Independent Cryptic #11660

2024-02-23

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Relative’s name inscribed in gold band (6)

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5a

Where files are kept concerning matter linked to railway (8)

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9a

Eye’s taking in historical period of musical theatre (8)

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10a

I sprint keeping on? I wish (6)

Generating...

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

I + FLY (sprint = to move very fast), containing ON . I wish = if only = expressions of a desire for something unlikely to be achieved.

11a

European woman’s daughter dodging conman (4)

Generating...

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

FRAU [d] (conman), with the D (abbreviation for daughter) missing (dodging). German title for an adult woman.

12a

Programme one element of education to lure trainee (10)

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13a

Remains of fire I’m returning in anger after setback regarding Indic people (8)

Generating...

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

ASH (remains after a fire), then I’M reversed (returning), all inside IRK (anger, as a verb = annoy) reversed (after setback). Associated with the people group originating from the Kashmir Valley.

14a

Suffolk village supplying men for Duke (6)

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16a

Monster is seen at sea (6)

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18a

Note freedom of movement initially denied the peerage (8)

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20a

Eat having free time and money (10)

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23a

Broadcast about launch of canal boat (4)

Generating...

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

SOW (broadcast = to scatter seed for growing) around the first letter (launch) of C [anal]. A barge or other flat-bottomed boat.

24a

Islamic ritual beginning to laud God of Islam on reflection (6)

Generating...

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

First letter of L [aud] + ALLAH (Islamic name for God), all reversed (on reflection). Usually spelled halal: as a verb, it means to slaughter an animal according to the ritual approved by Islamic law.

25a

Casual worker using voice? About time (8)

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26a

Was number 4 in Portugal and Spain after song was devastating (8)

Generating...

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

WAS + fourth letter of [por] T [ugal] + E (abbreviation for Espana = Spain), all after LAY (an old word for a song). I’m not sure the grammar is quite right in the definition. Surely “lay waste [to . . .]” is present tense, and the past tense (required by “was devastating . . .”) would be “laid waste to . . .”? But perhaps there’s a construction I’ve missed.

27a

Relatives I depicted in unpleasant scene (6)

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Down

2d

Drug prosecution is the stuff of headlines? (9)

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3d

Difficulty for golfer say without hole finally completed (7)

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4d

Unexpectedly retain use of tidal region (9)

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5d

Creepier content given a twist where victims are gathered? (15)

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6d

Dirt the writer has got on Hanoverian king (5)

Generating...

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

ME (the writer) added on to GR I (King George the First, of the House of Hanover).

7d

Henry’s coming in kinda lacking (7)

Generating...

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

H (abbreviation for henry, a unit of electrical inductance) inserted into SORT OF (kinda = more or less, but not exactly).

8d

Item from past apparel I carefully will conceal (5)

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14d

Government official imprisoning millions with germs in Arab state (9)

Generating...

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

M (abbreviation for millions) + BUDS (germs = first signs of something, as in “the germ of an idea”), inserted into OMAN (Arab state).

15d

Thinking lead role in Asia will be seized by some form of Oriental (9)

Generating...

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

Initial letter (lead role?) of A [sia], contained in (seized by) an anagram (some form) of ORIENTAL . As in “what’s the thinking / rationale behind that decision?”.

17d

Accept reason for pig being found outside border of sty? (7)

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19d

Flexible story covering rise in growth (not complex) (7)

Generating...

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

LIE (story = slang for an untruthful account), containing MOSS (a simple plant = non-complex growth) reversed (rise = reading upwards in a down clue).

21d

Rising atmosphere and cheers for feature of rodeo (5)

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22d

Start to gibber running from goblins in tree trunks (5)

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