, 01, …, 06, 11, 12, …, 16, and so forth, up to 66. That makes 7 + 6 + 5 + ⋯ + 1 = 7 x 8 ÷ 2 = 28 dominoes, a fact I did not know until right now. Possibly, you also did not know this.

5d

"Visit Again Soon!": National Trust boards mimic animal park officer (4,2,1,8)

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6d

Earl cutting key to open small window (8)

Generating...

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

E (earl) removed from (cutting) KEY in (to open) SLIGHT (small) Again it took me awhile to realize that S + LIGHT wasn’t ‘small window’. ‘Cutting’ is new for me here.

7d

Working interminably tedious bar is initially given unwanted exposure (5)

Generating...

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

anagram of (working) all but the last letter of (interminably) TEDIOUS without (bar) first letter of (initially) IS Fortunately I saw the answer right away, because the wordplay here is indeed tedious.

8d

Farewell can move ultimately, with note found inside card (9)

Generating...

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

VALE (farewell) TIN (can) last letter of (ultimately) MOVE + (with) N (note) in (found inside)

14d

Focus is what's under this impressive dish, finally lifted (9)

Generating...

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

EPIC (impressive) ENTREE (dish) with last letter removed (finally lifted)

16d

Space to operate weapon that shoots Australian native in tree (5,4)

Generating...

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

BOW (weapon that shoots) ROO (Australian native) in ELM (tree)

17d

Odd threesome in the bed adopting equally loopy bedroom appliance (8)

Generating...

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

odd-numbered letters of (odd threesome in) THE BED around (adopting) AS MAD (equally loopy) I followed the wordplay like a good little boy and came up with this random product.

20d

Made a copy of 1 with a different partner (6)

Generating...

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

CLOSED (1 across) with N instead of S (a different [bridge] partner) This helped me get 1 across.

22d

Not at the outset aware of dress fabric (5)

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24d

Outfits playing on diamonds contributing to fashion, in essence (5)

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