Times Cryptic #28796

2023-12-26

Solve on Times →

Across

1a

Greek expert on the Underworld put to shame (8)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Economies turned round firm producing fine plaster (6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Unreal, being aboard sinking boat with Atlantis appearing anew? (13)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Girl with needle full of red blood? (6)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Spies must capture Bloom up to tricks in the country (8)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Constant thundering and in Lancaster maybe small downpour (10)

Generating...
15a

Bush with sharp spines: son's lost much blood (4)

Generating...

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

GOR{s}E (bush with sharp spines) [son’s lost]

16a

Books of past and series of unremembered days (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Rugger international in which French score, holding second Scottish team (10)

Generating...

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

VINGT (French score – 20) containing [holding] S (second), contained by [in] LION (rugby international). ‘The Lions’ is the nickname of various teams representing England and/or Great Britain internationally at Rugby Union or Rugby League . I also just discovered that ‘The Lions’ is the nickname of Livingston F.C. but this is probably not known widely enough for the setter to have  made use of it in the clue. Edit: There’s more about the town and the team in my first comment in the discussion.

21a

Lower price in competition for some sirloin (8)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Pause in bar after pianonothing played fast (6)

Generating...

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

P (piano), REST (pause), 0 (nothing). Musical direction.

23a

Move swiftly around English supporter with Ford in pedestrian zone (5,8)

Generating...

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

ZING (move swiftly) containing [around] E (English) + BRA (supporter) + CROSS (ford)

25a

Rabbit shot with rook appearing in stories (6)

Generating...

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

GO (shot) + R (rook) contained by [appearing in] ANA (stories). Fortunately the rabbit came up here very recently as I only knew it previously as a goat.

26a

Early bird succeeded coming in to trap fish (8)

Generating...

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

S (succeeded) contained by [coming in] NET (trap) + LING (fish). A mildly cryptic definition here.

Down

2d

Nancy's milk at home one's knocked back first (7)

Generating...

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

LAIT (Nancy’s milk – French) + IN (at home) + I (one) reversed [knocked back]

3d

Sign in East Street with one copper left in crowd (11)

Generating...

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

E (East) + ST (Street) + I (one) + CU (copper) + L (left) contained by [in] GATE (crowd e.g. at a sports event)

4d

Doctor consumed by drink making gentle progress? (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Delilah in French bank, caught making entrance (7)

Generating...

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

EN (in in French), TIER (bank) with C (caught) contained [making entrance]. An unsignalled DBE for those who are concerned.

6d

Unmarried person going topless? Seemingly not! (9)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Shooter's identity questioned in Bow reportedly? (3)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Working dog on runone seen with blackened face? (7)

Generating...

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

COLLIE (working dog), R (run). Colliers mine coal; collie is a leading breed of working sheepdog

12d

Dictatorial American soldiers encased in concrete (11)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Battle aircraftman taking ladies perhaps into Welsh lake (9)

Generating...

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

AC (aircraftman) + LAV (ladies perhaps) contained by [taking…into] BALA (Welsh lake)

17d

New online journal by daughter sent up inhabitant (7)

Generating...

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

N (new) + E (online) + ZINE (journal) + D (daughter) all reversed [sent up]. I was going to say I never heard of ZINE but of course in comes from ‘magazine’ via ‘fanzine’ etc. Collins gives it a more specific meaning, saying that it’s produced cheaply and written by amateurs.

19d

Animal doctor near frisky warhorse (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Figure duck disturbed cat and left shortly (7)

Generating...

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

0 (duck – nil), anagram [disturbed] of CAT, then GON{e}{ (left) [shortly]

22d

Communications from pair propping up the bar? (5)

Generating...

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

The cryptic hint refers to goalposts and crossbar

24d

Briton appearing occasionally in short history (3)

Generating...

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

B{r}I{t}O{n} [appearing occasionally]