Independent Cryptic #11885

2024-11-12

Solve on Independent →

Across

7a

Rogue personal problem down below (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BO (body odour – ‘personal problem’) UNDER (down below)

8a

Alice in Chains originally composed long version of 16A (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

An anagram (‘composed’) of ALICE and I C (first or ‘original’ letters in ‘in chains’) – the long version of SISSY (16 across)

9a

Underworld ring has change of leader (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

b ELL (ring) with the ‘b’ (leader) changing to H

10a

Bachelor has crush for someone only interested in 14 (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

GRAD (graduate – ‘bachelor’) GRIND (crush) – a new word for us – someone only interested in FACTS (14 down)

12a

X Factor in complaint I'm escalating (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Jack Sprat's back stuffing in smörgåsbord - he's a hypocrite! (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

TAR (sailor – ‘jack’) T (last letter or ‘back’ of Sprat) + middle letters or ‘stuffing’ of b UFFE t (‘ smörgåsbord’)

15a

Husband with a way to get stiff (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

H (husband) A RD (road – ‘way’)

16a
19d

(and 19 Down) Southern skyscape is fantastic for film star (5,6)

Generating...
17a

Wolves forwards get ready to go on holiday (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Triple definition – the middle one being the forwards in a rugby team

18a

Sun embodied by articles with endlessly lurid references (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

S (sun) in or ’embodied by’ THE and A (articles) + l URI d missing the first and last letters or ‘endless’

20a

Divers love working in Lesotho (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

O (love) ON (working) in LS (Lesotho)

21a

Lovebirds at heart want somewhere to swim in resort (9)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Strip poker initially rejected by poet (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

p LATH (Sylvia Plath, ‘poet’) missing the ‘p’ (first or ‘initial’ letter of poker)

24a

Goddess put off tackling Grecian (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Bends over to impress dogs (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Charlie Dimmock's bottom pinched by Tory peer (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Red Sea supports swimming final (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MED (Mediterranean – ‘sea’) after or ‘supporting’ an anagram (‘swimming’) of FINAL

3d

Wife moves very slowly in heels (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

W (wife) EDGES (moves very slowly)

4d

Poor British goods breaking too soon (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

B (British) + GG (‘goods’) in or ‘breaking’ EARLY (too soon)

5d

My name is upside down on place setting (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A reversal (‘upside down’) of I’M (my name is) + LIEU (place)

6d

Sort family feud at last (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

KIN (family) D (last letter of feud)

11d

Mo Ali sits around getting very high (9)

flowerflowerflower
12d

Buck up to win final of tennis slam (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A reversal (‘up’) of HART (buck) round or ‘winning’ S (last or ‘final’ letter of tennis)

14d

Information in folio book (5)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Sister embracing style of music that is more spirited (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SR (sister) round or ’embracing’ PUNK (style of music) IE (id est – ‘that is’)

17d

Spooner’s learning passages from old legislation (4,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A Spoonerism of LORE (learning) PORES (passages)

19d

See 16 Across

20d

What 7 may do when sucker drops 1p (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

LOLL ip OP (sucker) missing or ‘dropping’ 1p – a bounder (7 across) could be someone who ‘bounds’ or lollops along

21d

Grouse meat (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition

23d

Heavyweight boxing with 21 perhaps (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

TON (‘heavyweight’) round or ‘boxing’ W (with) – Blackpool (21 across) is a TOWN