Independent Cryptic #11581

2023-11-23

Solve on Independent →

Across

2a

Repositioning downpipe a little - wanting it to be impressively kitted out (13)

Generating...

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

Repositioning downpipe a little – wanting it to be impressively kitted out *(DOWNPIPE A L <it> TLE ; “wanting it ” means letters “it” are dropped from anagram, indicated by “repositioning”

9a

Main witness by the sound of it (3)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Took exam earlier - having made plans to pass (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

One who scoffs as fashionable fancy man finally takes husband's place (5)

Generating...

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

One who scoffs as fashionable fancy man finally takes husand’s place C H IC (=fashionable); “ fanc y ma n ultimately (=last letters) takes husband (=h)’s place” means letters “yn” replace “h”

12a

Expected refund occasionally in recession (3)

Generating...

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

Expected refund occasionally in recession <r> E <f> U <n> D ; “occasionally” means alternate letters only are used; “in recession” indicates reversal

13a

Vessel docked next to port delivers wine (5)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Erroneous fines discovered by a court (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

In just seconds American politician's polling is low (3)

Generating...

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

In just seconds, American politician’s polling is low <a> M <erican> <p> O <litician> <p> O <lling>; “just seconds” means second letters only are used; cf. the cattle are lowing, mooing

16a

Red light district's close - a snog with lips can be arranged (10)

Generating...

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

Red light district’s close – a snog with lips can be arranged *(<district> T (“close” means last letter only) + A SNOG + LIPS); “can be arranged” is anagram indicator

19a

What 2 down is to provide settlement in other words (10)

Generating...

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

What 2 down is to provide settlement in other words “2 down” is a Spoonerism of “do (=provide, e.g. food) + town (=settlement)”!

20a

Navy uniform initially remains here? (3)

Generating...

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

Navy uniform initially remains here? U (=uniform, in radio telecommunications) + RN (=navy, i.e. Royal Navy); cremated remains are often stored in an urn

22a

Very much hate felon working without any electronics (7)

Generating...

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

Very much hate felon working without any electronics *( HAT <e> F <e> LON ); “without any electronics (E)” means both “e” s dropped from anagram, indicated by “working”

24a

Recalled first regiment breaking bones (5)

Generating...

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

Recalled first regiment breaking bones RA (=regiment, i.e. Royal Artilley) in 1 ST (=first); “recalled” indicates reversal

26a

Number nine's on son (3)

Generating...

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

Number nine’s on son S (=son) + IX (=nine, in Roman numerals)

27a

Rowed as terms from opera singer enter dictionary (5)

Generating...

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

Rowed as terms from opera singer enter dictionary <oper> A <singe> R (“terms from” means last letters only) in OED (=dictionary, i.e. Oxford English Dictionary)

28a

Put an end to a book and finish page off (7)

Generating...

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

Put an end to a book and finish page off A + B (=book) + <p> OLISH (=finish, on furniture; “ page (=P) off” means letter “p” is dropped)

29a

Self-confidence therefore runs out (3)

Generating...

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

Self-confidence therefore runs out E <r> GO (=therefore); “ runs (=R, in cricket) out” means letter “r” is dropped

30a

Model adds to a museum - making over area for one's founder? (13)

Generating...

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

Model adds to a museum – making over area for one’s founder ? (ADDS T < A (for O)> MUSEUM); “making over (=O, in cricket) area (=A)” means letter “o” is replaced by “o” in anagram, indicated by “model”; semi- & lit.

Down

1d

Main track in thoughts when cycling (5)

Generating...

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

Main track in thoughts when cycling IDEAS (=thoughts); “cycling” means that the first letters moves to the end, then the second, etc

2d

At least 14 people swim in this sea with biosolids left inside (9)

Generating...

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

At least 14 people swim in this sea with biosolids left inside WATER (=sea) + [L (=left) in POO (=biosolids)]; there are two teams of 7 in a water polo match

3d

Student having talk about injury (6)

Generating...

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

Student having talk about injury L (=student, i.e. learner) + ESOIN (NOISE=frequent or public talk; “about” indicates reversal)

4d

Actually ignoring Trump perhaps statecraft of America is struggling (15)

Generating...

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

Actually , ignoring Trump, perhaps statecraft of America is struggling *(STATECRAFT OF AM <eric> A ); “ignoring Trump, perhaps (=Eric, businessman son of Donald)” means letters “eric” are dropped from anagram, indicated by “is struggling”

5d

More than one bent police officer put under pressure regarding second jobs (15)

Generating...

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

More than one bent police officer put under pressure regarding second jobs P (=pressure, in physics) + RE- (=regarding) + DI (=police officer, i.e. Detective Inspector) + S (=second) + POSITIONS (=jobs, posts)

6d

Overdrawn clubs must replace the computers etc to get out of debt (8)

Generating...

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

Overdrawn clubs must replace the computers etc to get out of debt IN C for <the> RED (=overdrawn; “ clubs (=C, in cards) must replace the ) + IT (=computers etc) means letter “c” replaces “the”

7d

Ace point to start complaint (5)

Generating...

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

Ace point to start complaint TINE (=point, prong) + A; tinea is the scientific name for ringworm

8d

Head of Dorchester hotel can supply various events (9)

Generating...

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

Head of Dorchester hotel can supply various events *( D <orchester> (“head of” means first letter only) + HOTEL CAN); “supply”, i.e. flexibly, is anagram indicator

15d

Badly steer most of spray over grass (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Press covering university uprising quiet journalist supported (9)

Generating...

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

Press covering university uprising quiet journalist supported [U (=university) in NORI ((to) IRON=(to)press; “uprising” indicates vertical reversal)] + SH (=quiet, as exclamation) + ED. (=journalist, i.e. editor)

18d

Together throughout time and space (8)

flowerflowerflower
21d

California supports Schwarzenegger rejecting drug for herbal remedy? (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Bound over river - it's drained (5)

Generating...

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

Bound over river- it’s drained R (=river) in TIED (=bound, with e.g. rope)

25d

Principle of 1 with old money at the start (5)

Generating...

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

Principle of 1 with old money at the start A + XI (=side, i.e. eleven players; A-SIDE is the entry at 1) + O <ld> M <oney> (“at the start” means first letters only)