Independent Cryptic #1647

2021-09-19

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Across

9a

Great time involves rugby starting later back where play occurs (9)

Generating...

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

BALL (great time) contains (involves) rUGGER (rugby) with first letter removed (starting later) all reversed – the fictional location of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas

10a

Scrounger having caught fish returned horse (5)

Generating...

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

C (caught) EEL (fish) all reversed (returned) then H (horse, abbreviation)

11a

Drop a little lower keeping length in mind (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Stray slow seen heading for recreation ground (9)

Generating...

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

anagram (ground) of SLOW SEEN and Recreation (first letter, heading for)

13a

Perhaps reprimand from Caedmon for USWNT star? (7)

Generating...

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

a RAP IN OE is a rap (reprimand) in old English (from Caedmon perhaps, Anglo-Saxon poet) – Megan Rapinoe, star and captain of US Women’s National Soccer Team

14a

American doctor sprang up to give name (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Bloomer from principal in West Bank city? (4-2-9)

Generating...

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

STAR (principal) OF (in) BTHLEHEM (West Bank city)

20a

Strange for all to see bishop stopping confirmation (7)

Generating...

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

U (for all to see, cinema rating) with RR (Right Reverend, a bishop) inside (stopping) SEAL (conformation)

21a

Stop media manipulation happening (7)

Generating...

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

PR (media manipulation) and EVENT (happening)

23a

Asked to adopt bird with deformed limbs? (3-6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Girl with user guide starts to remove disc errors (5)

Generating...

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

DEB (a girl) with first letters (starts) of User Guide – to remove faults from a machine or computer program, a disc perhaps?

26a

Worldly hold-up man eventually scratching back (5)

Generating...

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

AT LASt (eventually) missing (scratching) last letter (back) – Atlas is a Titan condemned to hold the world on his shoulders forever

27a

Expressed deep unhappiness with snakes affected by gale (9)

Generating...

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

WEPT (expressed deep unhappiness) following (with) WINDS (snakes, moves in a wavy line)

Down

1d

Signs up mountain eccentric figures should support (8)

Generating...

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

ALP (mountain) reversed (up) followed by (that…should support, underneath in a down solution) CARDS (eccentric people)

2d

Week everyone put to work for beer and punch (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Figure crossing river suffered surge in west (6,4)

Generating...

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

SEVEN (a number, figure) contains (crossing) R (river) then BORE (suffered) – a tidal wave on the river Severn in western Britain

4d

Slight exasperation shown about good number (6)

Generating...

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

IRE (exasperation) contains (shown about) G (good) NO (number)

5d

Luxuriant hairstyle publicity worker covers (8)

Generating...

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

BUN (hairstyle) inside (…covers) AD (publicity) ANT ( a worker)

6d

Printed material endlessly creates confusion (4)

Generating...

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

BLURb (printed material, endlessly)

7d

Height conserved by two insects and huge beast (8)

Generating...

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

H (height) inside (conserved by) BEE and MOTH (two insects)

8d

Getting close to pheasant in hunting land is simple (6)

Generating...

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

pheasanT (last letter, closing to) inside (getting…in…) CHASE (hunting land)

15d

Having less hairbit rubbish? (10)

Generating...

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

BALDER (having less hair) and DASH (bit) – or Dicho @3 suggests BALDER + DASH ( – , a hyphen) but that leaves “bit” unaccounted for

17d

African mammal drivers run over crossing road (8)

Generating...

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

AA (Automobile Association, drivers) then FLOW (run) reversed (over) containing (crossing) RD (road)

18d

£50 in pocket? Have fine attire (8)

Generating...

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

L (£, the pound symbol) L (50) inside BAG (pocket) then OWN (have)

19d

Commute time halved after motorway opening (8)

Generating...

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

TIme (half of) following MI (M1, a motorway in England) then GATE (opening)

20d

Buy saw forged underground across the pond (6)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Stickler in bad mood about Bible book (6)

Generating...

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

PET (bad mood) contains (about) DAN (abbreviation for Daniel, book of the Bible)

22d

Wembley content with minute sign (6)

Generating...

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

wEMBLy (middle letters, content of) with M (minute)

24d

Language very lacking in poetry (4)

Generating...

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

vERSE (poetry) missing V (very)