Independent 12,104 by Phi

Across

01

BRONCO

Brother and officer becoming target for cowboys?

BRO (=brother, colloquially) + NCO (=officer, i.e. non-commissioned officer); cowboys try to tame broncos, hence “target for cowboys”

05

BONHOMIE

Success securing new home at the outset – that is a good feeling

[N (=new, as in New Testament) + H<ome> (“at the outset” means first letter only)] in BOOM (=success)] + I.E. (=that is, id est)

09

BATTLESHIP

Marine vessel out of place in Tibet and next answer (with height being involved)

H (=height) in *(TIBET + ALPS (=next answer, i.e. in this crossword); “out of place” is anagram indicator

10

ALPS

A recording’s offering a view of Switzerland?

A + LP (=recording, i.e. long-playing record)’S

11

STEP DOWN

Getting depressed after sulks recalled? Leave the top job

STEP (PETS=sulks, moods; “recalled” indicates reversal) + DOWN (=depressed, low)

12

LUSTRE

Temptation to snatch stone? It’s the shininess

ST (=stone, in weight) in LURE (=temptation)

13

SLIP

Dropping // a catch may be mine?

Double definition: dropping can refer to letting slip, in conversation AND a slip fielder may have to take a catch in cricket

15

TASTEBUD

A source of culinary pleasure, but dates should be chopped

*(BUT DATES); “should be chopped” is anagram indicator

18

ENTRANCE

Transport // access

Double definition: to entrance is to transport, enrapture AND an entrance is an access, an entry

19

TIER

Row after middle of kitchen device lost

TI<m>ER (=kitchen device; “middle of … lost” means middle letter is dropped); a row is a level, a tier

21

LARDER

After reversing, drive into concrete food store

DR (=drive, in addresses) in REAL (=concrete, actual); “after reversing” indicates reversal

23

CLEMENCY

Caught by the French soldiers, clearly heartless, but getting mercy

C (=caught, on cricket scorecard) + LE (=the French, i.e. a French word for the) + MEN (=soldiers, troops) + C<learl>Y (“heartless” means all but first and last letters are dropped)

25

TERM

Better men to accept time in office

Hidden (“to accept”) in “betTER Men”; e.g. President Trump’s first term was his first “time in office”

26

CENTRE-HALF

Defender learnt he is out of place in soccer team after upset

*(LEARNT HE) in CF (FC=soccer team, i.e. football club; “after upset” indicates reversal); “out of place” is anagram indicator

27

DRABNESS

Dull style in clothing receiving unexpected ban

*(BAN) in DRESS (=clothing); “unexpected” is anagram indicator

28

SITCOM

Company in place beginning to make TV programme?

CO (=company, i.e. abbreviation) in [SIT (=place, position, as verb) + M<ake> (“beginning to” means first letter only)]

Down

02

ROAST

Decay restricting a second joint

[A + S (=second, in time)] in ROT (=decay); a Sunday joint is a Sunday roast

03

NOTEPAPER

Not recording a person in facility for making records

NOT + EP (=recording, i.e. extended-play record) + A + PER. (=person)

04

OBERON

Weber opera, opening in Oslo, with live run being broadcast

O<slo> (“opening in” means first letter only) + BE (=live, exist) + R (=run, on cricket scorecard) + ON (=(being) broadcast); Oberon is a romantic opera by German composer Carl Maria von Weber, composed in 1825-6

05

BEHIND THE SCENES

This end of the bench needs to be repaired covertly

*(THIS + <th>E + BENCH NEEDS); “end of” means last letter only is used in anagram, indicated by “to be repaired”

06

NEPALESE

High-level person goes white when cornered by indication of former name

PALES (=goes white) in NÉE (=indication of former, i.e. maiden, name); cryptically, a Nepalese is a “high-level person”, i.e. a national of a country located at high altitude in the Himalayas

07

OPALS

Gems having phosphorous as well, but oxygen primarily

P (=phosphorous) + ALSO (=as well); “oxygen (=O) primarily” means letter “o” moves to front of word

08

IMPORTUNE

Significance supported by article in French press

IMPORT (=significance) + UNE (=article in French, i.e. a French word for a); to importune is to cajole, solicit, hence “(to) press”

14

LEND AN EAR

Stop in road, head away from car, and listen

[END (=stop, finish) in LANE (=road)] + <c>AR (“head away from” means first letter is dropped)

16

ENTRECHAT

17, when dancing, involves hard ballet move

H (=hard, as in HB pencils) in *(ENTR’ACTE (=entry at 17)

17

ENTR’ACTE

Stage music opening, but cut short? Excellent, about time

ENTR<y> (=opening, access; “cut short” means last letter is dropped) + [T (=time) in ACE (=excellent, brill)]; an entr’acte is a piece of music played between the acts of a play

20

DEBRIS

New face at court getting knight upset? Rubbish

DEB (=new face at court, i.e. débutante) + RIS (SIR=knight; “upset” indicates reversal)

22

DEMOB

Stand down protest over book

DEMO (=protest) + B (=book); to demob is to stand down from military duty

24

CELLO

Accommodation for fifteenth prisoner? It’s a big fiddle

CELL O (=accommodation for fifteenth prisoner, where CELL A is for the first prisoner, CELL B for the second, etc); the “fiddle” of the definition is a violin, stringed instrument