Independent Cryptic #1644

2021-08-29

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Across

9a

Note sharp double bends laid with a square floor (9)

Generating...

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

ME(or “mi”, the third note of a major musical scale) + ZZ(letters representing two double bends, each shaped like a “Z” – bends in a road, say) plus ( laid with ) A + NINE(the square of the number 3).

10a

Bread is mine, thanks (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Governess protecting current brood here (5)

Generating...

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

EYRE(Jane, the main character who worked as a governess in the Charlotte Bronte novel) containing ( protecting ) I(symbol for electric current in physics).

12a

Non-university man: old-school worker for instance? (9)

Generating...

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

“Arthur”(a man’s name) minus ( Non- … ) “u”(abbrev. for “university”) + O(abbrev. for “old”) + POD(a school/herd of marine animals, such as whales).

13a

Tasteless cool drink princess once sent back (7)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Broadcasts with it showing Hindenburg for example (7)

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16a

Retroaction occasionally one to inspire (5)

Generating...

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

2nd and every other letter after it of ( … occasionally ) “ Retroaction “.

18a
7d

(and 7 Down) An individual ends short trip in general store (3-4,4)

Generating...
19a

Somehow gets by police to smuggle in drug (5)

Generating...

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

COPS(informal term for members of the police force) containing ( to smuggle in ) E(abbrev. for the drug, Ecstasy).

21a

Second-rate beer? Drunk endlessly threatening (7)

Generating...

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

B(after A, the best grade, B would be second-rate) + ALE(beer) + “full”(informal term for “drunk”/inebriated) minus its last letter ( endlessly ).

22a

Space age opportunity for school-leavers? (3,4)

Generating...

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

GAP(a space/a break between two things) + YEAR(a unit of measurement of the time of existence/age).

24a

Rescued from incredibly deep river (9)

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26a

Make good your sins an hour after midday? (5)

Generating...

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

[AT ONE](… o’clock, that is/at an hour after midday/noon).

27a

Money the attraction that traps Conservative (5)

Generating...

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

LURE(attraction/the quality of a person or thing that draws one to it) containing ( that traps ) C(abbrev. for a Conservative, a member of the British Conservative Party).

28a

Area held by soldiers effectively home after 1984 (9)

Generating...

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

A(abbrev. for “area”) contained in ( held by ) [OR(abbrev. for “other ranks”, non-commissioned soldiers) + WELL(effectively/in a way that achieves results) + IN(at home/not out) ].

Down

1d

Stupid to have insects turning up in timber centre? (8)

Generating...

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

Reversal of ( … turning up , in a down clue) LICE(parasitic insects) contained in ( in ) middle 4 letters of ( … centre ) “ timber “.

2d

Lazy? Work less, employing couples within the islands (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Mac adding strength of spirit to general excellence (10)

Generating...

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

PROOF(a scaled measure of the strength of distilled alcoholic spirits) plus ( adding … to ) WATER(excellence/quality, as in the degree of brilliance in a diamond, and in the phrase “of the first water” – I presume “general” is included for the surface reading).

4d

Fantastic reptile with head becoming wide (6)

Generating...

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

“lizard”(a four-legged reptile with a long body and tail) with its 1st letter ( head ) replaced by ( becoming ) “w”(abbrev. for “wide” in cricket scores).

5d

Weather mostly terrible includes a very hot spell (4,4)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … terrible ) “ Weather ” minus its last letter ( mostly ) containing ( includes ) [ A + V(abbrev. for “very”) ].

6d

Encourage son without stain to abandon east (4)

Generating...

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

S(abbrev. for “son”) + “pure”(without stain/unblemished) minus ( to abandon ) “e”(abbrev. for “east).

7d

See 18 Across

8d

Poor Republican put inside summoned to court (4,2)

Generating...

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

R(abbrev. for a member of the Republican Party) contained in ( put inside ) [HAD UP](summoned to court/ordered to appear in court to be tried/to be up before the magistrate or judge).

15d

One holding Erdogan's éclat to be false? (10)

Generating...

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

RECEP(… Erdogan, the President of Turkey) + anagram of ( … to be false ) ÉCLAT .

17d

Powdered seed tabletsfirst couple taken lastone must swallow (8)

Generating...

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

[ PILLS(tablets, of medicine, say) with its 1st 2 letters ( first couple ) moved to the end( taken last ) ] contained in ( … must swallow ) ACE(one, as in the playing card, “the ace of heats”).

18d

Forgetfulness leads to our best violin being smashedsmashed (8)

Generating...

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

1st letters, repectively, of ( leads to ) “ our best ” + anagram of ( … being smashed ) VIOLIN .

20d

Constable's superior as painter we're told (8)

Generating...

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

Homophone of ( … we’re told ) “Sargent”(John, portrait painter).

21d

Vomit left by unknown drinker (6)

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22d

Party wearing dress in warehouse (6)

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23d

Pornographic books stored in Clapton? (6)

flowerflowerflower
25d

One burns reportedly tough goat (4)

Generating...

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

I(Roman numeral for “one”) + homophone of ( … reportedly ) “becks”(burns/fast flowing small streams, particularly in N. England).