The Independent on Sunday puzzle has historically been one that is reasonably accessible, but I found this one to be chewy in many areas, particularly when it came to the parsing. Mebbes just me having a bad hair day.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Opponent‘s for change, not against
ANTAGONIST
(NOT AGAINST)* with ‘for change’ as the anagrind.
6 Clobber game when it retreats
GARB
A reversal of BRAG, the card game.
10 Remark companion’s missed by complete accident
UTTERANCE
UTTER [CH]ANCE, with the CH standing for Companion of Honour.
11 Still passionate in chamber?
PHOTO
An insertion of HOT in PO. The insertion indicator is ‘in’. PO is informal British English for chamber pot.
12 Ticks over icons on mobile?
IDLES
A dd. The second meaning I had never heard of, but they are apparently a type of icon on mobile phones.
Edit: Hovis has a much better explanation. It’s aural wordplay (‘on mobile’) of IDOLS. Thank you to him.
13 Sensitive English poet originally appointed Laureate
EMOTIONAL
A charade of E, MOTION and AL for the initial letters of ‘appointed’ and ‘Laureate’. The poet referred to is Sir Andrew MOTION, perhaps best-known for being Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009.
14 See about crossing Alps getting fresh passes
ELAPSES
An insertion of (ALPS)* in SEE reversed. The anagrind is ‘getting fresh’ and the insertion indicator is ‘crossing’.
16 Merciless leader restricts team socialising
MIXING
An insertion of XI for eleven or ‘team’ in MING. The insertion indicator is ‘restricts’. MING the Merciless is a character from the Flash Gordon comic strip.
19 They might be Rick’s family mugs
STEINS
The German beer glass is also the surname of the TV chef Rick STEIN. A dd.
20 Cutter, when returned, secured by husband and wife
HANDSAW
An insertion of AS for ‘when’ reversed in H AND W. The insertion indicator is ‘secured by’.
23 It’s relaxed, with ‘ace’ fare?
CAFETERIA
(IT ACE FARE)* with ‘relaxed’ as the anagrind. A cad: the whole clue is the definition.
25 Ex-PM in retreat following book
BLAIR
A charade of B and LAIR.
26 Multiple terms of reference rule out issues
EMITS
[R]EMITS
27 Walls of chapel best trimmed with romantic illumination
CANDLELIT
The outside letters of ‘chapel’ are C AND L; this is followed by ELIT[E].
28 Swallows perhaps settle nose to tail
EATS
A ‘settle’ is a type of couch or SEAT. The setter is inviting you to move the first letter of that to the end.
29 Moor vessel, checking bows essentially in order
FELLOWSHIP
An insertion of OW for the middle letters of bOWs in FELL and SHIP. The insertion indicator is ‘checking’.
Down
1 Rude, coarse artist becoming accepted by Society
ABUSIVE
I will hold my hand up to using the Fifteensquared Bloggers Phone a Friend option to parse this one, because I couldn’t see it. We need to take the RA for ‘artist’ out of ABRASIVE for ‘coarse’ and substitute U for ‘accepted by society’ (the U and non-U distinction which only ever crops up in crosswords these days).
2 “Excite a little” – that encapsulates it
TITILLATE
An insertion of IT in (A LITTLE)* The insertion indicator is ‘encapsulates’ and the anagrind is ‘excite’, which is also the definition, unless you want to consider this another cad, which is probably a better option.
3 Spears raised regularly during spear song
GORES
Hidden ‘regularly’ in SpEaR sOnG reversed. ‘Raised’ works because it’s a down clue.
4 Note doughnut with new taste, possibly rhubarb
NONSENSE
A charade of N, O for ‘doughnut’, N and SENSE.
5 Copper on radio for so long
SEE YOU
Copper, chemically, is Cu, which if you pronounce it out loud (‘on radio’) is SEE YOU.
7 Sailors having a party on top deck
ADORN
A charade of A, DO and RN for Royal Navy or ‘sailors’.
8 Pirate needing repair to globe
BOOTLEG
(TO GLOBE)* with ‘needing repair’ as the anagrind.
9 Dispenser of drams? One article which might replace glasses
OPTICIAN
A charade of OPTIC, I and AN.
15 Clean egg is in return packaging
SANITISE
An insertion of NIT and IS in SAE for Stamped Addressed Envelope. The insertion indicator is ‘in’. A NIT is a louse egg. Nitty Nora the hair explorer will be remembered by those of a certain age.
17 Halal shin’s prepared as God would have it
INSHALLAH
(HALAL SHIN)* with ‘prepared’ as the anagrind. INSHALLAH is a transliteration of an expression in Arabic which is more commonly rendered as ‘god willing’.
18 Coinage of novel phrase about Northern Line
SHRAPNEL
An insertion of N and L in (PHRASE)* The insertion indicator is ‘about’ and the anagrind is ‘novel’. SHRAPNEL is slang for loose change or ‘coinage’.
19 Salmon, company reared on island in case of shortage
SOCKEYE
An insertion of CO reversed and KEY in SE, the outside letters of ‘shortage’. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
21 Eavesdrop on women fronting independent pop-up!
WIRETAP
A charade of W, I and PATER reversed. We need a (very slight) lift-and-separate on ‘pop-up’ to give ‘pop’ for PATER and UP as the reversal indicator in a down clue.
22 One making predictions tipped paddleboat?
ORACLE
[C]ORACLE
24 Carry on investing roubles in flutter
FLIRT
An insertion of R in FLIT. The insertion indicator is ‘investing’.
25 Shout half-heartedly downstairs
BELOW
BEL[L]OW. Or BE[L]LOW. Take your pick.
Many thanks to Stamp for this Sunday’s puzzle.
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