Independent Cryptic #11710

2024-04-22

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Order bloke to wear top (6)

Generating...

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

He(=bloke) in best(=top)

4a

Bent to shut up football supporters' song (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Clear troublemaker must wear top! (6)

Generating...

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

Imp(=troublemaker) in lid

10a

Watched blossom with introduction of Taylor Swift perhaps (8)

Generating...

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

Sat(=watched?) + iris(=blossom) + T[aylor]. I'm struggling to match sat with watched – the only context I can think of is baby-sitting. The def refers to Jonathan Swift, author of the satirical work Gulliver's Travels.

12a

Fully stripped kites helping to trim tails e.g. (12)

Generating...

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

All(=fully) + [k]ite[s] + ration(=helping). "To trim tails" is an example of alliteration because all the leading letters are the same.

15a

Led astray on fringes portion of cathedral ran out (7)

Generating...

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

Led* around apse(=portion of cathedral)

17a

Cup of tea left to chill (7)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Dance poorly say with no visible effort (7)

Generating...

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

Reel(=dance) + off(=poorly)

20a

Resistance to wearing yoga things back in America (7)

Generating...

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

Mats< + in A{merica}

21a

Grabbing instrument zoo's bear played bottom of scale (12)

Generating...

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

(Zoo's bear)* around lute(=instrument)

25a

That group in charge sucks at relating to subjects (8)

Generating...

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

(Them(=that group) + i{n} c{harge}) around(=sucks) at

26a

Passage from bachata hit irks island (6)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Model soldier like Rambo essentially (8)

Generating...

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

Para(=paratrooper) + dig(=like) + [Ra]m[bo]

28a

Cycling group stops bunch of traffic things going overboard (6)

Generating...

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

(Set(=group) with "s" cycling to the end) in jam(=bunch of traffic)

Down

1d

Pub's line-up includes Alabama and fellow singers (10)

Generating...

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

Beers(=pub's line-up) around (Al{abama} + lad)

2d

I point up after drone is lowered (10)

Generating...

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

(I detail<(=point)) after hum(=drone)

3d

Small and lean? Grow taller on this (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Deal the wrong way with jerk following band? (7)

Generating...

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

Sale< + tic(=jerk) after(=following). An elastic band is an example of a band.

6d

Electronic piece spun a lota banger? (9)

Generating...

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

Chip(=electronic piece as in silicon chip) + (a lot a)*

7d

Trip provider needs current credentials (4)

flowerflowerflower
8d

I don’t like that posh skirt (4)

Generating...

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

Tut(=I don't like that) + U(=posh in U/non-U sense)

11d

Raised right boring to sleep with (4)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Government departments take time out for English TV event (10)

Generating...

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

Ministries(=government departments) with the t{ime} replaced by E{nglish}

14d

It blends with some lamb in your food processor (10)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Ski resort offering swine bagged in downs stewed (9)

Generating...

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

Boar(=swine) in downs*

19d

Return of old item cancelling out husband's purchase (7)

Generating...

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

Of<(reversal signalled by return) + o{ld} + t[h]ing (h{usband} removed). The def is in the sense of footing the bill.

20d

Filling food ultimately ruins dessert (4)

Generating...

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

[Ruin]s + pud(=pudding, dessert)

22d

First couple of letters on counter tucked away to send (5)

Generating...

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

Le[tters] reversed(=on counter) + ate(=tucked away). The def is in the sense of sending someone into rapture.

23d

Leaders of swimming team on record pace (4)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Career streaker? (4)

flowerflowerflower