Times Cryptic #29419

2025-12-22

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Grab a customer blocking counter (6)

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5a

Constituent briefly a fan of substantial backing (8)

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9a

Hapless MP edits last of Trotsky's letters arranged in wrong order (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of MP EDITS + [Trotsk]Y

10a

Soldiers entertained by American writer's language (6)

Generating...

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

A(R.A.)BIC.

11a

Bones chanced upon west of a Turkish city (10)

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13a

Partner's celebration starting late (4)

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14a

Reportedly think cat does this (4)

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15a

Adult on his travels? Very strange (10)

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18a

Seals experience narrow escape (5,5)

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20a

Nobleman just about to lose case (4)

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21a

A country once mostly forming large land area (4)

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23a

Miriam late up? It's of no consequence (10)

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25a

Line shared by neo-Marxists and anti-Semites? (6)

Generating...

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

Cryptic hint, a fairly common device for punctuation marks.

26a

Tryst with Eva turning into farce (8)

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28a

Increasingly sentimental tears regularly shed on boat (8)

Generating...

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

TENDER + [t]E[a]R[s].

29a

Lead on clubs to eliminate onset of racism in full (6)

Generating...

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

ENTI(-r,+C)E.

Down

2d

Newly-wed thriving in prison (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Arm of TUC upset group ignored by leader of Conservatives (7)

Generating...

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

TUC upside-down + [c]LASS.

4d

Idiot's backward step (3)

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5d

River pilot going out of business (5)

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6d

Upfront dad with gender dysphoria? (11)

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7d

Enterprising Indian chief (2-5)

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8d

Sign of one in thrall to warmonger (5)

Generating...

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

AR(I)ES.

12d

Somehow dreading son's mess (1,4,6)

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16d

Drink consumed after article pushed back (3)

Generating...

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

ATE with the A moved to the end.

17d

Jeering exhausted amateurs in south polar region (9)

Generating...

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

S + ARC(A[mateur]S)TIC.

19d

Stoned, as one's avocado might be (7)

Generating...

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

Cryptic hint.

20d

Try leaving hospital refuge sober (7)

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22d

Design of steps announced (5)

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24d

Mum's game over, start to relax (5)

Generating...

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

MATE! + R[elax].

27d

Demands of Treasury barely fell (3)

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