Times Cryptic #28658

2023-07-18

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Across

1a

Man's town house? Head for the country no longer (7-4)

Generating...
7a

Robert Browning's beginning Ring and Book (3)

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9a

Clot got a clue, surprisingly grasping answer (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram [surprisingly] of GOT A CLUE containing [grasping] A (answer)

10a

Fictional Amerindian soldiers leaving Canadian city (5)

Generating...

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

T{or}ONTO (Canadian city) [soldiers leaving]. Faithful sidekick of The Lone Ranger whom he always referred to as Kemo Sabe which is believed to translate as ‘trusty friend’ or ‘trusty scout’, or something like that, but there’s no definitive answer. Most famously, Tonto was played by Jay Silverheels, but others have taken the role, including Johnny Depp in a Disney version.

11a

Run away from an exhilarating experience in colony (7)

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12a

Completely right to eat for example nothing in fast (7)

Generating...

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

ALL (completely) + R (right) containing [to eat] EG (for example), then 0 (nothing). Perhaps one of the better-known musical directions imported from Italian.

13a

It may make basket cases of reclusive isolates, over from the east (5)

Generating...

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

R{eclusiv}E + I{solate}S [cases of…], + O (over) all reversed [from the east]. Young shoots of the willow tree.

15a

Stop and see changes on journey in March (5-4)

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17a

Current opposition that is limiting politician and party (9)

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19a

Insulating layer perhaps seals edges of glasshouse (5)

Generating...
20a

Head of Langley called for houses to get bugged (7)

Generating...

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

NEEDED (called for) contains [houses] L{angley} [head of…]

22a

Time for delivery of French fruit, around 2nd of June (3,4)

Generating...

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

DE (of, French) + DATE (fruit) containing around {J}U{ne} [2nd of…]

24a

One single Spanish vehicle, moving back, is lost (2,3)

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25a

Review things like fashion label worn by son (4,5)

Generating...

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

TAKE TO (like) + CK (fashion label – Calvin Klein) contains [worn by] S (son). I spent ages trying to parse this before realising that TO belongs with TAKE rather than with CK.

27a

Fool, maybe, in party doing a pirouette (3)

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28a

Favouring the right time to invest in retailer, one providing accounts (11)

Generating...

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

TORY (favouring the right) + T (time) contained by [to invest in] SELLER (retailer)

Down

1d

Brought up fake text for a PC? (3)

Generating...

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

COD (fake) reversed [brought up].  I assume the definition refers to text files on a personal computer (PC) which if one is using Microsoft Word will have the filename extension .doc  .

2d

Jacket from upmarket clothing pile not fitting (5)

Generating...

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

U{pmarke}T [jacket from…] containing [clothing] NAP (pile – the surface on a fabric such as velvet)

3d

Worse French ruler putting down one former ruler (7)

Generating...
4d

Shock about secretary turning on one fired in the office? (6,3)

Generating...

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

STUN (shock) containing [about] PA (secretary) reversed [turning] + LEG (on – cricket). We’ve had this erroneous definition before. A staple gun is a tool used in building construction and maintenance – hardly something one would find in the average office. That’s called a stapler.

5d

Oscar for each actor? Just the lead in dramatic work (5)

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6d

French miss typical ending for superlative fashion mag (7)

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7d

Receive a royal honour after king's left knowing nothing (9)

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8d

Energy firm keeping trademarks present in group of posters (11)

Generating...

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

BP (energy firm – British Petroleum) containing [keeping] LOGOS (trademarks), HERE (present)

11d

Hear pianola playing, or a wind instrument (7,4)

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14d

Showing admiration, I really have very little time! (9)

Generating...

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

I’M PRESSED (I really have very little time)

16d

Fine day to get into repeat of Love Island (4-5)

Generating...
18d

Guys' partners crossing a river in foreign capital (7)

Generating...

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

DOLLS (guys’ partners) containing (crossing) A + R (river). The clue refers to the 1950 musical Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser.

19d

Offering squash with ice, but not cold (7)

Generating...

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

PRESS (squash), I{c}E [not cold]. One of those popular diminutives that I hate. ‘Uni’ is another one.

21d

Repeat short, simple song on love (5)

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23d

The main feature of the first dozen letters on line (5)

Generating...

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

A TO L (the first dozen letters), L (line). ‘Main’ because it’s like the answer at 24ac.

26d

First Labour leader picked up mixed drink (3)

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