Times Cryptic #28768

2023-11-23

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Foil employer who erects barriers? (6)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Ill after start of fast? Get medicine here (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Star actor I recast as Dracula, say (10)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Kind of weight that a horse finally brought down (4)

Generating...
11a

Split personality, for example, in tattered raincoat (8)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Love one part of school that's stupid (6)

Generating...

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

O(love), then one part of school is A FISH. I originally had one=A, but as pointed out in the comments, that convention isn’t used in the Times. I was in Mephistoland a few days early.

13a

Surrounded by maidens, surrounded by helping hands (4)

flowerflowerflower
15a

The main challenges for sopranos, as you can hear (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Old soldier turning in torn decoration (8)

Generating...

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

O(old), then MAN(soldier) reversed inside RENT(torn)

19a

Being behind, with others going back (4)

Generating...

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

ET AL(with others) reversed

21a

Spirits raised after swallowing a litre (6)

Generating...

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

MORE(raised) containing A,L(litre)

23a

Dawn to stand up and boast (8)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Grave situation from doctor's perspective (4)

flowerflowerflower
26a

One group in difficulty that's always ready to ignite (5,5)

Generating...

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

I(one), LOT(group) inside PLIGHT(difficulty)

27a

Overeat a lot around a time for celebration (8)

Generating...

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

HOG(overeat), MANY(a lot) surrounding A.  Anyone else think of Terry Pratchett here?

28a

Like unsatisfied consumer taking article from European country (6)

Generating...

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

remove A(article) from HUNGARY(European country)

Down

2d

English educational foundation embraces old fallacy (5)

Generating...

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

E(English) and RRR(the three R’s, educational foundation) surrounding O(old)

3d

Like novelist, runs into accountant who was unbelievably accurate? (9)

Generating...

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

AS(like) the novelist George SAND, and R(runs) inside CA(Chartered Accountant)

4d

One of four men initially on board that is neophyte (6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

How numbers of letters appear here to bring up one demand they oddly put about (15)

Generating...

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

PARENT(bring up), then I(one), CALL(demand) inside an anagram of THEY.  Definition referring to the enumeration after clues.

6d

Even if a learner pondered, not reaching conclusion (8)

Generating...

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

A, L(learner), THOUGHT(pondered) minus the last letter

7d

After short time, like fiddle that's taken up theme (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Eccentric co-stars in part of Breakfast at Tiffany's (9)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Visitor to China has nothing to pack up before game (5,4)

Generating...

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

O(nothing) and CRAM(pack) reversed before POLO(game)

16d

In part, take French or Spanish translation for the anthology (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Saint subject to criticism? That's child's play (5,3)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Former American student briefly holding British record (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Further letters after one or two from female or male relative (5)

Generating...

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

quirky wordplay #3 – remove one letter from MOTHER or two from BROTHER