Times Cryptic #28526

2023-02-14

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Across

1a

Conscientious dad not out placing bets? (11)

flowerflowerflower
7a

Sun or Earth: one has to go! (3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

SO{i}L (earth) [one has to go]

9a

Vessels from Holland draw fleet out (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Opposed to gang's leader, or getting on? (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Money put into eg West End's opening show? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

TIN (money) contained by MAE (eg West),  E{nd’s} [opening]

12a

Short drink relative knocked back, little one (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

London theatre players itch occasionally (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

{p}L{a}Y{e}R{s} I{t}C{h} [occasionally]. There are two actually, one in Shaftesbury Avenue and the other in Hammersmith.

15a

Lover dropped insee TV set that's wide (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Woman fell holding stone dish (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Pagan deity priest continually repelled (5)

Generating...
20a

Unload bananas, ripe on one side with lumps (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

Anagram [bananas] of UNLOAD, then R{ipe} [on one side]

22a

Check on time for charging first murderer (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

ON + T (time) enclosed by [charging] CAIN (first murderer).  Cain slew Abel in Genesis with the jawbone of an ass.

24a

Mocking but not right, like some columns (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

I{r}ONIC (mocking) [not right]. One of the classic styles of architecture.

25a

One musical man returning is unoriginal (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

I (one) then EVITA (musical) + TIM (man) reversed [returning]

27a

Name dropped by fair lady in garden (3)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Mum rushes around to stop wit becoming prophet (11)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

MA (mum ) + DARTS (rushes) reversed [around] contained by [to stop ] NOUS (wit – intelligence)

Down

1d

With quiet tread walk home (3)

flowerflowerflower
2d

One ready to cross loch and land in river? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

I (one) + SET (ready) containing [to cross] L (loch). An islet doesn’t have to be in a river but can be, and the DBE is signalled by the question mark.

3d

Pocketing a brown, so coming to black? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

SIC (so) containing [pocketing] A + TAN (brown)

4d

Last word about puzzle: Torquemada's First Surprise (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

AMEN (last word of prayer) containing [about] MAZE (puzzle), then T{orquemada’s} [first]. Didn’t know the guy but didn’t need to.

5d

Start off wellpint making you clumsy? (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Make merry: go further in mountain valley (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

For all that, long sentence offers pleasing image? (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Deception and appalling greed in male (11)

flowerflowerflower
11d

Wealthy sort one in mineral oil refinement? (11)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Steps taken to bring about downfall (4,5)

Generating...
16d

Newsreader once in row involving personal credit (4,5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

TIER (row) containing [involving] OWN (personal) + CR (credit)

18d

Male cat catches cold, in a wind (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Marsh in fine country, not good (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Borders outside close to free French city (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

RIMS (borders) containing [outside] {fre}E [close]

23d

Man after a kiss in principle (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

A, X (kiss), IOM (Isle of Man)

26d

Goddess, Greek god and Aesop in the middle? (3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

{Gr}E{ek} + {g}O{d} + {Ae}S{op} [in the middle]. Another unknown member of mythical deity but this time the wordplay left no room for doubt.