Independent Cryptic #11624

2024-01-12

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Across

5a

Seaman not entirely kind about trouble (6)

flowerflowerflower
7a

Catching leaders in head office agreeing (7)

Generating...

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

Catching leaders in head office agreeing H <ead> O <ffice> (“leaders in” means first letters only) + OK’ing (=agreeing (to))

10a

Old busybody left-winger holding text for you (5)

Generating...

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

Old busybody , left-winger, holding text for you U (=text for you , i.e. how you is often written in an SMS) in TROT (=left-winger, i.e. Trotskyite)

11a

Former lover in charge amongst women active in US state (9)

Generating...

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

Former lover in charge amongst women active in US state [EX (=former lover) + I/C (=in charge)] in *(WOMEN); “active” is anagram indicator

12a

Fool with no work accepting reduction in revenue perhaps at first (10)

Generating...

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

Fool with no work accepting reduction in revenue, perhaps at first [ INCOM <e> (=revenue; “reduction in” means last letter is dropped) + P <erhaps> (“at first” means first letter only)] in [NO + OP (=work, i.e. opus)]

14a

Mate carrying one component of wishing well? (4)

Generating...

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

Mate carrying one component of wishing well? I (=one) in PAL (=mate)

16a

Cut back limiting transactions a bit more (5)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Team to go down (3)

Generating...

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

Team // to go down Double definition: a set is a team or group AND to set is to go down, i.e. of the sun

19a

Toilet getting dry internally? It’s something of a gamble (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Dahl character not the full pair? The very thing (4)

flowerflowerflower
21a

High clouds: I start getting perturbed after a lot at sea (10)

Generating...

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

High clouds I start getting perturbed after a lot at sea *(A LOT) + *(I START); “getting perturbed” and “at sea” are both anagram indicators

24a

Coffer artist depicted with golden band (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

First couple heading off assessing cost of decoration (5)

Generating...

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

First couple heading off assessing cost of decoration <pr> ICING (=assessing cost of); “first couple heading off” means first two letters are dropped

27a

Spot or half-spot porter’s office (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Skin disease: woman’s source of annoyance mostly (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Islander’s son with a complaint (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Parson last to be moved in change in order (10)

flowerflowerflower
3d

That man interrupts canine with a doggy treat? (4)

Generating...

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

That man interrupts canine with a doggy treat? HE (=that man) in [C (=canine, in dentistry) + W (=with)]

4d

Hissing excuses upset conservation group (8)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Target of coastal erosion? Absolutely true as heard on the radio (8)

Generating...

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

Target of coastal erosion? Absolutely true, as heard on the radio Homophone (“as heard on the radio”) of “literal (=absolutely true, faithful, of a record of events, say)”

8d

Finished half of Beatles LP getting up (4)

Generating...

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

Finished half of Beatles LP, getting up REVO <lver> (=Beatles LP, from 1966); “half of” means 4 of 8 letters are used; “getting up” indicates vertical reversal

9d

Attractive opportunity opening finally after merchandise running short (11)

Generating...

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

Attractive opportunity opening finally after merchandise running short GOOD <s> (=merchandise; “running short” means last letter is dropped) + LOOK-IN (=opportunity, chance) + <openin> G (“finally” means last letter only)

10d

Notes United fans as biased (11)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Hope to stay limber - using this? (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Fashion supplier one not so clever yesterday in Paris (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

New cryptic clue not last one among three for Shakespearean drunk (8)

Generating...

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

New cryptic clue, not last one among three, for Shakespearean drunk [N (=new) + *( CLU <e> (“not last one” means last letter is dropped from anagram, indicated by “cryptic”))] in TRIO (=three); Trinculo is a drunken jester in The Tempest

22d

Experts securing very good high points (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Film’s star to support a cause though not at first (4)

Generating...

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

Film’s star to support a cause, though not at first <p> LEAD (=to support a cause, advocate); “not at first” means first letter is dropped

25d

Source of wood support for golfer crossing river (4)

Generating...

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

Source of wood , support for golfer crossing river R (=river) in TEE (=support for golfer)