Independent Cryptic #11917

2024-12-19

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Mean shade one must overlook (10)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Small device for recording fiddle (4)

Generating...

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

Small device for recording fiddle S (=small, in sizes) + CAM (=device for recording, i.e. camera)

9a

Getting on with church then one pint (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Ample smear coats painter (7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Conservative grey hairdo finally shaven flat this heralds cooler times (9)

Generating...

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

Conservative grey hairdo finally shaven flat, this heralds cooler times C (=Conservative) + OLD (=grey) + ˈFRO (=hairdo, i.e. afro) + <shave> N <fla> T (“finally” means last letters only)

13a

Watch bit of [EastEnders Red Dwarf] after (5)

Generating...

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

Watch bit of Eastenders after Red Dwarf? STAR (=red dwarf, in astronomy) + E <astenders> (“bit of” means first letter only)

14a

Bush Senior (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Scrap divorcee joke perhaps after pushback? (7)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Great player most are awful (7)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Direct source of meat (5)

Generating...

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

Direct // source of meat Double definition: to steer is to direct, guide AND a steer is a young ox, hence “source of meat”

22a

Throw bat in table-tennis when losing lead (5)

Generating...

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

Throw bat in table-tennis when losing head <p> ADDLE (=bat in table-tennis; “when losing head” means first letter is dropped); to addle is to confuse, muddle

23a

Wolves are top here and Ohio FC struggles (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Plug fitting over another's end (7)

Generating...

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

Plug fitting over another’s end AD (=plug, i.e. advert) + APT (=fitting, appropriate) + O (=over, in cricket scorecard) + <another> R (“end” means last letter only); & lit.

25a

Ancient vehicle lad almost brought to rave (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Agreed noodle dish blows away the starter (4)

Generating...

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

Agreed noodle dish blows away the starter <r> AMEN (=noodle dish; “blows away the starter” means first letter is dropped); people say “amen” or “agreed” to indicate that they share the views just expressed by the speaker

27a

Oh no trustees being sued regularly given judgment (10)

Generating...

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

Oh no, trustees being sued regularly given judgment <o> H <n> O <t> R <u> S <t> E <e> S <b> E <i> N <g> S <u> E <d>; “regularly” means alternate letters only are used

Down

1d

Special salad spinner (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Cream ran out of it (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Support restriction on tough setter? (13)

Generating...

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

Support restriction on tough setter? Cryptically, a restriction on tough setter (=setting agent) could be described as a “rein for cement”!!

4d

International footballer last in coconut shy (9)

Generating...

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

International footballer last in coconut shy INT (=international) + ROVER (=footballer, as in Blackburn Rovers) + <coconu> T (“last in” means last letter only)

5d

Heading off row allowed youth in parliament (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

My expert arrangement for the wedding party (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Bass-drinking fellow beginning to crave wine (6)

Generating...

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

Bass-drinking fellow beginning to crave wine [B (=bass, in music) in MALE (=fellow)] + C <rave> (“beginning to” means first letter only); Malbec is a French red wine

11d

Basic seats on vacation unless flying this? (13)

Generating...

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

Basic seats on vacation unless flying this ? *(BASIC S <eat> S UNLESS); “on vacation” means middle letters are dropped from anagram, indicated by “flying”; semi- & lit.

16d

Trunk for higher-up coming around Channel Islands (9)

Generating...

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

Trunk for higher-up coming around Channel Islands PRO (=for, in favour of) + [CI (=Channel Islands) in BOSS (=higher-up, one in senior position)]; a proboscis is a trunk or long snout

17d

Dark web gets savage on the fringes (8)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Consider leaving time to go between parties? (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

The best story about getting high? (7)

Generating...

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

The best story about getting high? NO 1 (=the best) + TALE (=story); “about” indicates reversal

21d

What's above Americans? Roughly nothing (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Sacrifice of calf or goat (5)

flowerflowerflower