Independent Cryptic #11944

2025-01-20

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Look at what's in popular detergent (6)

Generating...

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

Eh(=what, both used as responses to something not heard or not believed) in Bold(=type of washing detergent)

5a

Come across useless type of horse (8)

Generating...

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

Bum(=useless) + pinto(=type of spotted horse)

9a

Spring containing unrefined petroleum (8)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Book a lot of combat sport then hit deceptively (6)

Generating...

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

Jud[o] + hit*. Judith is an Old Testament book.

11a

Bird that greatly enjoys fruit so it's said (10)

Generating...

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

Hom of “grape lover”

12a

Ultimate in retro features in 50s lounge (4)

Generating...

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

[Retr]o in lll(=Roman numeral 50s)

13a

Divine food aromas I prepared with a pinch of basil (8)

Generating...

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

(Aromas I + b[asil])*

16a

Relaxed one behaving like 20D? (6)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Quiet words in leading songs (6)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Cherry pie stuffed with small bird (8)

Generating...

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

(Red(=cherry) + tart(=pie)) around s{mall}

21a

Actor performs but not with a metal band (4)

Generating...

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

([A]ctor)*

22a

Tyrant musician going after sailor like this (10)

Generating...

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

Lutist(=lute player, musician) after (ab(=able seaman) + so(=like this))

25a

Starts to boost intimate relations with one's skimpy garment (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Each son of Trump admits government is hypersensitive (8)

Generating...

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

All(=each) + (Eric(=one of Donald Trump’s sons) around g{overnment})

27a

Emergency equipment beginning to look festive at sea (8)

Generating...

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

L[ook] + festive*

28a

Possesses permit for meat (6)

Generating...

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

Has(=possesses) + permit(=let).

Down

2d

Wrong head chopped off monster (5)

Generating...

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

[T]error

3d

Unusually virtuous nurses died though not at first (5)

Generating...

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

[G]odly(=virtuous) around d{ied}

4d

Casually draws lots after onset of dispute (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

I throw up going through country (7)

Generating...

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

(I lob)< + via(=going through)

6d

Serious about island resort (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Generous fellow's after stylish flat? Not quite (9)

Generating...

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

Gent(=fellow) after (in(=stylish) + dul[l](=flat))

8d

Aristotle redesigned machine for the better (9)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Soul's crushed gathered by small (9)

Generating...

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

Souls* in mini(=small)

15d

Narrowing I have on pipe overhead (9)

Generating...

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

I’ve(=I have) below (re(=on) + duct(=pipe))

18d

Disease afflicted surfers here? (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Carry On Jack shown during holiday (7)

Generating...

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

Tar(=Jack, sailor) in holiday(=rest)

20d

Cheered up after capturing large biblical character (7)

Generating...

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

Hailed< around l{arge}

23d

It's shaped like a doughnut? Sounds like bull (5)

Generating...

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

Hom of taurus

24d

Squeeze inside clothing for severe criticism (5)

Generating...

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

Nip(=squeeze) in s[ever]e. Snipe is normally a verb but Chambers says it can also be used as a noun.