Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword #17746

Daily Mail Cryptic · 30 clues with answers and explanations · 2025-11-10

1 Abuse chaps blocking later tilt at work (3,9)

Answer

ILLTREATMENT
8 Improves choice drink (5,2)

Answer

PICKSUP
9 Chance currently somewhere in India (7)

Answer

LUCKNOW
11 Lacking skill in digital operations? (10)

Answer

INNUMERATE
12 Bridge in resort close to junction (4)

Answer

SPAN
14 U.S. energy distributed in British island (8)

Def

island

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of U.S. + ENERGY = GUERNSEY; definition: "island"

Answer

GUERNSEY
16 Complaint from head of workers, pivotal thing (6)

Answer

WHINGE
17 Jellied food in shelter on return (3)

Answer

EEL
19 Deny note, say, at back of file (6)

Answer

NEGATE
21 Second award winner by circle creating a solemn mood? (8)

Answer

SOBERING
24 Approve regular parts of book? Easy! (4)

Answer

OKAY
25 Pert Mike excited to catch here on and off sports official (10)

Answer

TIMEKEEPER
27 Omitted last of drills and had forty winks (7)

Answer

SKIPPED
28 Free time in the French island certainly (7)

Def

Free time

Type

Charade

Expl

LE (abbreviation="the French") + I (abbreviation="island") + SURE (synonym="certainly") = LEISURE; definition: "Free time"

Answer

LEISURE
29 Headquarters given special study in part of a magazine (6,6)

Answer

CENTRESPREAD