Independent Cryptic #11820

2024-08-28

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Across

1a

Make up crap about universal truth (11)

Generating...
7a

Head of oil drilling company gives expression of surprise (3)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Devil's new advanced jolly personality (5)

Generating...

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

SATA N (devil) with the N (new) advanced within the word to form SA N TA

10a

Hallucinogen obtained from fermented stale dung (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Brew ale with subtle colour (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Good boss makes soup with okra (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Ring Frenchwoman covered in dirt (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

So long and thanks again (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Conservative conned country (4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Light pollution finally stops after November (7)

Generating...

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

( N [ last letter of {finally} POLLUTIO N ] contained in [stops] LATER [after]) + N (November is the International Radio Communication codeword for the letter N )

23a

Preside over meeting daily about one (5)

Generating...

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

CHAR (a cleaner; a daily) containing (about) I (Roman numeral for one)

24a

I don't believe you become celibate? (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Frenchman and Scotsman are in a state (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Those people initially establish unifying idea (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Couple beginning to want closed borders (3)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Transparent form of calcite found in supermarkets (11)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Eccles is upset over American leaving meat in case improper application results (8)

Generating...

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

MISUSAGE (wrong use; improper application)

2d

Religious female at school reportedly in West Midlands town (8)

Generating...

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

NUNEATON (market town in Warwickshire; West Midlands town)

3d

Counterfeit pens left in bar (5)

Generating...

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

FLAKE (reference Cadbury’s chocolate FLAKE ; a chocolate bar)

4d

Man allowed to display garland (7)

Generating...

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

CHAPLET (garland or wreath for the head)

5d

A French man carries Uniform? That's topical! (7)

Generating...

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

UNGUENT (ointment; TOPICAL is a term descriptive of an ointment for application to the skin)

6d

I lengthen changes in order to educate (9)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Start of computer game is second-rate (6)

Generating...

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

CRUMMY (not good; second rate)

8d

Choice of brew with bubble rising (6)

Generating...

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

OPTION (choice)

14d

Hi I'm Sarah Batty religious sage (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

DIY ledge on bookcase with rockers hard to lower (8)

Generating...

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

S H ELF (ledge on a bookcase) + ELP (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970; rockers) with H (hard, when describing pencil lead) being lowered to a place further down the entry to form SELF- H ELP

17d

Caught idiot with flower in Cardigan? (8)

Generating...
19d

Labour cleared broadcast (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Greek character hosts a dance (7)

Generating...

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

LAMBDA (character of the Greek alphabet) containing (hosts) A

21d

Revolutionary stole coat partly to get fur (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Marxist captures state capital (6)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Initially opposed unidentified Tory's extensive dalliances being made public knowledge (5)

Generating...

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

OUTED ( first letters [initially] of each of O PPOSED, U NIDENTIFIED, T ORY’S, E XTENSIVE and D ALLIANCES)