Independent Cryptic #10943

2021-11-08

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Across

9a

The last sign of resistance (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, hence “the last” of anything; and the standard abbreviation for ohms, the unit of electrical resistance, is the capital-letter Omega, .

10a

Swimming every gala in a mediocre fashion (9)

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11a

He corrects each misdirected flyer (9)

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12a

Still upset? Not very (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

IN [v] ERT (as a verb = turn upside down = upset), without the V (very).

13a

Hold up back of trousers with belt or elastic (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram (elastic = flexible) of the last letter (back) of [trouser] S + BELT OR .

15a

What buds do sometimes on vacation in Orlando? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

S [ometime] S (on vacation = after emptying), in BLOOM (the actor Orlando Bloom ).

17a

Butchered animal and left out membranes (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram (butchered) of ANIMA [l], without the L (left). Plural of amnion, the membrane that surrounds an embryo; I didn’t know the word, but I had heard of amniotic fluid so it was straightforward to deduce.

18a

Light-headed (3)

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I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. Abbreviation for Light-Emitting Diode; or headed (as a verb) = was the leader of = led.

20a

Snoops around Hooters (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. Snoop = nose around = to be inquisitive; or hooter = slang for nose. (The surface suggests the US restaurant chain Hooters, whose name derives from a rather more vulgar slang usage of the word – though they will try to tell you it’s all about owls.)

22a

Sport featuring Raider and a naughty kid jumping around (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A + BAD (naughty), with an anagram (jumping) of KID around it. Team sport in which a player acts as a “raider” into the opposition’s territory.

25a

Dorian dashed back inside store for cereal (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

GRAY ( Dorian Gray , as in Oscar Wilde’s novel) with RAN (dashed) reversed (back) inside.

26a

Cover for bishop's joint (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. A ceremonial hat worn by a bishop; or a joint, typically in woodworking, used where two straight pieces meet at an angle.

27a

Once again insist on some sunscreen for cellulite (2-7)

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30a

To struggle against associate taking criminal cut (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

RELATE (associate, as a verb), containing an anagram (criminal) of CUT . To show resistance to something; a rather obscure word, but guessable from its derivative “reluctant” which seems to have survived better.

31a

Arouse with a stiff bash? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A + WAKE (a party in honour of someone who has died = a bash for a stiff), with the question-mark indicating a rather contrived definition.

Down

1d

Where solver can find a castle's boundary! (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. Reference to 4d BALMORAL, where solvers of this puzzle can find a castle; or (in cricket) boundary = four = a ball hit to the boundary of the ground, scoring four runs.

2d

Removing outer layers of eczema on nipple agitated old gasbag (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[ec] ZE [ma] removing the two outer letters at each end (outer layers), then an anagram (agitated) of NIPPLE . People sometimes query whether “on” indicates a specific order for two wordplay elements, but it’s easier just to think of it as “next to”. Zeppelin = old airship, though strictly speaking it was a rigid structure containing lots of individual gasbags.

3d

Overload current charging motor (4)

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I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

TAX (overload = stress) + I (scientific symbol for electrical current). Taxi = a vehicle in which passengers pay a charge to travel, hence “charging motor”.

4d

Scotch bonnet burns - remedy taken by mouth (8)

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5d

Nearly threw away page over writer's tip (3,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BINNE [d] (threw away), without the last letter (nearly), then P (page), all reversed (over).

6d

A frail icon rattling around Hollywood home (10)

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7d

Reported fees for American banks (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Homophone (reported) of LEVIES (fees). US term for embankments along a river, especially to prevent flooding in low-lying areas.

8d

Bulge spotted in Darcy's trousers (4)

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13d

Player left to go in second (5)

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14d

Exercising nude with active viewers (2,8)

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16d

Dim boy holds good degree (5)

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19d

Person involved in public relations regularly fell for bad lines (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

DOGGER (someone involved in sexual activities in a park or similar public place) + alternate letters (regularly) of [f] E [l] L . Bad poetry, written by someone who isn’t good at it.

21d

Perhaps emergency exit leads to steel duct (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

First two letters (leads) of ST [eel], then AIRWAY (duct).

23d

Parcel contains voided ticket for Waterloo? (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BALE (a parcel), containing T [icke] T (voided = middle letters removed). Definition by example, indicated by the question mark.

24d

Strategic gain from concrete situation? (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Definition and cryptic definition. As in “make inroads into”; or a situation where you might find concrete is IN the ROAD.

26d

See 29 Down

28d

Plant a kiss on Frank Lampard initially (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A + X (symbol for a kiss at the end of a written message), added to the initial letters of F [rank] L [ampard]. The plant that provides linen and linseed.

29d
26d

(and 26 Down) Always veer off course, occasionally crossing motorway (8)

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