Times Cryptic #29441

2026-01-16

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Across

1a

Delicate shot dealing with service when returning (8)

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

GO (shot) + RE (dealing with) MASS (service) reversed

6a

Show contempt for playwright copying Psmith? (5)

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

Psmith → PSHAW https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw

10a

Former South American king provided for driver (2-3)

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

INCA (former South American) R (king)

11a

Bad spirit more or less reflected a lack of claret (9)

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

CA (more or less) + reversal of NO (a lack of) MEDOC (claret) I eventually got this from the wordplay, but for a long time I had C _ _ _ DERON (NO RED reversed).

12a

Mistake during dive, leaving five engineers behind (8)

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

ERR (mistake) in DIVE – V (five) + RE (engineers)

13a

Daughter first mentioned unopened window (6)

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

D (daughter) + FORMER (first mentioned) without the first letter

15a

Frankly weird present heralded by hearts on card (7,7)

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

OUTRÉ (weird) SERVE (present) preceded by H (hearts) next to WIT (card)

17a

Silly wet males not for Germaine Greer, say (5,2,7)

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22a

Work over there has Hebe in the middle (6)

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23a

Presume Spooner's cook specially shaped dish? (4,4)

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

switch first letters of BAKE (cook) MOLD (specially shaped dish?)

26a

Learning lover's posh but heartless, fancy him a lot (9)

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

P{os}H + anagram of HIM A LOT A lover of learning.

27a

Very hearty sandwiches to cut into triangles? (5)

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

HALE (hearty) around (sandwiches) V (very)

28a

Assigned to classes, letting name go on a list (5)

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

RANKED (assigned to classes) – N (name) I thought the meaning here was ‘angled’, but perhaps I’m wrong.

29a

One man's retreat out of Moscow, primarily the stuff of history (8)

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

HERMITAGE (one man’s retreat) – M (Moscow, primarily)

Down

2d

If heard, a dog can be found (5)

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3d

Mute used by violinist, otherwise racket pierces terribly (7)

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

OR (otherwise) DIN (racket) in SO (terribly)

4d

Soaking allotment opened by official staff (10)

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5d

Toss sticks at the seaside (4)

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6d

Innkeeper's yearly drink cut by doctor (7)

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7d

Note struggle behind house, result of shooting there? (4,5)

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8d

Unfriendly judge goes after successful outcome (6)

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9d

Undesirable growth of plant factory justified in report (6)

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14d

Ring sailor in race that's lost timehe'll protest (10)

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

BELL (ring) YACHTER (sailor in race) – T (time) My last one in.

16d

Thin cleaner not thin enough to fit around piano (9)

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

TOO THICK (not thin enough) around P (piano) I liked this one.

18d

Prisoner with muscles died gripping that bunk (7)

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

ABS (muscles) D (died) around (gripping) CON (prisoner)

19d

Number one hit, of course? (3,4)

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20d

Hasty dairy supplier not quite filling tin (6)

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21d

Real man using lasso under pressure (6)

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

ROPER (man using lasso) after P (proper)

24d

Prison officers were kept in by delay (5)

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25d

Something for the offertory when in church? (4)

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