This crossword No. 27994 clues and answers were published on Tue 03 Dec 2019 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 27994 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Less fresh challenger at first one defeated : CLOSER
5-across – Anti-unionism, note, very high : MISOGAMY
9-across – Other than bums may be contracted in this : NOTRUMPS
10-across – Hard to please in house: comfortable outside : CHOOSY
11-across – On the fence, not a prison sentence? : NONCOMMITTAL
13-across – Drug smuggler gets cross : MULE
14-across – Ship bearing Republican flag : STREAMER
17-across – Needleworker also poked into potato : TATTOOER
18-across – Turn over bread : ROLL
20-across – Naval officer casts losers adrift : FIRSTSEALORD
23-across – Tiny packets, as can hide insect : QUANTA
24-across – Running away from such elevated entertainment? : INFLIGHT
25-across – Empty, Charlie can eat cooked sea creature : CETACEAN
26-across – Ask a person for leave : BEGONE
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Nothing in set for sale is a result of crime : LOOT
3-down – Binding disc inside inserted tube : STRINGENT
4-down – Acts in front of these empire builders : ROMANS
5-down – Study of the population’s church attendance? : MASSOBSERVATION
6-down – Tree not doing so well, increasing numbers said : SYCAMORE
7-down – Attack, capturing large crow : GLOAT
8-down – Wrongly vague about broken ankle : MISTAKENLY
12-down – To look impressive, reduce someone’s weight? : CUTAFIGURE
15-down – Reducing a sort of loan : ABRIDGING
16-down – You should be embarrassed home’s far off : FORSHAME
19-down – Chat in party’s brilliant : CONFAB
21-down – Holy Italian who is sacked just before Christmas : SANTA
22-down – Be wrong about hard climb : SHIN
This crossword has in total 27 where 14 are across and 13 are down.