Independent Cryptic #11646

2024-02-07

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

State Queen's child with German grandparent ultimately can be fighter in war (13)

Generating...

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

MESS (state, specifically a bad state, as in “look at the state you’re in!”) + ER’S (the late Queen’s) + CH (abbreviation for child) + MIT (“with” in German) + last letter (ultimately) of [grandparen] T . WW2-era fighter aircraft made by the German company of the same name.

8a

Stockings seen in American drama series not suitable for everyone (4)

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9a

Snail gag we rejigged for Billy Connolly perhaps (10)

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10a

Actors left newspaper out in Leeds? (6)

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11a

Socket in bum provides explanation for absence (8)

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12a

Randy roue is loose throughout every month (9)

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14a

African tree in Zimbabwean capital but not the outskirts (4)

Generating...

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

[h] ARAR [e] (the capital city of Zimbabwe) without the outer letters (outskirts). One of two evergreen tree species with that name, found in northern Africa.

15a

Cheeky girl at least ten (4)

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16a

Donkey jumped over five ducks and attacked (9)

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20a

Rest of Belgium quite bored by Ghent's centre (8)

Generating...

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

B (abbreviation for Belgium) + RATHER (quite, as in “this clue is quite good”), with the centre letter of [gh] E [nt] inserted (boring = making a hole in it). A brief rest to catch one’s breath, as in “I need to take a breather before I do any more”.

21a

Destroy party stealing silver (6)

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23a

Say out loud what is plenty to make a small omelette? (10)

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24a

Old Republicans doing the twist and punk dance (4)

Generating...

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

O (abbreviation for old) + GOP (abbreviation for Grand Old Party = nickname for the US Republican Party), all reversed (doing the twist). A “dance” (mostly just jumping) associated with punk music.

25a

Reclines with dildo unfortunately leading to rash (13)

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Down

1d

Second fruit bun finally consumed in Anchorage (7)

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2d

Promised W-H-E-A-T (5)

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3d

English composer and Italian author rejecting a Spanish painter (7)

Generating...

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

ELG [a] R (English composer Edward Elgar) + ECO (Italian author Umberto Eco), rejecting the letter A. Spanish renaissance painter; his nickname means “The Greek” because he was, but he spent much of his working life in Spain.

4d

Celebrity on beach removes clothes holding European flag (15)

Generating...

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

STAR (celebrity, as in film star) + SAND (beach) + STRIPS (removes clothes), containing E (abbreviation for European). Not a European flag, of course, but an American one.

5d

Journalist inspires group of women in Scottish town (6)

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6d

Leaving university innocent boy gets real drunk mainly (9)

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7d

Sample drinking hole that can do breakfast (7)

Generating...

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

TASTER (sample), containing (drinking) O (a round hole). A device for making toast, which you might eat for breakfast.

13d

Call second son Lambert to stir up faint memory (9)

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15d

Stuff up working with international inventor (7)

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17d

Fool captured enemy territory (7)

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18d

English old people can be reserved (7)

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19d

Shoddy and pathetic heap of clothes (6)

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22d

Treacherous individual very content to follow important guest (5)

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