Independent Cryptic #1643

2021-08-22

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Across

1a

It’s money protecting our travel industry (7)

Generating...

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

TIS (it’s) M (money) contains (protecting) OUR

5a

Many racing cyclists speed ahead, drinking nothing (7)

Generating...

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

PELT (speed) ON )ahead) contains (drinks) O (nothing)

9a

Distribute endless Coca-Cola - half is oddly like rum, say (9)

Generating...

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

anagram (distribute) of cOCA-COLa (endless) with every other letter (oddly) of HaLf Is

10a

Size limitation's no bar to Shakespeare's general leading army (5)

Generating...

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

banQUO (Shakespeare’s general, in Macbeth) missing BAN (bar) then TA (Territorial Army)

11a

Where Charlotte lies, with Virginia lying on top? (5,8)

Generating...

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

cryptic definition – Charlotte is a city in North Carolina, which lies to the south of Virginia

13a

Bawling, losing head and interrupting row in intrusive manner (8)

Generating...

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

cRYING (bawling, losing head) inside (and interrupting) PLY (row, of a boat)

15a

Trashy hotel to stick around (6)

Generating...

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

anagram (around) of H (hotel) with STICK

17a

During climb, I begin to drink (6)

Generating...

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

found inside (during) clIMB I BEgin

19a

Reeve's role, originally, over staff (8)

Generating...

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

SUPER (over originally, but now only when used as a prefix) MAN (staff) – played by Christopher Reeve in film

22a

Fall badly beneath shower head and squeal (5,3,5)

Generating...

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

SPILL (fall) then anagram (badly) of BENEATH followed by Shower (first letter, head of)

25a

Curses musketeer over being posted to front (5)

Generating...

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

ATHOS (one of the Three Musketeers) with O (over) moved to the front

26a

Legendary horseman familiarly talked of racecourse here (9)

Generating...

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

sounds like (talked of) “Lester” (Lester Piggott, famous jockey)

27a

Article on maths initially covering old formula (7)

Generating...

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

THE ((the definite article) RE (on, regarding) Maths (first letter, initially) contains (covering) O (old)

28a

Mistress Gwyn doesn’t finish fruit, cut beforehand with hooked implement (7)

Generating...

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

NELL (Nell Gwyn) missing last letter (doesn’t finish) following (with…beforehand) GRAPe (fruit, cut)

Down

1d

Drop rent (4)

Generating...

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

double definition

2d

Wonderfully skilled peacekeepers preserve city (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Recess's contents: yellow or colourless fluid (5)

Generating...

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

nICHe (recess, content of) then OR (yellow)

4d

Earth thrown up from crumbling hole in works (8)

Generating...

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

anagram (crumbling) of HOLE inside MILL (works)

5d

Find fault with completely pointless piece by Keats (4,2)

Generating...

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

PIeCe and KeATs missing all points of the compass

6d

Scotch on the rocks? No - dark, sweet stuff (9)

Generating...

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

LIQOUR (Scotch perhaps) on ICE (on the rocks)

7d

I see through play that's going round in circles (7)

Generating...

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

I C (see, name of letter) inside (through) SPORT (play) reversed (that’s going round)

8d

Close tight fist around a plotter's heart (4,2,4)

Generating...

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

NEAR (tight) HAND (fist) contains (around) A plotTer (middle letter, heart of)

12d

One stopping riot, perhaps, left with loot (10)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Mister Lee Burn is mistaken (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Discovering singular sign of discontent? (8)

Generating...

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

double definition – I think singular is there as rumble is often used in plural e.g. rumbles of discontent

18d

UK native heard the French can be sensitive (7)

Generating...

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

BRITT sounds like (heard) “Brit” (UK native) then LE (the, French)

20d

Setter originally served eggs flipped in Army cookware (4-3)

Generating...

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

ME (the setter) then first letter (originally) of Served followed by NITS (eggs, of headlice) reversed (flipped)

21d

Return handwritten document, enclosing ring, as greeting (6)

Generating...

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

MS (manuscript, handwritten document) reversed (return) contains (enclosing) HALO (ring)

23d

Don't apply to O2 for one (5)

Generating...

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

ARE NA (are not applicable, don’t apply to) – the O2 Arena in London for example

24d

Fragment of molar on back of mouth (4)

Generating...

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

found inside (fragment of) moLAR On reversed (back)