Independent Cryptic #11946

2025-01-22

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Across

1a

Frenzy in shooting gallery when Nationalist released (4)

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3a

Asthmatic Republican vandalised Dutch city (10)

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10a

Barrel is enormous not small (3)

Generating...

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

Barrel is enormous, not small VA <s> T (=enormous; “not small (=S, of sizes)” means letter “s” is dropped)

11a

Eagles' running back eats treat (5)

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12a

Individual with no hope shot Norse queen (5)

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13a

French article and English translation for metalworker (5)

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14a

Job? No it is work to be rebuffed (8)

Generating...

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

Job ? No, it is work to be rebuffed NO IT IS + OP (=work, i.e. opus); “to be rebuffed” indicates reversal

16a

Plans to do something to stop twitches (7)

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18a

Refuse pile of money economical when Conservatives ditched (7)

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20a

Corrupt monster having friendly relations (7)

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22a

In joint possession of punt we went naked (7)

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23a

Redneck regularly gets swimmer to overstep the mark (8)

Generating...

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

Redneck regularly gets swimmer to overstep the mark <r> E <d> N <e> C <k> (“regularly” means alternate letters only are used) + ROACH (= “swimmer”, i.e. fish)

25a

Reportedly put wine in for a particular purpose (5)

Generating...

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

Reportedly put wine in for a particular purpose Homophone (“reportedly”) of “add (=put in) hock (=wine)”

28a

Warning! Beer at room temperature primarily (5)

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29a

Critical examination in audition for theatrical performance (5)

Generating...

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

Critical examination in audition for theatrical performance Homophone (“in audition”) of “review (=critical examination)”

30a

Half of Elon Musk's head is wood (3)

Generating...

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

Half of Elon Musk’s head is wood EL <on> (“half of” mean two of four letters only are used) + M <usk> (“head” means first letter only)

31a

I waited on northern criminal throughout the land (10)

Generating...

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

I waited on Northern criminal throughout the land *(I WAITED ON N (=Northern)); “criminal” is anagram indicator

32a

Couple one over par? Just the opposite (4)

Generating...

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

Couple one over par? Just the opposite I (=one) in PAR

Down

1d

I love to run around in circle (10)

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2d

Criticised as bit of toast found in butter (5)

Generating...

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

Criticised , as bit of toast found in butter T <oast> (“bit of” means first letter only) in GOAT (= “butter”, i.e. an animal that butts)

4d

Fate of American soldiers with pressure rising (7)

Generating...

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

Fate of American soldiers with pressure rising A (=American) + TROPOS (TROO P S=soldiers; “with pressure (=P) rising” means letter “p” moves to an earlier position in the word; Atropos is one of the three Fates in Greek mythology

5d

That woman has managed to inhale drug in hookah (7)

Generating...

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

That woman has managed to inhale drug in hookah E (=drug, i.e. Ecstasy ) in [SHE (=that woman) + *(HAS)]; “managed” is anagram indicator

6d

Clever to start late correct? (5)

Generating...

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

Clever to start late, correct ? <b> RIGHT (=clever); “to start late” means that the first letter is disregarded

7d

French footballer mostly with no difficulty picked up foreign language (9)

Generating...

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

French footballer, mostly with no difficulty, picked up foreign language CANTON <a> (=French footballer, i.e. Éric Cantona; “mostly” means last letter is dropped) + homophone (“picked up”, heard) of “ease (=no difficulty)”

8d

Spelling of 'doughnuts'? (4)

Generating...

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

is an American actress and media personality AND a (ring) torus, plural tori, is the shape of a (ring) doughnut

9d

Conclude I love rector's pants to a greater degree (8)

Generating...

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

Conclude I love rector’s pants to a greater degree INFER (=conclude) + I + O (=love, i.e. zero score in tennis) + R (=rector); the “pants” of the definition means of poor quality, rubbish

15d

Promising individual shot unarmed cop (10)

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17d

Function of powerful whip cracking (9)

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19d

Eat and throw up creating trouble (8)

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21d

Bird box with chain (7)

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22d

Roger in bed didn't cause problems (7)

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24d

Old-fashioned baggage attendant quietly declined to go back (5)

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26d

Carnivore in hotel with desire to get ham essentially (5)

Generating...

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

Carnivore in hotel with desire to get ham, essentially H (=hotel) + YEN (=desire, urge) + <h> A <m> (“essentially” means middle letter only is used)

27d

Soldier captures island in ocean (4)

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