Independent Cryptic #11931

2025-01-04

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Giant swivelling seat in corner (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘swivelling’) of TAIL (seat) in HOG (corner)

5a

Scarf that's warmer then cooler after removing half (7)

Generating...

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

MUFF (‘warmer’ – as in hand warmer) cooLER with ‘half removed’

9a

Astonishing success wearing silver (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Sent torch into action (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Some hated free range (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Joke you are texting about requirement for jumper? (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘about’) of PUN (joke) U R (‘you are’ in texting)

13a

Poet refusing opening offer? (6)

Generating...

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

w HITMAN (poet – Walt Whitman) missing the first letter or ‘refusing opening’

14a

Cheats who don't stick at blackjack (8)

Generating...

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

Double definition – the second referring to the option of sticking or twisting in gambling card games

17a

Original state maintained by Jagger? (8)

flowerflowerflower
19a

King taking black chesspiece (6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Some surprisingly crass material (5)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Hipster in terrible condition (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Two-sided poster's absorbing at times (9)

Generating...

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

BILL (poster) round or ‘absorbing’ AT ERA (times)

27a

Award-winner's sponge cake not needing case of mine (5)

Generating...

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

m ADELE ine (sponge cake) omitting or ‘not needing’ ‘mine’ round the outside

28a

Hold space bar with energy (7)

Generating...

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

EM (space – in printing) BAR GO (energy)

29a

Short distance runner claiming Greek character's too passionate (7)

Generating...

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

OVET t (Steve Ovett – ‘distance runner’) missing the last letter or ‘short’ round RHO (Greek character)

Down

1d

Hit hard by onset of Gunpowder Plot (5)

Generating...

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

RAP (hit) H (hard) after G (first letter or ‘onset’ of gunpowder)

2d

Playing incomplete movie title theme (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘playing’) of MOVIE TITL e missing the last letter or ‘incomplete’

3d

Venerable Australian state capital (7)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Secret resolution to seize independent studio (6)

Generating...

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

HD (resolution – ‘high definition’) round or ‘seizing I (independent) + DEN (studio)

5d

Twin limited personal failure (8)

Generating...

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

ME (Twin – the setter) LTD (limited) OWN (personal)

6d

Midge invading some fruit turnovers perhaps (7)

Generating...

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

URE (Midge Ure – of Ultravox) ‘invading’ FIGS (‘some fruit’)

7d

Muscle in like many Americans (5)

Generating...

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

LAT (muscle) IN

8d

Once more put column up to block second test? (9)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘up’) of OP-ED (column – in a newspaper) in or ‘blocking’ RESIT (second test?)

13d

Stingy type put down unfinished drink (9)

Generating...

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

HUMBLE (put down) BEE r (drink) missing the last letter or ‘unfinished’

15d

Pinnacle of EastEnders that is almost the anniversary (9)

Generating...

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

h EIGHT (pinnacle, missing the ‘h’, as might occur in the East End) IE (that is) TH e missing the last letter or ‘almost)

16d

Situation like this limiting church and state in turn (8)

Generating...

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

SO (like this) round or ‘limiting’ CE (church) and a reversal (‘in turn’) of IRAN (state)

18d

Roll containing a potato (7)

Generating...

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

ROSTER (roll) round or ‘containing’ A

20d

Northern isle voided tense recount (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘northern’ – in a down clue) of ARRAN (island) + T ens E missing the middle letters or ‘voided’

21d

A way to research love god (6)

Generating...

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

A POLL (way to research) O (love)

23d

Name label with city removed and city put back (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘put back’) of la BEL with ‘LA’ (city) ‘removed’ and EC (city)

25d

Panic at following three points (5)

Generating...

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

AT after S W and E (three points – of the compass)