Independent Cryptic #11665

2024-02-29

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Editing ad rethink location of hopeless shot? (9)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Area of France that's near Luxembourg and Germany (5)

Generating...

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

F{rance} + i.e.(=that's) + L{uxembourg} + D{eutschland}

9a

50% off sparkling wines - that's a winner! (5)

Generating...

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

Champ[agnes]

10a

It's cold west of Montana wetter east of Montana (9)

Generating...

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

Rainier(=wetter) on the right/east side of MT (which is the state postal abbrev for Montana). The other def refers to Mount Rainier, the highest peak in Washington, a state which lies to the west of Montana.

11a

Fans of one-day cricket format? (6)

Generating...

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

Somewhat dubious rendering of L overs for 50 Overs, a form of one-day cricket where each side bats for 50 overs.

12a

Coaches groups of 25? (7)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Selling wingless nuts and bolts possibly to drill association (9)

Generating...

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

[D]etail[s](=nuts and bolts) in ring(=association)

16a

Ancient implement hoe revamped with bits of duck tape (5)

Generating...

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

(Hoe + d[uck] t[ape])*. The def refers to the archaic conjugation of the verb to do e.g. they doeth=they implement.

18a

I caught detached iceberg turning back diver (5)

Generating...

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

[Ic]eberg< (I c{aught} removed). My text didn't have a space between back and diver, which I think must be a mistake.

20a

Seeking enjoyment in grand old city: 'Coot's Touring Society' (9)

Generating...

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

Epic(=grand) + Ur(=old city in Mesopotamia) + I'm(=Coot's) around s{ociety}

22a

Important question and answer session finally with corporation (7)

Generating...

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

Qu{estion} + a{nswer} + [sessio]n + tum(=corporation i.e. stomach). Quantum can be used as an adjective to mean important e.g. quantum leap.

25a

Small nut mostly pink (6)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Worried about fabricated denial? The opposite is conveyed (9)

Generating...

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

Denial* around ate(=worried), with the "opposite" indicating the reversal of the implied order in the first part of the clue. However, I'm struggling to work out exactly what the definition is. Worried would seem to be the obvious one, but that's also part of the fodder. Perhaps it's meant to be some sort of &lit.

28a

16 down in Nice (5)

flowerflowerflower
29a

You must record this match? (5)

Generating...

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

Seems to be a DD but I'm not sure what the first part refers to.

30a

Show contempt for Michelle Mone maybe calling out 'get lost!' (9)

Generating...

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

Dis(=show contempt, a shortened form of disrespect) + hom of "a peer", which at the time of writing Mone still is.

Down

1d

South American in London area leaving 'as a precaution' (4)

Generating...

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

In ca[se] (S{outh} E{ast}, which is often regarded as the equivalent of London in crosswordland, being removed)

2d

Melt what ? (7)

Generating...

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

What* = thaw out

3d

Former partner abandoned pet evil 'xxxx'! (9)

Generating...

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

Ex + (pet evil)*. Expletives are often 4 letter words, so might be indicated by 4 x characters.

4d

Intermission in war film stops Erica fidgeting (9)

Generating...

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

Mist(=film) in Erica*

5d

King tees off in hallowed Scottish venues (5)

Generating...

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

K{ing} + irks(=tees off). Kirk is a Scottish word for a church.

6d

Belief in those running football damaged top to bottom (5)

Generating...

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

FA(=football association) + hit(=damaged) with the h moving to the bottom

7d

Sanctimonious chap probing both sides of emotive affair (7)

Generating...

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

(Pi(=sanctimonious) + sod(=slang term for chap)) in e[motiv]e

8d

Day perhaps to see to teacher's retirement (5)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Water lover going back in: swimming or fishing? (4)

flowerflowerflower
15d

GI less sad after training manoeuvres on mountain (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Crumpled blouse found during party for couples (9)

Generating...

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

Blouse* in DUP(=Democratic Unionist Party)

17d

Bulge throbbing softly (4)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Thrilling night out: husband wasted after knocking back booze (7)

Generating...

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

Nig[h]t* (h{usband removed) after ale<

21d

Vow one's kept in university finding love (7)

Generating...

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

I do(=vow in wedding ceremony) + I in LSE(=London School of Economics)

22d

Get cold feet in game (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Contribution to co-written ethical opinion (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Subdued Greek character heads for the emergency department (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Beloved daughter departs for an unknown period (4)

Generating...

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

Dear with the d{aughter} replaced by Y, an unknown in maths equations.