Times Cryptic #28833

2024-02-07

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Across

1a

Lambasted delinquent youth about skin condition (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Rudimentary airline? That's not my fault! (5)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Writer briefly pens a flyer (5)

Generating...

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

QUIL[L} has A inserted. Lots of them around our area, and they are so stupid, they stand in the road waiting to be run over instead of being “flyers”.

10a

Tasteless dwelling from 1900 soon occupied by Spanish agreement (9)

Generating...

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

MCM (Roman numerals for 1900), ANON (soon), insert SI (Spanish for yes). A large modern house not in keeping with its more tasteful surroundings; Collins says the derivation is from McDonald’s restaurants being ubiquitous and tasteless, which seems a bit harsh to me.

11a

Ready to cook a starter of duck after lying down (7)

Generating...
12a

Go around Australia with a philosopher (7)

Generating...

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

SPIN (go around), OZ, A.

13a

Playing gig, we munch sticky food (7,3)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Auntie's book on queen, perhaps (4)

Generating...

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

BEE (queen) B[ook].

18a

Stand up again when hearing wedding, say (4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Monster yak caught in pan (10)

Generating...

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

JABBER (yak), WOK (pan), insert C for caught. Fortunately I’m a big L.C. fan, I can recite most of Jabberwocky and he cropped up in Monday’s cryptic as a pseudonym.

23a

Red team's in reversing vehicle (7)

Generating...

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

TRAM is our vehicle, reverse it (MART) and inset XI’S for team’s.

24a

Trailer to run over piano initially (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

In America, check a pipe for crack producing pool of water? (9)

Generating...

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

BILL (called a check in USA), A, BONG (pipe for smoking, usually through water).

26a

Song close to baptismal font (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Twilight Zone at first featured in homework? That's silly (5)

Generating...

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

DIY being do-it-yourself or homework, insert T Z the initial letters of Twilight Zone.

28a

Resident of lair associated with eastern school on island (7)

Generating...

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

DEN (lair), I (island), ZEN (eastern school of philosophy).

Down

1d

Hard to escape drama over energy and oil producer (3,4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

What sank Liberal opposition after a time? (8)

Generating...

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

A, T[ime], L[iberal], ANTIS = those against.  Atlantis was mentioned by Plato as a fictional island “in the West”, supposedly in the Atlantic Ocean, which sank.

3d

Close concealed bags I'm thinking (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Queen's Head pub is mad to changeit's a big disappointment (4,5)

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5d

Bank robber is pretty Scottish (6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Almost take top off European sports accessory (3,4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Working with heads of government agency to support Conservative party line? (5)

Generating...

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

CON[servative], G A (heads of government agency).

8d

Mark circling yard in eg NYPD vehicle (5,3)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Large amphibian with tag on it aroused notice (5,4)

flowerflowerflower
16d

One ringing about a garden in Derbyshire town (8)

Generating...

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

BELL (one ringing) has A KEW (Garden) inserted. A nice little town famous for its Bakewell Tart.

17d

Heading north in piazza, jeer flautist's improvised music (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Surpriseno topping on top of the pastry (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Operation privy to pocketing one or two-pennyworth? (7)

Generating...

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

OP[eration], IN ON (privy to), insert I (one).

22d

Times covers wise guys set up for crime (6)

Generating...

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

BY (x, times) with MAGI reversed inside.

23d

I'm responsible by turning up in crazy clothes? (2,3)

Generating...

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

MAD (crazy) with BY reversed inside. An Americanism which has sadly reached our shores recently.

24d

Composer not at home with one idol worshipper (5)

Generating...

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

Nicolo Paganini, the composer, famous for other composers writing variations on his themes. He loses his IN and I.