Independent Cryptic #11968

2025-02-17

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Certain varieties of grass will reportedly cause bewilderment (9)

Generating...

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

Sounds like BAMBOOS (wi)LL [Typo fixed – thanks]

6a

Fatuous paper written by attorney (4)

Generating...

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

DA – district attorney & newspaper the FT

8a

Area behind factory occupied by church organ (8)

Generating...

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

CE – church inside PLANT – factory & A(rea)

9a

Sucker turned to Russia's foremost spiritual adviser (6)

Generating...

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

SAP – sucker & TO – reversed & first letter of R(ussia)

10a

Serious lesion checked by doctor (6)

Generating...

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

MB – doctor inside SORE – lesion

11a

Soldier on manoeuvres not comprehending international language (3,5)

Generating...

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

I(nternational) removed from a manoeuvring [SOLD(i)ER ON]*

12a

Posts sentimental thoughts on vacation (6)

Generating...

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

Although since Twitter is no more the definition is iffy. TWEE – sentimental & a vacated T(hought)S

15a

Emaciated, wild elk eats leaves, primarily (8)

Generating...

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

A wild [ELK EATS]* & first letter of L(eaves)

16a

Communist circles reasonably satisfied (8)

Generating...

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

RED – communist around QUITE – reasonably

19a

Vehicles covered by extra insurance (6)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Agent left in American vice squad finally revolted (8)

Generating...

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

REP – agent as in sales rep & L(eft) in US – American & last letters of (vic)E (squa)D

22a

Minor offence (6)

Generating...

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

Double definition

24a

Fall from highest place and ultimately survive (6)

Generating...

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

TOP – highest & PL(ace) & end of (surviv)E

25a

Drunk is serene in other-worldly atmosphere (8)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Heckle old-time entertainer heartlessly (4)

Generating...

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

Middle removed from JE(st)ER

27a

Prominent economist defending very accommodating model's principles (9)

Generating...

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

T – model of Ford car in SO – very – then all put in KEYNES = economist

Down

1d

Spanish city banishes a character in popular tale (5)

Generating...

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

A removed from city BILB(a)O

2d

Gruesome sailor runs into club (7)

Generating...

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

AB – sailor & R(uns) both inside MACE – club

3d

Old relative losing large amount of weight (5)

Generating...

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

O(ld) & L(arge) removed from UNC(L)E

4d

Intense, mad look regularly adopted by Olympian (7)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters of m A d L o O k inside Greek god ZEUS

5d

Former favourite welcoming study about setter's stratagem (9)

Generating...

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

EX – former & (I – setter in DEN – study) in PET – favourite

6d

Bare flesh is bound by quack with honorary title (7)

Generating...

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

IS inside DR – doctor, quack & OBE – honorary title

7d

French POW sang about tapioca pudding (9)

Generating...

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

F(rench) & [POW SANG]* about

13d

Unhappy with one's surroundings? Leave! (9)

Generating...

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

W(ith) and outsides of O(n)E & BE GONE! – leave

14d

Tortured poet asks about love, in a way (2,2,5)

Generating...

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

O – love, zero inside a tortured [POET ASKS]*

17d

One taking over role of penny-pinching money lender (7)

Generating...

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

P(enny) inside USURER – money lender

18d

Clapped-out part from cherry-red Dodge is recycled (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

River crossing in captivating German cathedral city (7)

Generating...

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

G(erman) inside IN all in AVON – UK river

22d

Prop essentially practises his sport in street (5)

Generating...

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

Middle of prac T ises & RU – rughy union all in ST(reet). Prop is a position in Rugby

23d

Catches extremely hideous constricting snake (5)

Generating...

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

ASP – snake in edges of H(ideou)S