Independent Cryptic #11377

2023-03-30

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Good opening song for Broadway show (8)

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5a

On date with a hairy pig (6)

Generating...

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

D (abbreviation for date) added to A BOAR (a hairy pig).

10a

Moralist has bagels regularly before work (5)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (regularly) of [b] A [g] E [l] S , then OP (op = short for opus = a work in music or literature). The ancient Greek writer of moral fables.

11a

Answer number one bags mark for successful candidate (9)

Generating...

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

A (abbreviation for answer) + PEE (number one = slang for urination), containing (bagging) POINT (mark).

12a

Part of tortoise arguably shell-like (3)

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13a

Very enjoyable sandwich tasting sharing one left (10)

Generating...

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

ROLL (filled bread roll = sandwich) + LICKING (tasting), but with the second L overlapping between the two words.

15a

Derby traders perhaps smell cool pies after power cut (7)

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16a

Beauty exposed ugly affair (7)

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18a

Metalworker putting gold in fruit recipe (7)

Generating...

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

OR (heraldic term for the colour gold) in LIME (fruit) + R (abbreviation for recipe, in old-fashioned medical prescriptions). I’d vaguely heard of this as a surname but never knew what it meant: someone who makes the metal components of harnesses for horses. You learn something new every crossword.

20a

Strange cycling stones giving bumpy ride (7)

Generating...

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

ODD with the letters “cycling” round to put the O in the middle, then GEMS (stones). Fairground ride with electrically-powered cars; it seems the original idea was to avoid the other cars, hence the name, but users quickly decided it was more fun to bump into them deliberately.

21a

Heavy furniture silly men drop again just missing me (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram (silly) of [me] N DROP AGAIN without the ME. I’m not sure those who play or write music for it would like to hear it dismissed as “furniture”, but it usually takes a few people to shift one.

23a

Stop time with it (3)

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25a

Figure drip in gallery is experimental (9)

Generating...

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

TEN (figure = number), then IV (abbreviation for intravenous drip) in TATE (art gallery).

26a

Consult on Iceland bagging pepper up (5)

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27a

Extra repeated line when exiting (6)

Generating...

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

BYE (in cricket scoring, a run scored from a ball that doesn’t hit the bat; this and other non-standard scores are called “extras”), repeated. Colloquial form of “goodbye”, a line spoken when exiting.

28a

Scratching Costner's back Rene Russo treated psychological problems (8)

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Down

1d

What Frasier must pay for a geranium? (10)

Generating...

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

Reference to the character Frasier Crane, from the US TV sitcoms Cheers and Frasier : what he has to pay = CRANE’S BILL . Another name for geranium, based on the shape of its fruit capsule which resembles a bird’s head and beak.

2d

Tank on banks of Seine river to see in Paris (9)

Generating...

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

RE (on = on the subject of) + outer letters (banks) of S [ein] E + R (abbreviation for river) + VOIR (“to see” in French, therefore in Paris).

3d

Turmoil for Putin a man rarely wrong politically (15)

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4d

Old England manager has lost five licences (7)

Generating...

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

[v] ENABLES (Terry Venables, England football manager in the mid-90s) without the V (Roman numeral for five).

6d

Helpful person's reorganised random sailor's property (15)

Generating...

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

BRICK (rather old-fashioned slang for a supportive friend = helpful person: “You’re a brick”) + anagram (reorganised) of RANDOM , then TAR (slang for sailor). Bricks and mortar = slang for buildings, especially as an investment = property.

7d

Respond to current fashion (5)

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8d

Fight expected close to school (4)

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9d

Short run then good jump (6)

Generating...

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

SPRIN [t] (run) without the last letter (short), then G (abbreviation for good).

14d

Fundaments with piles under underwear (10)

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17d

Development of horns gave beetles ... (9)

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19d

... a rearing appearance an improvement (6)

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20d

US marksman's bang I heard (7)

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22d

Get up around noon to wash (5)

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24d

Impale vampires as they sleep? (4)

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