Independent Cryptic #11959

2025-02-06

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

People a priest's about to have sex with (8)

Generating...

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

P OPULATE (people, as a verb) with P (priest) being replaced by (‘s / is) C (circa; about)

5a

Gadget finding husbands for daughters creates excitement (6)

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9a

One's clever gift of lingerie? (8)

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10a

Charlie periodically sleeps with recurrent cheat (6)

Generating...

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

C (Cocaine; Charlie) + LESIH ( letters 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 [periodically] of S L E E P S W I T H ) reversed (recurrent)

12a

Deviously cover up a bold and cynical show of affection (12)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (deviously) COVER UP A BOLD

15a

One has a point about key arguments (5)

Generating...

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

( D [musical key] + ROWS [arguments]) reversed (about)

16a

Plan currency in European country after leader is deposed (9)

Generating...

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

LEV (standard monetary unit of Bulgaria; currency) contained in (in) ( E [European] + N ATION [country] excluding the first letter [after leader is deposed] N

18a

Life force essentially supported by awfully acrid vegetable (9)

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19a

Mention I construct housing of Greek style (5)

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20a

Solarists got confused with these? (12)

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24a

Part of opera was created earlier we hear (6)

Generating...
25a

Precinct detective following rules to the letter (8)

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26a

Rounded projection numbers reversing national insurance guarantees primarily (6)

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27a

A diver abandoned by bachelor in Grand at one (8)

Generating...

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

A + GRE B E (diving bird; diver) excluding (abandoned by) B (bachelor) + IN + G (grand)

Down

1d

Perhaps 8 ball initially caught by its player's equipment (4)

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2d

Summit talk starts late (4)

Generating...

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

S PEAK (talk) excluding the first letter (starts late) S

3d

Wine producer learnt glut ends once regular characters leave (9)

Generating...

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

LANGUEDOC ( letters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 of L E A R N T G L U T E N D S O N C E)

4d

Try to correct call in parliament supporting transitive monetary units (12)

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6d

After goalless draw the man had sounded pleased (5)

Generating...

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

O – O (nil-nil, the score in a goalless draw) + HE’D (the man had)

7d

Complicated case of herpes so I ran it past experts (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (complicated) HS ( outer letters of [case of] H ERPE S ) and SO I RAN IT

8d

Seconds away from late run on Echo cutting journalist's top line (10)

Generating...

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

( LTE [ L A TE excluding the second letter {seconds away} A ] + RN [ R U N excluding the second letter {seconds away} U ] + E [Echo is the international radio communication codeword for the letter E ) contained in (cutting) HACK (journalistic drudge; journalist)

11d

Listing Roger and Stacy exposed to me? (12)

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13d

Assumption American puritan somehow will take over (10)

Generating...

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

US (United States; American) + ( an anagram of (somehow) PURITAN containing [will take] O [over])

14d

Prepares terms (10)

Generating...

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

CONDITIONS (terms [noun]) double definition

17d

He used to think she serves coffee naked to upset the French (9)

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21d

Perhaps boxer cycles against pianist and composer (5)

Generating...

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

DOG (a boxer is a type of DOG ) with the letters shifted one place to the left and first going to last (cycles) + ON (against)

22d

Retired judge providing island country (4)

Generating...

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

( J [judge] + IF [provided]) all reversed (retired) + I (island)

23d

Singular example of game (4)

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