Independent Cryptic #1835

2025-04-27

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Across

1a

Old man put something intoxicating in magnificent joint (6)

Generating...

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

PA (old man) + LACE (put something intoxicating in, eg a drink)

4a

Elaborate on principle of vegetarianism? (5,3)

Generating...

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

Double definition

10a

Spaces between latrines changed to accommodate volume (9)

Generating...

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

Anag (changed) of LATRINES and V. [As FrankieG rightly points out, strictly speaking the anagrind only applies to LATRINES, which is around (accommodates) V]

11a

Take fleece off husband wearing brand (5)

Generating...

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

Insertion (wearing) of H into SEAR

12a

Intentionally false leads detective inspectors lined up? (14)

Generating...

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

Charade of DIS + In FORMATION

14a

Too nice to dismiss minister, on reflection, during October (9)

Generating...

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

Reversal (on reflection) of AXE REV inside (during) OCT

16a

On break, flipping thing calling you back to work (5)

Generating...

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

Reversal (flipping) of RE (on, concerning) + GAP

17a

Biologist's type of knee (5)

Generating...

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

Genu is the Latin/medical term for a knee, so GENU’S could signify “of knee”

19a

Outlaw maybe does bother to carry unloaded pistols around (9)

Generating...

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

DEER (those kinds of does) +ADO (bother) around a reversal (around) of the outer letters of PistolS (unloaded)

21a

Jargony long article IMO needs editing (14)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Big date, record ejaculation from Scot (5)

Generating...

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

EP (record) + OCH (ejaculation from Scot)

26a

Dirt spread by insect on doughnut (9)

Generating...

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

Anag (spread) of BY INSECT and O. It’s an interesting truth that all doughnuts in crosswordland are O-shaped. Never any jam in them. [Again, as pointed out by FrankieG, the anagrind applies only to BY INSECT, which is then put “on” the O/doughnut, which has to come first in the solution]

27a

Helicopter Republican agreed is turning blue (8)

Generating...

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

Reversal (turning) of R + OK + IS followed by SKY, for the US helicopter manufacturer

28a

Coming soon from Jonathan Demme ... (2,4)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Feeling under pressure to get ducks in a row (4)

Generating...

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

P followed by (under, in a down clue) AIR. The definition refers to a cricketer who is out for a duck in both innings of a match, who is said to have got a pair

2d

A bit of Latin, Greek and English in grid (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Being round climbers with fruit, dog on sierra gets to eat (9)

Generating...

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

Insertion (gets to eat) of VINES (climbers with fruit) into CUR + S

5d

Comfort on the way out, girl boxes stock (4,5)

Generating...

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

Insertion (boxes) of TRITE (cliched, as in a stock character) into LASS

6d

Alexander, band leader in alley? (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Opportunity to write home during journey back (7)

Generating...

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

PEN + IN inside a reversal (back) of GO

8d

Cast heard Othello upset audience there for Lear? (6,4)

Generating...

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

Homophone of “thrown” (cast) + reversal (upset) of MOOR

9d

Very thin person beginning to ask whether to put weight on (4)

Generating...

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

A (beginning to ask) + IF (whether) under W

13d

Really worry about case of neighing chanteuse (10)

Generating...

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

SO + STRESS around (about) outer letters (case of) NeighinG

15d

Unreadable novel? (9)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition. Which, by definition, is inaccurate as audiobooks are indeed read by the reader. But OK, we’ll stretch a point and say that the listener can’t read an audiobook

16d

Macron's ready with team name in his office (9)

Generating...

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

PRET (French for ready, so “Macron’s ready”) around SIDE + N

18d

Broad area of new floor sunken in the middle (7)

Generating...

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

Anag (new) of FLOOR and the central letters (in the middle) of suNKen to give the UK county that is home to the Broads

20d

Painter and writer introduced to people who try not to drink coffee (7)

Generating...

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

Insertion (introduced to) of RA + BIC (French brand of disposable ballpoint pens) into AA (Alcoholics Anonymous, not the motorist’s roadside assistance organisation)

22d

Which organ is filled with Zeus's blood? (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Get rid of square unfashionable clothes (4)

Generating...

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

Insertion (clothes) of S into OUT

24d

You might say faded, not really blonde? (4)

Generating...

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

Homophone (You might say) of “died”