Independent Cryptic #11688

2024-03-27

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Metal on the roof intermittently reflecting sunlight? (8)

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6a

A newspaper includes odd pieces in French to impress (6)

Generating...

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

A + FT (abbreviation for Financial Times = newspaper), containing the odd-numbered letters of F [r] E [n] C [h]. Affect, as a verb = impress = to have an effect on someone.

9a

Nameless Cambridge college keeps university groups waiting (6)

Generating...

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

QUEE [n] S (Queens’ College, Cambridge; it’s named after more than one Queen, hence the apostrophe at the end) without the N (abbreviation for name), containing U (abbreviation for university).

10a

Last date's reason for not phoning? (8)

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11a

The Spanish still travel abroad bagging hotels at the last minute (12)

Generating...

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

EL (a form of “the” in Spanish) + EVEN (still = undisturbed) + TOUR (travel abroad), containing (bagging) H H (more than one of the abbreviation for hotel = hotels).

13a

Note doctor performs operation in reverse (8)

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15a

Bother wrong name on back of certificate (6)

Generating...

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

X (a mark to indicate that something is wrong) + CITE (name, as a verb = to identify someone as being responsible for something), all added on to the last letter (back) of [certificat] E . I’d usually think of “excite” as raising positive emotions and “bother” as raising negative ones; but I suppose “I’m not bothered” can be equivalent to “I’m not excited” = I don’t really care.

17a

Corpulent swimmer taking short walk at reduced speed (6)

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18a

Feeding ten I turn to mince (8)

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19a

Shiver cycling racers in Yorkshire town (12)

Generating...

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

SHUDDER (shiver), with the letters “cycling” so that the initial S moves to the end, then FIELD (the group of competitors in a specific race, especially in horse racing). West Yorkshire market town.

23a

Half staring chap cooked duck soup (8)

Generating...

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

Half of GAZ [ing] (staring), then an anagram (cooked) of CHAP , then O (zero = duck in cricket scoring). Spanish chilled tomato soup.

24a

China reported Asian hardwood now more expensive (6)

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25a

Out of intransigency Prussia split part of Europe (6)

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26a

Wasting billions perhaps Trident alarm sounds permanently (8)

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Down

2d

Praise for two flips (4)

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3d

Gale ordered sweet and sour (9)

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4d

Offspring lives with us rising expenses primarily (5)

Generating...

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

IS (lives) + US reversed (rising = upwards in a down clue) + first letter (primarily) of E [xpenses]. As in the legal phrase “without issue” = without any descendants.

5d

Miracle shot dead on small target (7)

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6d

Some people uncoupling at home (9)

Generating...

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

PART (some = not all) + MEN (people), in between (uncoupling) AT .

7d

Take lift up saving time with children (5)

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8d

Top doctor confining new sovereign to bed (10)

Generating...

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

N (abbreviation for new) + SULTAN (sovereign ruler of a Muslim state), contained in (confined to) COT (a small bed).

12d

Words very old police force eschews on street (10)

Generating...

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

V + O (abbreviations for very and old), then C [onst] ABULARY without ON + ST (abbreviation for street).

14d

Sailor on land entertained by ship paintings (9)

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16d

Baby-sitting circle had parties (9)

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18d

'Please leave' picked up very loudly from football supporter? (7)

Generating...

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

FF (abbreviation for fortissimo = musical term for very loudly) + OF FAN (from a football supporter, for example), all reversed (picked up = upwards in a down clue). Slang expression meaning “go away!”, but rather less polite than the “please” in the definition implies.

20d

Deal with a druggie (5)

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21d

Log you could make treen from (5)

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22d

I'm doubtful magistrate has secured vault (4)

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