Times Cryptic #29421

2025-12-24

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Perceptive, almost completely retaining sense (10)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Low temperature subject to debate (4)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Forbidden cheers, did the opposite? (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

A wood salesman set about garden construction (7)

Generating...

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

A LOG (wood) + REP, a salesman, all reversed.

12a

One working with monk to spread unique feature of church (5,4)

Generating...

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

I ON + DOM (monk), all in ONE, unique. A church feature, though not in the UK very much.

13a

City rector's district curtailed (5)

Generating...

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

PARIS(h). Never have quite understood the difference between a vicar and a rector.

14a

Indistinct mark, black, that's found on jacket (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Old steward's mad scenes with prince on stage (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Real gold? So credit reduced (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Initially seasick in a vessel, hold fast (5)

Generating...

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

S(easick) in A VAT, a vessel. Hold fast, me hearties…

21a

Bus at lastleave car in a flash (5)

Generating...

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

(bu)S + PARK, leave a car.

23a

Three-legged race? (9)

Generating...

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

so, not that race where you tie two peoples’ legs to each other. A CD, they are called TRIathlons for a reason.

25a

Graduate and students at back of compound (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Line adopted by harsh critic and man of ideas? (7)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Piercing howl (4)

Generating...

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

a DD. A wind can be piercing/keen.

28a

Without concern race around apparently unable to listen (10)

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Down

1d

Enthusiastic about securing right opening (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Assumed handle like this is attached to burner of barbecue (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Innovative interruption in basic learning (6-8)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Pouring outside, so dreary (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Any amount of pressure on youngster after endless calculations (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Type of blood with forbidding smell (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

I tell you plainly there is a problem with your tyre (5,4)

Generating...

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

A DD, of sorts.

9d

Play, turning 21, retaining power to continue recording (6,4,4)

Generating...

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

P(ower) in SPARK (21ac) reversed, + LAST (to continue) + TAPE (recording). A one-act, one man play by Samuel Beckett. Heard of it, never seen it.

14d

Vetoes discussion about energy plant (9)

Generating...

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

E(nergy) in BANS TALK.

16d

Lead-in he's devised for news in brief (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Why one's offered a sample, as much as one likes (2,5)

Generating...

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

another DD, of sorts. What some of my blogging colleagues call “cryptic hints”

19d

Cheerful stonemason? (7)

Generating...

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

and yet another “cryptic hint” ..

22d

Entertain a period of reflection (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Persian in the end very casually having kittens (5)

Generating...

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

(persia)N + *(VERY).