Independent Cryptic #1768

2024-01-14

Solve on Independent →

Across

9a

Room tiny arachnid enters backwardsit has four dimensions (5-4)

Generating...

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

SPACE(room/area or volume that is available for occupation) containing ( … enters ) reversal of ( … backwards ) MITE(a tiny arachnid/an insect related to the ticks).

10a

Strange sort of force leaving dismembered body (5)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( Strange ) SORT + “ of ” minus ( … leaving ) “f”(abbrev. for “force”).

11a

Metallica finally exiting festival compound (5)

Generating...

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

Last letter of ( … finally ) “ Metallica ” deleted from ( exiting ) “Easter”(the Christian festival).

12a

Brawling woman to call Turkish leader, not without guts (9)

Generating...

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

TERM(to call/to label) + AGA(a Turkish leader/military commander) + “ not ” minus its middle letter ( without guts ).

13a

Sailor runs into sea, extremely eager (7)

Generating...

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

R(abbrev. for “runs” in cricket scores) contained in ( into ) MAIN(literary term for the sea) + 1st and last letters of ( extremely ) “ eager “.

14a

Mansion rebuilt for personal pleasure (7)

flowerflowerflower
16a

American rotter holding Henry back in Russian cottage (5)

Generating...

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

Reversal of ( … back ) [ A(abbrev. for “American”) CAD(a rotter/a rogue) ] containing ( holding ) H(abbrev. for “Henry”, the unit of electrical inductance).

18a

Proper contest shortened (3)

Generating...

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

“duel”(a contest between 2 people with deadly weapons) minus its last letter ( shortened ).

19a

End of sunbathing? Make tracks for dance (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Atlantic Provinces bordering right rural idyll (7)

Generating...

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

ACADIA(Atlantic Provinces, a region consisting mainly of the Maritime Provinces of north-eastern Canada) containing ( bordering ) R(abbrev. for “right”).

22a

Short French article perhaps coming to a point? (7)

Generating...

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

LA(French for the article “the”) + CONIC(an example of/perhaps “coming to a point”; in this case describing an object in the shape of a cone with a circular or roughly circular base tapering to a point).

24a

Vessel crossing river in southwestatomic boat (9)

Generating...

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

CAN(a metallic vessel/container) containing ( crossing ) [ TAMAR(a river in southwest England) + A(abbrev. for “atomic”) ].

26a

State main points again where MP bans duke (5)

Generating...

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

“redcap”(an informal term for a military policeman”/abbreviated as “MP”) minus ( bans ) “d”(abbrev. for “Duke”).

27a

Tees had the ne plus ultra, ensnaring old fool (5)

Generating...

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

I’D(contraction of “I had” or “Tees had”/”setter had” using the self-referential pronoun) + IT(the ultimate, or, in Latin, “ne plus ultra”, as in “This is it! No more!”) containing ( ensnaring ) O(abbrev. for “old”).

28a

Seaman stole this empty wagon (9)

Generating...

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

BOA(a stole/a woman’s long scarf made of, in this case, feathers or similar material) + “ this ” minus its middle letters ( empty ) + WAIN(a farm wagon or cart).

Down

1d

Respected English horse touring Middle East (8)

Generating...

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

E(abbrev. for “English”) + STEED(a large strong horse used for riding) containing ( touring ) ME(abbrev. for “Middle East”).

2d
8d

(and 4 Down, 8 Down) Manager charged with change, Harlow's ending season last in table (6,12)

Generating...
3d

Sound clear and brilliant inside skullis this needed? (7,3)

Generating...

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

[ RING(to sound clear/to make a resonant sound) plus ( and ) AI(A1/excellent/brilliant, with substitution of the Roman numeral) ] contained in ( inside ) HEAD(one’s skull).

4d

See 2 Down

5d

More safe crackers triggering alarm? (8)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Neptunian feature regularly seen that spews lava (4)

Generating...

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

2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th letters of ( … feature regularly seen ) “ Neptunian “.

7d

World's response where Conservative rises (8)

Generating...

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

“reaction”(a response to a situation or event) with “C”(abbrev. for a member of the Conservative Party) going to the start ( where … rises , in a down clue).

8d

See 2 Down

15d

Supremely evil influence in Chartist reforms (10)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Dish with seafood: chicken to follow (8)

Generating...

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

COCK(a male fowl, perhaps a chicken) + TAIL(to follow/to shadow).

18d

Kid arrested by police inspector, put away for attack (8)

Generating...

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

RIB(to kid/to tease) contained in ( arrested by ) [ DI(abbrev. for “detective inspector”) + ATE(put away/devoured) ].

20d

Insider from Acton wrongly claiming prize (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … wrongly ) ACTON containing ( claiming ) CUP(the prize/trophy awarded to the winner in a sports contest).

21d

Cold in HGV in polar region (6)

Generating...

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

ARTIC(short for an “articulated vehicle”, consisting of a powerful motor vehicle pulling a trailer, such as an HGV, abbreviation for “heavy goods vehicle”) containing ( … in ) C(abbrev. for “cold”).

22d

Secure gold in horse-drawn carriage (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Drink downed noisily at bar after opening (6)

Generating...

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

Homophone of ( … noisily ) “necked”(downed/swallowed drinks) plus ( at ) letters after the 1st of ( … after opening ) “ bar “.

25d

Sheep's flesh not being cooked for dog (4)

Generating...

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

“mutton”(sheep’s flesh as food) minus ( not ) “on”(being cooked, literally, as in “the lamb is on the grill”, or being figuratively cooked/planned, as in “what’s being cooked/planned for later?”).