Independent Cryptic #11785

2024-07-18

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Across

1a

Labour beginning to examine provocateur's white paper (10)

Generating...

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

TOIL (labour = hard work) + beginning letter of E [xamine] + TROLL (someone who posts provocative messages online). There used to be a fashion for toilet paper in various pastel shades, but I think it’s almost always white now.

6a

One way to run a mile without problems (4)

Generating...

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

A + M (abbreviation for mile) + OK (without problems). As in the phrase “run amok” = go on a rampage.

10a

Blokes taking lead from damsel in distress (5)

Generating...

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

Anagram (in distress) of [d] AMSEL without the first letter (lead).

11a

Fake suffering's called out - Methuselah's full of it (9)

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12a

Illicit recordings of Welsh Greens broadcast (5)

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13a

Museum regularly checked old issues for damage (9)

Generating...

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

V AND A (abbreviation for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London), then alternate letters (regularly checked) from [o] L [d] I [s] S [u] E [s].

14a

Sailor transports hot American fellow to date (7)

Generating...

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

TAR (slang for a sailor), containing (transporting) H (abbreviation for hot) + US (American) + F (abbreviation for fellow). Thus far = to date = until now.

16a

Accomplished director playing character in Romeo and Juliet (4)

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19a

Opening sections of [Howards End Where Angels Fear to Tread] lots like (4)

Generating...

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

First letters (opening sections) of H [owards] E [nd] L [ots] L [ike]. A place where you wouldn’t expect angels to go, except for fallen ones.

21a

Downright discontented setter's punching worker's lights out (7)

Generating...

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

D [ownrigh] T (dis-contented = contents removed) + I’M (setter’s = the writer of this crossword is), inserted into (punching) BEE (possibly a worker bee). Lights out = the time when people are supposed to be in bed with the lights off.

24a

Service revolver (9)

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25a

What might make you say don't mention it! and less of that! (5)

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26a

Figure Jung's half-cut when going into Electra complex (9)

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27a

Top journalist ringing gong in lodge (5)

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28a

Some retired commandos ostensibly not up to much (4)

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29a

Saint taking on new and unexciting line of work (10)

Generating...

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

PETER (a saint), containing (taking on) N (abbreviation for new) + TAME (unexciting). A line of a work written in verse with a rhythm of five syllable groups to a line, such as most of Shakespeare’s output which is written in iambic pentameter.

Down

1d

Low-ranking office worker behind incomplete work (8)

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2d

Working together like many a football team (8)

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3d

Relaxes with cups and saucers repeatedly taking time out (5)

Generating...

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

[t] EA SE [t] S (cups and saucers), with the letter T (abbreviation for time) removed twice (repeatedly).

4d

E Get Back n (7)

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5d

Wise poet - Homer's neighbour (7)

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7d

Thief supposedly cleaned up image to win power (6)

Generating...

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

Anagram (cleaned up) of IMAGE , containing P (abbreviation for power). A bird proverbially known as a thief, for its supposed habit of collecting small shiny objects.

8d

One member of team upset exercise group I'm afraid (6)

Generating...

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

REP (abbreviation for repetition = a group of physical exercises that may be repeated multiple times during a training session) + EEK! (an expression indicating fearfulness), all reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue). Short for goalkeeper or wicketkeeper in sports.

9d

Wiggling ends pair did twist (8)

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15d

Self-governing Welshwoman's wanting national flowers (8)

Generating...

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

FREE (self-governing) + SIA [n] ‘S (Siân = Welsh female name, equivalent to Jane in English), without the N (abbreviation for national).

17d

Gradually got teeth into Times piece (8)

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18d

Getting round copyright provide new arrangement for instrument (8)

Generating...

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

RE-ORDER (provide new arrangement for) getting around C (abbreviation for copyright). Traditional wooden musical instrument (or the cheaper plastic version played by schoolchildren).

20d

Krypton possibly brought up halfway through a certain Lois's meal (7)

Generating...

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

GAS (krypton possibly: a definition by example), reversed (brought up = upwards in a down clue), inserted into (halfway through) LANE (Lois Lane, character in the Superman comics). For the surface, Superman comes from the planet Krypton.

21d

Perhaps the lightest jockey is bet on (7)

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22d

Sirens in the way of ship (6)

Generating...

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

A LA (French à la = short for à la mode de = in the style of) + RMS (abbreviation for Royal Mail Ship = a sea-going vessel that carries mail under contract to the British Royal Mail).

23d

Reportedly looks for mistakes in Kafka Kundera etc (6)

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25d

A bit of heat delineated by weather map (5)

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