Independent Cryptic #11950

2025-01-27

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Across

1a

Wretched play entertains British setter in Caen (6)

Generating...

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

ACT for play with B(ritish) & JE = I – the setter – in French all inserted

5a

Old man in retirement with little desire (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Female bears worn-out in ceremonies at the end? (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Bonus and a fine Oscar rejected (4)

Generating...

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

PER – a as in £1 per kilo & OK without the O – oscar

11a

Unsettled agent on centre of driving range (8)

Generating...

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

Centre of dri Vi ng & AGA – cooker, range & BOND – (james) agent

12a

Order from bank almost at the end of month (6)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Shaving sides of composer's tongue (4)

Generating...

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

Take off the edges of (c)HOPI(n)

15a

Mines trapping last of ten decrepit river vessels (8)

Generating...

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

Ends of te N and decrepi T & river PO all in PITS for mines

18a

Carving of grand ship English city returned (8)

Generating...

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

G(rand) & old ship the ARGO & city ELY reversed

19a

Standard response Mary and Joseph received? (4)

Generating...

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

They were told there’s NO R(oo)M at the inn

21a

Article 1.8 about reptile (6)

Generating...

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

AN – article & 1.8 could be Aug(ust) the first so AUG 1 all reversed

23a

Individual component houses key within clock (8)

Generating...

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

Key of A in PART – component – then put in SEE – to clock

25a

Dig west half of island (4)

Generating...

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

First half – the west side of BARB ados

26a

Fool exposed Italians in front of two Americans (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Flowing water joins lake in state (8)

Generating...

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

SEA – water & L(ake) in MESS – in a state

28a

A lot of fabric pinned to leading footman? (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

2d

Wood from area below raised flag (5)

Generating...

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

SLAB – flag, paving stone – reversed & A(rea)

3d

Poor Angles penning verse during subjugation (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Somersaulting routine at top of program for swimmer (6)

Generating...

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

RUT – routine – reversed & BOT – AI type program

5d

Drugs colonists smuggling fish and iron south (15)

Generating...

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

IDE – the fish you only see in crosswords & PRESS – to iron – both inside a pair of ANTs – colonists & S(outh)

6d

City spa a Dane transformed (8)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Piano used only once in best film theme (5)

Generating...

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

Best film would be TOP PIC so remove one P(iano)

8d

Recalled rubbish guide for one who interrogates? (9)

flowerflowerflower
14d

'Zero' variety dandies periodically drink (9)

Generating...

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

O – zero & RANGE – varieties & alternate letters of d A n D i E s

16d

Wide slate I see beneath old stuff (9)

Generating...

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

PAN – to slate & O(ld) & RAM – to stuff & I C

17d

Luxury seeker enthralled by classy bar items (8)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Wind hammered pair invading isle needing cover (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

N Book of Memories o (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Bit of refuse making wife tense (5)

Generating...

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

WASTE – refuse with W(ife) replaced by T(ense)