Independent Cryptic #11588

2023-12-01

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Support British to the maximum dismissing Unionist? It could be decisive (12)

Generating...

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

SECOND (as a verb = support = give one’s backing to) + B (abbreviation for British) + ALL O [u] T (to the maximum) without the U (abbreviation for Unionist). A second round of voting, after eliminating the least likely candidate(s), when the first vote has failed to produce a decisive result.

9a

Gypsy dodging extravagant caper (5)

Generating...

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

[rom] ANTIC (extravagant?), without ROM (a gypsy; more often seen as the plural Roma ).

10a

Security measure fixed containing iron beside river (9)

Generating...

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

SAT (fixed?), containing FE (chemical symbol for iron, from Latin ferrum ) + TYNE (river in north-east England). I can see that “sit” can have the sense of resolutely occupying a position and refusing to be moved, but it still seems a bit of a stretch to equate “sat” with “fixed”.

11a

Lecturer jolly repeated character coming to the fore being lewdness (7)

Generating...

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

L (abbreviation for lecturer), then CHEERY (jolly) with one E (the repeated character) moved to the front.

12a

1D election mostly gripping America regarding POTUS and FLOTUS? (7)

Generating...

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

S (abbreviation for 1d SMALL) + POL [l] (election) without the last letter (mostly), containing USA (America). The two abbreviations are for the President / First Lady Of The United States – so “regarding a married couple” = spousal.

13a

Face piece of film not quiet very loud (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Mystic line leading to district with two trees (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Arrive to restrain exhibitionist erasing last of the calm (9)

Generating...

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

COME (arrive), containing (to restrain) POS [e] UR (exhibitionist) without the E which is the last letter of [th]E.

18a

Badger runs and runs into grass (5)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Stays behind regarding water supply (7)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Uproar about performance overturning working-class symbol (7)

Generating...

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

FLAP (uproar = disturbance), containing (about) ACT (performance) reversed (overturning).

24a

Never corrupt a neophyte (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Information that’s gathered about eco-politician (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Given to wolfing as it were chewed up chicory plant (12)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Singular set of shops of little consequence (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

City’s first matches under review involving one set of questions (9)

Generating...

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

First letter of C [ity], then an anagram (under review) of MATCHES , including I (one in Roman numerals). A statement of belief expressed as a series of questions and answers.

3d

Fastidious about hospital specialisation? (5)

Generating...

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

NICE (in its older sense of precise = fastidious) around H (abbreviation for hospital).

4d

Dominant child imprisoning son twice (5)

Generating...

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

BOY (child) containing (imprisoning) S S (abbreviation for son, twice).

5d

Type of magazine story about spirited student I ignored (9)

Generating...

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

LIE (story = slang for an untrue account), around FE [i] STY (spirited) + L (abbreviation for learner, as in L-plate = student) without the letter I.

6d

Bad language about writer’s upset medical practitioner (9)

Generating...

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

OATH (bad language), around POET’S (writer’s) reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue).

7d

Deferring onset of intelligence implies responsibility (4)

Generating...

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

NOUS (intelligence or common sense), with the first letter (onset) moved one place towards the end (deferred).

8d

Ultimate proviso when entering farm building is blunt (8)

Generating...

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

ULT (abbreviation for ultimate, though I’m not sure who would need to use it) + IF (proviso, as in “no ifs, no buts”), inserted into (entering) STY (farm building). Stultify = blunt, as a verb = to make something ineffective.

13d

Cake decorator brought in ice-cream for guide (8)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Following Asian primate to test expertise in plants (9)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Oil in USA distributed by American state there (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Director’s dreadful pie chart offering minimal layout (9)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Shift millions before deliveries curtailed (4)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Supports putting restrictions on large navy (5)

Generating...

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

FEET (supports, as a noun, for example short legs holding up a piece of furniture) containing (putting restrictions on) L (abbreviation for large).

22d

Christmas symbol offering no initial passion (5)

Generating...

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

[m] ANGER (Christmas symbol) without its initial letter.

23d

Snap after receiving a new scare (5)

Generating...

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

PIC (short for picture = snap = photograph) containing (receiving) A + N (abbreviation for new).