Independent Cryptic #11921

2024-12-24

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Across

8a

Worn-out horse in some gym for Mary after Eve? (8)

Generating...

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

( TIT [nag; worn out horse] contained in (in) ANY [some]) + PE (physical education; gym in a school timetable)

9a

See 11 Across

10a

War poet at work we must interrupt (4)

Generating...

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

WE contained in (must interrupt) ON (at work)

11a
3d

(and 3 Down, 9 Across) Getting creative with 'lemon entry'and a wee dram!stay for words ascribed to 22A? (10,2,4,6)

Generating...
12a
23a

(and 23 Across) Duncan or 'The Royal Novel Writer' (6,5,5)

Generating...
14a

Male model, topless, backing undue favouritism (8)

Generating...

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

( M [male] + SIT [model] + OPEN [topless]) all reversed (backing)

15a

Lord who ran to embrace murdererand 22A's addiction? (7)

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17a

Make matters worse? One left out most important thing! (7)

Generating...

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

CAP IT AL L (the phrase ‘To CAP IT ALL ‘ usually introduces a description of an event or action that makes an already difficult problem even worse) excluding (left out) one of the Ls (left)

20a

One counting down minutes until soldiers go in? (3,5)

Generating...

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

EGG TIMER – cryptic definition described above

22a

See 26 Across

23a

See 12 Across

24a

Style worn by new Danish king (4)

Generating...

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

CUT (style) containing (worn by) N (new)

25a

Scholarly American leaves for BBC workplace? (6)

Generating...

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

STUDIO US (scholarly) excluding (leaves) US (United States, American)

26a
22a

(and 22 Across) Solver's female, right to secure houses around lake (8,6)

Generating...

Down

1d

Have as name a name, recalling 'Old Tartan Trousers'? (6,2)

Generating...

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

A + N (name) + ( O [old] + TREWS [trousers made from tartan cloth]) reversed (recalling)

2d

Is it MacCool in loud hostelry? (4)

Generating...

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

F (forte; loud) + INN (hostelry)

3d

See 11 Across

4d

Knowledge drawing in female brought to a hellish place (7)

Generating...

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

GEN (information; knowledge) containing (drawing in) HEN (female) + A

5d

Climber in the main having to carry little teepee? (5,3)

Generating...

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

SEA (the main) containing (to carry) ( WEE [little] + T [tee] + P [pee])

6d

Big case: let it stand outside by raised earth (5,5)

Generating...

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

STET (written direction to an editor or printer to let the original wording stand rather than make the changes; let it stand) containing (outside) AT (beside;  by) + LAIR (den; earth] reversed (raised; down entry)

7d

Victorian craftsman married The Florentine (6)

Generating...

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

M (married) + ORRIS (the Florentine or other iris)

13d

Courage wins in vitally important area (10)

Generating...

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

HEART (courage) + LANDS (wins)

16d

Possibly pardon me, and say you know 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, 21, 22A, 23, 24A, or 24D? (8)

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18d

What does? (8)

Generating...

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

ADEQUACY – unless I have missed something, this clue is simply a cryptic definition

19d

Most white, former monarch looks tense (7)

Generating...

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

GR (Georgius Rex, King George; former monarch) + EYES (looks) + T (tense)

21d

Bondone! Try going round ten times! (6)

Generating...

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

GO (attempt; try) containing (going roun) ( IO [characters together  representing the number 10, ten] + [ T {time} + T {time} giving times])

22d

What about two editors having listened? (6)

Generating...

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

EH (what?) reversed (about) +( ED [edit] + ED [edit] giving editors)

24d

Welsh muso John about to get on the beer (4)

Generating...

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

C (circa; about) + ALE (beer)