Independent Cryptic #11935

2025-01-09

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Underworld figure a new painter like Picasso laid bare (6)

Generating...

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

A + N (new) + C UBIS T (Pablo Picasso [1881 – 1973] was one of the co-founders of the Cubism art movement) excluding the outer letters (laid bare) C and T

5a

Car company compresses hydrogen - a large fuel source (8)

Generating...

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

([ CAR + CO {company}] containing [compresses] H [chemical symbol for hydrogen]) + A + L

9a

Doctor mentored us with excellence (10)

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10a

Plant found by river in bog (4)

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11a

Very funny situation includes a boy dressing (10)

Generating...

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

SCREAM (very funny situation) containing (includes) ( A + LAD [boy])

12a

Very popular electronic video service that was shut down (4)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Turn away from neighbourhood area for one further on? (8)

Generating...

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

DISTR I CT (with A [area] replacing [for] the second [further on] I [Roman numeral for one] to form DISTR A CT )

15a

Start to launch missile right away in case (6)

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18a

Almost run aground close to lighthouse (6)

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20a

Ultimately drove Vauxhall right into ditch - weird! (8)

Generating...

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

EL ( final letters of [ultimately] each of DROV E and VAUXHAL L ) + ( R [right] contained in [into] DITCH

21a

We should punch knocking out fellow second (4)

Generating...
22a

Art lover at renovated airport moves people with this? (10)

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24a

Candid old writer (4)

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25a

We are discovered moving Shiite jug at start of prayer (10)

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26a

European left darts having bagged 500 doubles in separate legs (8)

Generating...

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

([ E {European} + L {left} + DARTS ] containing [bagged] D (Roman numeral for 500) all reversed (doubles [turns sharply back on one’s course])

27a

Animated bouncer set off to throw out boor at last (6)

Generating...

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

T R IGGER (set off) excluding (to throw out) R ( final letter of [at last] BOO R)

Down

2d

Story born yesterday about rook and rodent (9)

Generating...

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

NAIVE (overtrusting and unworldly; gullible; born yesterday) containing (about) ( R [rook – chess notation] + RAT [rodent])

3d

Grandiose wine at bottom of tank cold (9)

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4d

Collector of rings and fancy coins (5)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (fancy) COINS

5d

Most remote bird eating leeks on occasion (7)

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6d

Put together dope crest spending millions on diamonds (9)

Generating...

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

ASS (diot; dope) + EMBLE M (crest) replacing (spending … on) M (millions) wit D (diamonds)

7d

Column bloke is rewriting (7)

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8d

Bully essentially harassed teen in kind (7)

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14d

American news spun Republican departing with additional comments (9)

Generating...

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

A (American) + ( N [new] + N [new] – giving ‘news’) + R OTATED (spun) excluding (departing) R (Republican)

16d

Stick around cinema for ending with grandeur (9)

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17d

You bet after lone card originally turned? Fold! (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (turned) LONE and C [ first letter of [originally] C ARD) + SURE (certainly; you bet)

18d

A fire boosted by this roars (7)

Generating...

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

BELLOWS (roars) double definition

19d

A sucker for soldiers? (7)

Generating...

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

ANTBEAR (an animal that eats ANTS [soldiers] by sucking them up in quantities) – cryptic definition , I don’t think there is any additional wordplay or definition

20d

Display slice of austere gateau on the counter (7)

Generating...
23d

Mechanic at the rear stops to modify Fiat (5)

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