Independent Cryptic #11651

2024-02-13

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Across

1a

Where you can find Victoria's Secret (11)

Generating...

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

Double definition. Victoria is a line on the London Underground; or underground = secret, in the sense of activity carried out without the approval of the authorities.

7a

Comedian in Jackass needing no introduction (3)

Generating...

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

[t] WIT (jackass = foolish person), without the introductory letter.

9a
22d

(and 22 Down) Siren song by the 21/1A (5,6)

Generating...
10a

Gallant rival upset in style (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram (upset) of RIVAL , in CHIC (as a noun = style = the quality of being stylish and elegant).

11a

Sits around in a car getting very high (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram (around) of SITS , in A + LIMO (short for limousine = large car). Musical term meaning very high-pitched.

12a

President contracted cow disease (5)

Generating...

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

HOOVE [r] (Herbert Hoover, 31st US President) without the last letter (contracted = shortened). A disease of cattle involving gas trapped in the belly.

13a

Old Earl receiving police discharge (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Suggestion of school getting turned around (4)

Generating...

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

ETON (Eton College = a public school) reversed (getting turned around). Note = suggestion = a faint trace, as in descriptions of wine flavours or perfumes.

18a

Pine in Babylon gardens (4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Double dose of drugs for diva? (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Wipe rear end in comfort (5)

Generating...

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

End letter of [rea] R in EASE (comfort).

24a

Perhaps Jim's beginning to shop in supermarket (9)

Generating...

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

MORRISON (perhaps singer Jim Morrison of the Doors ) + beginning letter of S [hop]. UK supermarket chain.

26a

Dictator's rival with talent for reasonableness (9)

Generating...

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

Homophone (dictator’s = speaker’s) of VIE (rival?), then ABILITY (talent). I’m not sure this quite works: rival (as a verb) = vie with , surely?

27a

Alec's chaotic graduation (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Article in More! not taking sides (3)

Generating...

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

[o] THE [r] (more, as in “any more suggestions?”) without the outer letters (sides). Grammatically, the definite article.

29a

Missing page in Paradise Lost edition (11)

Generating...

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

P (abbreviation for page) in an anagram (lost) of PARADISE , then ED (abbreviation for edition).

Down

1d

Footloose touring Florida is perfect (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Poet made up audition sample (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Socialists getting around strike ultimately providing material for Thatcher (5)

Generating...

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

REDS (socialists) around the last letter (ultimately) of [strik] E . No, not that Thatcher; it’s the one who makes traditional roofs out of bundles of reeds.

4d

Play area with family lounge (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

My word for love in marriage is a horny one (7)

Generating...

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

UNI [o] N (marriage), with the O (love in tennis scoring) replaced by COR (cor! = my word! = an expression of surprise).

6d

Lethal Weapon ends with dark material (5,4)

Generating...

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

DEATHS (ends) + TAR (a dark material). In the Star Wars film series, a space station that acts as a super-weapon, capable of destroying pretty much anything.

7d

Factory boss regenerated Harlow (6)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Barbie products possibly wear out (6)

Generating...

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

Double definition, both of them somewhat cryptic. Australian slang for food, for example something cooked on a barbie (Australian for barbecue); or as in “best bib and tucker” = formal clothes for going out = wear out. (The second definition could also possibly be a woman’s lace collar worn over a low-cut bodice.) [UPDATE: As KVa and Hovis have pointed out in the comments, “tucker” is also a slang word for tire out = exhaust: “I’ve had a long day and I’m tuckered”. I hadn’t come across that, but it may well be what Grecian intended for the second meaning.]

14d

Find Nemo swimming around duck in harmony? (2,3,4)

Generating...

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

Anagram (swimming) of FIND NEMO , around O (zero = duck in cricket scoring).

16d

Greek character devoured by child monster (8)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Steve Davis initially upset during lively debate in frame (8)

Generating...

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

Initial letters of S [teve] D [avis], reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue), inserted into (during) an anagram (lively) of DEBATE .

19d

Terrible stigma surrounding British plays (7)

Generating...

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

Anagram (terrible) of STIGMA around B (abbreviation for British). Gambit = play = an action or sequence of actions intended to obtain an advantage in a game, especially in chess.

20d

Quick Bravo over dismissing Australia (5,2)

Generating...

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

HURR [a] Y (hurray! = bravo! = expressions of praise for someone’s achievement) + UP (as in “time’s up” = over = finished). The surface suggests the West Indian cricketer Dwayne Bravo.

21d

Material gains for Grand National jockey (6)

Generating...

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

Triple definition. Luxury fabric; slang for winnings from gambling; or Velvet Brown, teenage girl in the 1930s novel (and later film) National Velvet , who rather improbably rides a Grand National winner.

22d

See 9 Across

25d

Affair in Sons and Daughters (5)

Generating...

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

Double definition. A situation that needs to be dealt with; or as in “deceased without issue” = a legal term for children, who would inherit property after their parent dies.