Independent Cryptic #11958

2025-02-05

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Across

1a

Bridge that moves about quietly close to Soho (4)

Generating...

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

CA (abbreviation for Latin circa = about = approximately) + P (p, in musical notation = abbreviation for Italian piano = quietly) + last letter (close) of [soh] O . Short for Italian capotasto : a movable device that can be attached across the neck of a guitar in different positions, to change the pitch of all the strings at once. It’s not the same as the “bridge” of a guitar, which supports the strings, but it spans the gaps between the strings like a bridge.

3a

Grain store left overturned on outskirts of Maine's largest city (10)

Generating...

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

SILO (grain store) + PORT (left, in nautical terminology), all reversed (overturned), after the outer letters (outskirts) of M [ain] E . A large city, considered to be a significant economic or political centre in its region.

10a

Fan of Greek character tense (3)

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11a

Custom dress for monk (5)

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12a

Agile monkey hides fruit (5)

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13a

Old King Cole's head removed from dock by that woman (5)

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14a

Tell off a sexy man eating instant noodles primarily (8)

Generating...

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

A DISH (slang for an attractive man), containing (eating) MO (slang abbreviation for moment = an instant) + first letter (primarily) of N [oodles]. Tell off = admonish = to reprimand someone for their actions.

16a

Name the ground that is the target of fracking proposals (7)

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18a

Victim called for help (7)

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20a

Extremely handsome prat passes on bungs (7)

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22a

Hairy individual crazy to entertain forlorn hope (7)

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23a

Naughty child is playing around front of Ranby jail (8)

Generating...

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

IMP (naughty child) + IS ON (is part of the team currently in action on a sports field = is playing), around the front letter of R [anby]. The surface refers to HM Prison Ranby in Nottinghamshire. Jail, as a verb = imprison.

25a

Herb Alpert at last extremely happy to meet me (5)

Generating...

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

Last letter of [alper] T + end letters (extremes) of H [app] Y + ME .

28a

A mostly flat part of chair frame (5)

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29a

Enthusiastic about women by one's side (5)

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30a

An attempt to get past (3)

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31a

Ogler trips up model (10)

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32a

Obsessive and uninspiring bishop dismissed (4)

Generating...

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

[b] ANAL (boring and predictable = uninspiring) without B (abbreviation for bishop). Term originally from Freudian psychology (with a rather unpleasant definition), but now generally used as a disparaging term for someone who cares a lot about details.

Down

1d

Conservative friend claiming result is perfect (10)

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2d

Beginning to practise long throw (5)

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4d

Receive award from king for cycling competition (7)

Generating...

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

MBE (abbreviation for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire = an award from the King), with the letters “cycling” so the E moves to the start, then RACE (competition). Receive = embrace = to welcome something or someone gladly.

5d

Again measures duration on paper (7)

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6d

Artificial leg picked up universal criticism (5)

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7d

Rock found in Liverpool station on front of engine (9)

Generating...

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

LIME ST (ST = abbreviation for street; Liverpool Lime Street is the city’s main central railway station) + ON + first letter (front) of E [ngine].

8d

Start of shoreline with beach (4)

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9d

Want photograph with mature nurses destroyed essentially (8)

Generating...

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

SHOT (a photograph) + AGE (mature, as a verb = get older), containing (nursing) the middle letter (essentially) of [dest] R [oyed]. As in “for want of food” = because of a shortage of it.

15d

s i p (10)

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17d

Dirt makes unusual lines at high water point (9)

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19d

A cop went rogue to get port (8)

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21d

Hard to leave classic heist film analysis (7)

Generating...

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

T [h] E STING (1973 classic heist film), without the H (abbreviation for hard, as in 2H pencils).

22d

Keep tabs on fool entering uncultivated expanse (7)

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24d

Variety of fruit peeled (5)

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26d

Yen to take home yen (5)

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27d

Fish and chips are rather pricey at first (4)

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