Independent Cryptic #11924

2024-12-27

Solve on Independent →

Across

9a

Places to go and feel bad about America allowing free movement of paperwork? (9)

Generating...

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

LOOS (places to go = to urinate) + anagram (bad) of FEEL , around A (abbreviation for America).

10a

Put down lines quite rejecting it at first (5)

Generating...

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

L L (L = abbreviation for line, so LL = lines), preceded by (at first) QU [it] E without IT.

11a

French coast is setting for new story from France (5)

Generating...

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

COTE (côte = French word for coast), containing (setting for . . .) N (abbreviation for new). French-derived word for a story: it may mean a short story, folk tale, fairy tale or something similar.

12a

Islander’s home protected by some munition (9)

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13a

Had effect around hard marine rock again and again? (9)

Generating...

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

TOLD (had an effect, usually an undesirable one), around H (abbreviation for hard) + REEF (a line of rocks just showing above the surface of the sea = marine rock). The definition seems slightly loose: threefold = triple, but in the sense of quantity or multiple parts rather than repetition.

14a

Bad lie mostly broadcast without forethought (5)

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16a

Witch’s trick eliminating Knight (3)

Generating...

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

I think this is HA [n] G (trick, as in “get the hang of it” = learn the trick of how to do it), without the N (knight in chess notation). Unless anyone has a better idea?

18a

Employee prepared to accommodate right vehicle (7)

Generating...

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

SET (as in “all set” = prepared = ready), containing R (abbreviation for right) + VAN (vehicle).

20a

Agreed terms in very strange business (3)

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21a

Choice of clothes perhaps Northern in fashion (5)

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22a

Prison Board offering something for those flying the coop? (9)

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25a

Small point linked to best performer’s nominated victim (9)

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26a

Settle some time to be invaded by soldiers (5)

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27a

Turned up over small part in film? (5)

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28a

One offering choice words misrepresented large nose (9)

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Down

1d

Bird leaflet containing concealed problem (10)

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2d

Control part of soccer pitch (6)

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3d

Photographer’s problem regarding colour requiring electronic input (6)

Generating...

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

RE (regarding) + DYE (colour), with E (prefix meaning electronic) put in. A fault on photographs, caused by light from a flashgun reflecting from inside the subject’s eyes.

4d

Margaret carrying one black French item for the boudoir (8)

Generating...

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

PEG (short form of the name Margaret) containing I (one in Roman numerals), then NOIR (French for black). A woman’s lightweight dressing-gown.

5d

Upset originating from daughter going round marsh (6)

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6d

Swimmer with gold clothed by a fashion designer (8)

Generating...

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

AU (Au = chemical symbol for gold, from Latin aurum ), contained in (clothed by) A + QUANT (fashion designer Mary Quant).

7d

I join in pursuit of information with good humour (8)

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8d

Stick getting a bit of tension out of muscle (4)

Generating...

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

GLU [t] E (abbreviation for gluteus = buttock muscle), without T which is the first letter (a bit) of T[ension]. Stick, as a verb = glue = to fix using adhesive.

15d

Hunting dog mostly misjudged in island capital (10)

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17d

Crooked German covering Germany meeting English policeman from elsewhere (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram (crooked) of GERMAN , containing D (abbreviation for Deutschland = Germany), then E (abbreviation for English). A French policeman.

18d

Australian abandoning cause to reveal framework (8)

Generating...

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

S [a] KE (cause, as in “for my sake” = because of me) without A (abbreviation for Australian), then LET ON (slang for reveal).

19d

Bubbling’s dodgy in aortae (8)

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22d

Pass time in bookshop adding energy to book arguments (6)

Generating...

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

E (abbreviation for energy), after B (abbreviation for book) + ROWS (arguments). Browse = to look at goods in a shop, especially a bookshop, without necessarily intending to buy something.

23d

Label put around each botanist’s initial collection of leaves (6)

Generating...

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

TAG (label), around EA (abbreviation for each) + initial letter of B [otanist].

24d

Tavern with relative amount of beer (6)

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25d

Hard to avoid surprise blow (4)

Generating...

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

S [h] OCK (surprise), without H (abbreviation for hard, as in 2H pencils). Slang for a punch with the fist = blow.