Independent Cryptic #11603

2023-12-19

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Across

1a

Pigeon in port briefly with stick from Brighton? (8)

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5a

Musical composition has right person on pitch (6)

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9a

They applaud one hundred fast movers on track? (8)

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10a

Long time in enclosure being theatrical (6)

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12a

Quick words to music biddy regularly missed (5)

Generating...

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

RAP (rhythmic speaking of words accompanied by music) + [b] I [d] D [y] with alternate (regular) letters missed out.

13a

Gold lining grand urinal bewildered maiden (9)

Generating...

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

AU (chemical symbol for gold, from Latin aurum ), inserted into (lining) an anagram (bewildered) of G (grand = slang for £1000 or $1000) + URINAL . Maiden, as in “maiden voyage” = inaugural = the first occurrence of something.

14a

Spectacular performer's week in quiet country (7)

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16a

Metal spun in Shanghai and Baghdad (7)

Generating...

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

The chemical symbol for the metal mercury is Hg (from an earlier Greek-derived name hydrargyrum ); the letters HG are reversed (spun round) in both [shan]GH[ai] and [ba]GH[dad].

18a

Banners Poles badly singe beforehand (7)

Generating...

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

N + S (abbreviations for the North and South Poles), with an anagram (badly) of SINGE before.

20a

Solo work about rascal in classical rural setting (7)

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22a

Star qualities help primarily in securing many album sales (9)

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24a

Pieces band arranged back-to-front (5)

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25a

Make another change to grass by centre of site (6)

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26a

Festival star's powerful piece on PM (8)

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27a

Clergyman made a confession to some extent (6)

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28a

Practise on vehicle used for final journey (8)

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Down

1d

Documents contents of grey trousers (7)

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2d

Supports children playing pianos (including Mike) (9)

Generating...

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

CH (abbreviation for children, in genealogy records perhaps?) + anagram (playing) of PIANOS , including M (Mike in the radio alphabet). Champion, as a verb = support = give one’s backing to.

3d

Party extremely permissive duke's high? (5)

Generating...

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

DO (slang for a party) + end letters (extremely) of P [ermissiv] E + D (abbreviation for duke). Doped = high = slang for under the influence of drugs.

4d

Form most of stanza number one travelling north (7)

Generating...

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

Most of VERS [e] (stanza = section of a poem or song text), then NO (no. = abbreviation for number, from numero ) + I (one in Roman numerals) reversed (travelling north = upwards in a down clue).

6d

Feline energy excited corgi that's clear (9)

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7d

Half of standard radio confirmation (5)

Generating...

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

Half of [jolly] ROGER = pirate flag = standard. Word used in radio communications to mean “message received and acknowledged” = confirmation.

8d

Payment from King with allegiance lacking at first (7)

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11d

8's address maybe shared by Emma and Amanda (4)

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15d

Grandee in AGM if breaking up company (9)

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17d

The German runner in UK crowned by one in French clothing (9)

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18d

Central section in finale came on once more (7)

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19d

Two seconds hold acceptable for wrestling (4)

Generating...

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

S (abbreviation for second) + MO (short for moment = second), so “two seconds”, containing U (acceptable?) Perhaps the U is as in “U and non-U” = acceptable to upper-class society; or possibly a U (unclassified) grade in an exam = just about acceptable but not very good.

20d

Calm animal good in a hot country (7)

Generating...

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

ASS (another word for donkey = animal), then G (abbreviation for good) inserted into UAE (United Arab Emirates = a hot country). As in to calm / assuage someone’s fears.

21d

Lack of muscle on view when cold descends (7)

Generating...

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

AB (short for abdominal muscle, though more usually used in the plural form “abs”), then SCENE (view) with the C (abbreviation for cold) moving a couple of places towards the end (descending, in a down clue).

23d

An age to put up place for a concert (5)

Generating...

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

AN ERA (an age) reversed (to put up = upwards in a down clue).

24d

Excite highest level in auditorium (5)

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