Times Cryptic #29467

2026-02-16

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Young woman on crack finally quitting: it takes spirit (4,5)

Generating...
6a

Starts to stimulate idle mate with exercise (3-2)

Generating...
9a

Garment from Mauritius tactfully returned (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Almost entirely crazy, disregarding current calendar (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

English explorer is close to his dog (5)

Generating...

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

[hi]S + PEKE.  Never heard of him.

12a

Doubt about record probed by University College trustee (9)

Generating...

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

IF backwards + D(U.C.)IARY.

13a

Tearful Chinese communist’s second to be purged (5)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Anyone can fake pain (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Smoke from hot garlic oil (9)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Tea in mug before noon (5)

Generating...

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

ASS + A.M.   A good tea for a cold and damp day, of which we have had plenty.

19a

Retired American thanks Gypsy lover (9)

Generating...

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

A + TA + ROMANI, all backwards.   Romani is almost certain to be a variant spelling of Romany in Chambers, so I didn’t even look.

22a

Fleet gunners drop back (5)

Generating...

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

R.A. + DIP backwards.

24a

Clothing of adolescent offspring under discussion (2,5)

Generating...
25a

Routine supply not yet delivered (2,5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Prospective part of keynote lecture (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Tenor consumed by endless fondness for female attire (4,5)

Generating...

Down

1d

Rifles and axes (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Sadly not cutting flying (2,3,4)

Generating...
3d

Resistance, following Asterix perhaps, regularly belittles petty tyrant (9)

Generating...

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

GAUL + [b]E[l]I[t]T[l]E[s] + R.   A biff for me.

4d

Statute’s fatal importance misrepresented (3,2,10)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Enthusiastic reception of proxy governor replacing head of state (8,7)

Generating...
6d

Money on account for spice (5)

Generating...

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

SUM + A/C.

7d

Secret society in China and a Pacific archipelago (5)

Generating...

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

TONG + A.

8d

Big beast, in pain, died in Barnet (9)

Generating...

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

P(ACHY,D)ERM.

13d

Chum framing another for plot (9)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Shortened long canon in The Four Seasons (4-5)

Generating...
16d

Reportedly understands element of chess or bridge (9)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Fancies cycling away (5)

Generating...

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

IDEAS cycling.

21d

Attack cognoscenti at intervals (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Doctor’s surgery cuts medication (5)

Generating...

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

DR(OP)S.