Independent Cryptic #1788

2024-06-02

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Across

1a

Steal animal's morsel (7)

Generating...

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

SNIP(a steal/something of good value/a bargain) + PET(a tame animal kept for companionship or pleasure).

5a

Perhaps Norma had some food - a common function (7)

Generating...

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

[ “opera”(an example of which/perhaps is Norma, by Bellini) + “ate”(had some food) ] minus one of the “a”s ( a common ).

9a

Nobody's free to swap spectacles for monocle 'by right' (5)

Generating...

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

“loose”(free/unattached) with “oo”(letters shaped like a pair of glasses/spectacles) replaced by ( to swap … for … ) “o”(letter shaped like a monocle) plus ( by ) R(abbrev. for “right”).

10a

Papers misrepresented a client's twin (9)

Generating...

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

ID(short for identification/papers identifying a person) + anagram of ( misrepresented ) A CLIENT .

11a

Negotiate gender reassignment legislation? (8)

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12a

Foul made by Rodri in action against Hearts (6)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … in action ) RODRI placed after ( against ) H(abbrev. for the suit “hearts” in card games).

15a

Face-lift: what does it achieve? (9)

Generating...

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

Double defn: 1st: …/the side of an object that faces the viewer; and 2nd: What that results from/is achieved by raising something from a lower to a higher level.

17a

Drops off suits when leaving Poland (5)

Generating...

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

“pleases”(suits/satisfies) minus ( when leaving ) “PL”(the ISO 2-letter code for Poland).

18a

Corporation's e-ticketing limits start (5)

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20a

Darker Cornish paintings maybe more popular if very quietly forgotten (9)

Generating...

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

SW(abbrev. for “South-West”, used to indicate that part of England in which Cornwall is) + ART(one form of which are paintings) + “hipper”(more hip/more popular/trendy) minus ( if … forgotten ) “pp”(abbrev. for “pianissimo”, a musical instruction to play very quietly).

22a

Suspects party underlings blame the SNP's leaders (6)

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23a

Takes off underpants in interviews? (8)

Generating...

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

DE-(prefix indicating the act of taking off/removing, as in “to debug”) BRIEFS(underpants such as Y-fronts or knickers).

26a

Showy elderly relative does initially impressive cartwheels (9)

Generating...

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

GRAN(an informal term for one’s grandmother, one of one’s elderly relatives) + anagram of ( … cartwheels ) [ DOES + 1st letter of ( initially ) “ impressive ” ].

27a

Vote against party (5)

Generating...

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

[ BE A NO ](to cast a “no”, not a “yes”, vote/to vote against).

28a

Checks Nadal's OK to be introduced to supporters (7)

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29a

Healthy reward a few gathered after clean-up (7)

Generating...

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

Homophone of ( … gathered ) “some”(a few) placed after ( after ) TIDY(a clean-up/act of making something neat and orderly).

Down

1d

Mo Salah's top clips noted abroad (11)

Generating...

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

1st letter of ( …’s top , in a down clue) “ Salah ” + anagram of ( … abroad ) CLIPS NOTED .

2d

At home one assumes Mum exercises well (7)

Generating...

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

IN(at home/not out) + A(article for “one”/a single item) contained in ( assumes ) [ SH!(an exclamation requesting someone to be silent/to be mum) + PE(abbrev. for “physical education”/exercises and sports taught in schools) ].

3d

Prunes and other fruit delivered (5)

Generating...

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

Homophone of ( … delivered ) “pears”(example of fruit other than prunes).

4d

Extremely anxious fool's suspect ethics (10)

Generating...

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

TWIT(a fool/idiot) + anagram of ( suspect ) ETHICS .

5d

Not yet settled or not quite married? (4)

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6d

Once abstinent drifter admitted becoming party animal? (9)

Generating...

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

EX-(prefix indicating “once”/formerly) + TT(abbrev. for “teetotal”/abstaining from alcohol) containing ( admitted ) ROVER(a drifter/wanderer).

7d

Fits current trousers (7)

Generating...

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

AC(abbrev. for “alternating current”, a type of electric current) + CORDS(trousers made of corduroy fabric).

8d

Flip cover that's slippery (3)

Generating...

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

Reversal of ( Flip , in a down clue) LEE(cover/shelter).

13d

Conflict in shared bedroom occupied by bewildered setters (11)

Generating...

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

DORM(short for “dormitory”, a large bedroom shared by a number of people) containing ( occupied by ) anagram of ( bewildered ) SETTERS .

14d

Teenage gamine periodically sought for modelling contract (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of ( … sought for modelling ) [ TEENAGE + 1st, 3rd and 5th letters of ( … periodically ) “ gamine ” ].

16d

Sex during tap dancing used contorting abilities (9)

Generating...

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

IT(a euphemism for “sexual intercourse”) contained in ( during ) [ anagram of ( … dancing ) TAP + anagram of ( … contorting ) USED ].

19d

Queen interrupting settles protests (7)

Generating...

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

QU(abbrev. for “Queen”) contained in ( interrupting ) SEALS(settles/brings to a definitive conclusion).

21d

Frozen wildernesses found over in Room (7)

Generating...

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

Reversal of ( over in , in a down clue) [ SPACE(room/empty area) + CI(Roman numeral for “101”) ].

24d

Wild storm engulfs the centre of Newbury (5)

Generating...

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

RAID(storm/an attack by troops on a fortified place) containing ( engulfs ) middle letter of ( the centre of ) “ Newbury “.

25d

Expressions of excitement issue over the Tannoy (4)

Generating...

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

Homophone of ( .. over the Tannoy , a public address system, named after the company that makes such) “ooze”(to issue/to seep out of).

26d

Fishy item in bagging area (3)

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