Independent Cryptic #11638

2024-01-29

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Across

1a

Scholarly rascal consumed by a terrible malice (10)

Generating...

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

Cad(=rascal) in (a malice*)

6a

Boss getting apprentices half-cut (4)

Generating...

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

Stud[ents]

9a

Loser's lesion oddly covered in distinctive sort of stitches (7)

Generating...

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

Odd letters of l e s i o n in Aran(referring to Aran stitches, the different types of stitches used to make Aran jumpers)

10a

I like this drink which may be radioactive (7)

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12a

Twisted menace behaved wickedly (6)

Generating...

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

Dennis< (as in Dennis the Menace)

13a

Words recited in panto perhaps when horse enters (8)

Generating...

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

(In panto)* around h{orse}

15a

Second XI from Bundesliga showing personality (4)

Generating...

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

S{econd} + elf(=German word for 11)

16a

Unpaid workers sadly lost most of revenue (10)

Generating...

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

(Lost revenu[e])*

19a

Star baseball player's decoration hung by window (10)

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21a

Communist right to reject books mentioning Methuselah (4)

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25a

Pea shoots or rocket leaves from this? (8)

Generating...

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

Not sure but possibly DD referring to a pea shooter and space rocket launch pad.

27a

Market leaders in zero alcohol ale stocked by boozer (6)

Generating...

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

(Z[ero] a[lcohol] a[le]) in bar

29a

Old person and resistance spies abducted by Martians allegedly (7)

Generating...

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

(R{esistance} CIA(=spies)) in men(=Martians). The latter is a reference to the 1992 John Gray book, "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus". Mercia was an old kingdom of England, so someone living there would be an "old person" in the sense of a dweller in ancient times.

30a

What belly dancer reveals during guitar solo? (7)

Generating...

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

CD/DD. A belly dancer exposes the midriff and during guitar solo = mid riff.

31a

Toll from dictator's a little Dickensian (4)

Generating...

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

Hom (indicated by dictator) of knell(=toll). Refers to Little Nell from the novel The Old Curiosity Shop.

32a

Controversial content to save Indy cryptic (10)

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Down

1d

Gathers American is supported by fools (7)

Generating...

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

Am{erican} + asses(=fools)

2d

Gunners behind on table at regular intervals (7)

Generating...

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

Arse(=behind) + even letters of o n t a b l e

3d

Stranger with additional lager possibly losing head (6)

Generating...

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

[B]eerier (beerier being a possible way of saying someone has extra lager)

4d

Drinking establishments popular with empty nesters (4)

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5d

Area 51 ultimately wore down extraterrestrial (5)

Generating...

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

A{rea} + LI(=51 in Roman numerals) + [wor]e [dow]n

7d

A couple of syllables to cheer when throwing up a drop of red (7)

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8d

New nans due to become responsible older women (7)

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11d

Drug cops did lates with absolutely no cover (6)

Generating...

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

[C]op[s] [d]i[d] [l]ate[s]

14d

Baccarat or cribbage entertaining old metal band (4)

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17d

Crossword setters and their boss like an old chestnut (4)

Generating...

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

Us(=crossword setters) + ed{itor}(=crossword editor)

18d

Eastern practice and spicy beverage mentioned by Spooner (6)

Generating...

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

Hom of Chai tea spoonerised

19d

Wise guy's parting words briefly interrupted by doctor (7)

Generating...

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

(So lon[g]) around MO(=Medical Officer)

20d

Conductor not getting involved in dispute (7)

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22d

Crew of sycophants giving up time for king (7)

Generating...

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

Toadies(=sycophants) with t{ime} replaced by r{ex}

23d

Economical fee about to be deducted from £3. (7)

Generating...

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

Thr[ee f]ifty (reversed fee removed from £3.50)

24d

Pull up by space and park? (6)

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26d

Retro graffiti unnervingly captures discontent (5)

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28d

D Jolly Roger u (4)

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