The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Wednesday, 17th December 2008 There are 15 across clues and 13 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Wednesday, 17th December 2008. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 1: Ransom organised for some ItaliansROMANSAAcross 5: Paper hat for a dunceFOOL'S CAPAAcross 5: Paper hat for a dunceFOOLSCAPAAcross 9: Hostile reaction to Haydn's oratorioCREATIONAAcross 10: Open one in light mealLAUNCHAAcross 11: Number of people in a theatreANAESTHETISTAAcross 13: Garden designPLOTAAcross 14: A rum item turned greenIMMATUREAAcross 17: Planks for getting on the boatBOARDINGAAcross 18: Sleeping spider on the tableRESTAAcross 20: A model interpretationCONSTRUCTIONAAcross 23: One instrument in anotherVIOLINAAcross 24: Our tight untidy flatOUTRIGHTAAcross 25: Support for marriageESPOUSALAAcross 26: Clink is in revoltRISINGDDown 2: The property we own, of courseOURSDDown 3: Material taken from a party by DaisyALABASTERDDown 4: Move in well-connected circlesSPIRALDDown 5: Where young ladies end up?FINISHING SCHOOLDDown 6: State nicknamed sooner rather than later: OK?OKLAHOMADDown 7: Keep small barrel in streetSTUNTDDown 8: She was first in line at the Records OfficeANCESTRESSDDown 12: They meet anonymouslyALCOHOLICSDDown 15: Try out an orphan's harsh regimesTYRANNIESDDown 16: Birds avoiding the last half of mighty stormsMIGRANTSDDown 19: Percher from the nuthatch family by the sound of itSITTERDDown 21: An officer in very daring leapSALTODDown 22: Dangerous ice is so wateryTHIN