Independent Cryptic #11674

2024-03-11

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Across

1a

Stern child sorry about tense picture (15)

Generating...

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

Back(=stern) + tot(=child) + eh<(=sorry backwards) + future(=tense of a verb)

9a

Navy tracking wayward marine who made unproven claims (7)

Generating...

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

N{avy} after(=tracking) after marine*. I think the def refers to the Riemann hypothesis, which I won't attempt to explain as I haven't the foggiest what it's about, but it is one of the most important unproven conjectures in mathematics.

10a

Do turn into Headless Man? (7)

Generating...

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

Wind(=turn) in [i]sle(Isle of Man being an example thereof)

11a

Spare bank (4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

See inside Curie's second home (10)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Riotous pastoral events? (14)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Dan etc developed alarmist traits (14)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Walk through temporary clearing (10)

flowerflowerflower
23a

King once called joint (4)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Some proclaim it a terrible ape (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

School literature of elite becoming tender to Shylock (7)

Generating...

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

Elite with the lit{erature} being replaced by ducat. Ducats are the currency used in the Merchant Of Venice by Shakespeare.

27a

Mysterious character behind golfer to pitch film (15)

Generating...

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

Rump(=behind) + Els(=Ernie Els, golfer) + tilt(=pitch) + skin(=film)

Down

1d

Just having nothing to wear? (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

End another board game perhaps after onset of Chinese burn (7)

Generating...

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

Re-mate (which might be a way of ending another chess game) after C[hinese]

3d

Duck in lift bumping head (4)

Generating...

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

[S]teal, lift here being a slang term for steal with the first letter "bumped" i.e. removed.

4d

Pulling 3 around new Jerusalem (9)

Generating...

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

Teal(=answer to 3) around n{ew} + Sion. Sion is one of the names of Jerusalem used in the bible.

5d

Relieved and happy but out of place (5)

Generating...

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

[Pl]eased

6d

Where pilots go to be confirmed (10)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Keep rare pair of diamonds including queen in card game (7)

Generating...

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

(Two D{iamonds} around ER) in uno(=card game). The def refers to undercooking something like a steak.

8d

Contents of table's bread and wine (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

A ship with one crew member wrapping article from Italy to take on board (10)

Generating...

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

A SS(=ship) + ((I mate) around il(=masculine form of definite article in Italian))

15d

National park replaced green site (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Filthier S&M previously shunned by liberal (8)

Generating...

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

S & M + ear[l]ier (minus l{iberal})

18d

Rock band covering mostly soft sad music (7)

Generating...

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

REM(=US rock band) around quie[t](=soft).

19d

PIN number much appreciated being in credit (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

River always going in opposite directions (6)

Generating...

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

Ever(=always) in S & N(=opposite directions)

22d

Brigitte Bardot's very special hair (5)

Generating...

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

Tres(=very in French, the language of Bardot) + s{pecial}

24d

Stony sculpture (4)

flowerflowerflower