Cryptic Crossword
The Evening Standard's Cryptic Crossword 16 December 2025 Answers
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1 B
2 S
3 F
4 R
E
5 B
U
6 F
F
7 L
O
W
P
R
I
C
E
R
R
A
E
E
8 P
9 R
A
G
U
E
10 S
11 C
A
12 L
E
13 D
E
E
D
G
14 T
A
T
A
15 F
O
L
D
16 I
A
N
M
17 T
18 W
I
N
19 C
20 A
L
L
21 W
H
I
T
E
22 H
A
L
L
23 T
H
E
N
24 G
A
P
E
25 E
26 T
O
O
27 T
28 R
A
M
29 C
30 L
A
31 M
L
32 F
E
E
L
33 S
K
A
T
E
34 S
E
C
U
R
E
O
R
R
D
E
35 D
I
S
C
O
V
E
R
36 N
O
B
L
E
S
K
A
Y
Across
- 4. Ultimately very loud refusal (6)
- 7. Not much to pay to prowl around on the rink (3,5)
- 8. Capital letters for a feverish complaint (6)
- 10. Ascend note by note? (5)
- 13. An act defended heartlessly (4)
- 14. Goodbye, twins! (2-2)
- 15. Wherein, sheepishly, to give up playing cards? (4)
- 16. Name one twice (3)
- 17. Castor is a heavenly one (4)
- 19. Reason to ring? (4)
- 21. Marble building with government offices? (9)
- 23. The point at the time (4)
- 24. Look there's an opening for an egghead! (4)
- 26. Furthermore comes to nothing (3)
- 27. The ultramarine part is `ielectric^i (4)
- 29. Uncommunicative creature? (4)
- 32. Have the idea the price is a quid (4)
- 33. Cheap fish? (5)
- 34. To be safe, check out the dog (6)
- 35. Find something compact ~n excessively! (8)
- 36. Nobby types (6)
Down
- 1. How to say dammit when you've got the wind up (5)
- 2. Personal issue of saline solution (5)
- 3. At liberty to make no charge (4)
- 4. Dance round the piano, then drive off (5)
- 5. Pitt the very much younger? (4)
- 6. Economical fur, perhaps, for the girl (6)
- 9. Padre upset about Charlie being Military Police (6)
- 11. Mechanical part of a bridge? (3)
- 12. Machine able to provide endless health? (5)
- 13. A golden part of Ireland? (7)
- 15. In the south of Italy, it's perfectly proper (3)
- 16. In poor health, the Italian left (3)
- 18. It's not every season that brings some new interest (6)
- 20. Smart version of the name (5)
- 21. Question of world interest? (3)
- 22. Performer a bit near the bone? (3)
- 23. Guided excessively around town (6)
- 25. Show a consuming interest in things (3)
- 28. Reads, we hear, the instrumental parts (5)
- 30. Grub said to come up hot! (5)
- 31. Like Andrew, happy as Larry (5)
- 32. To us, it can be useful for keeping going (4)
- 33. Something striking to wear? (4)