Independent Cryptic #11971

2025-02-20

Solve on Independent →

Across

4a

Rat chewed part way through Hobnob producing mould (6)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘chewed’) of RAT in or ‘part way through’ MIX (hobnob). Joyce only remembered MATRICES from her time spent studying Maths at college.

6a

Maverick fellow, no? (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Smack person sticking his oar in (6)

Generating...

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

Double definition

10a

Reading's boss on the way out, their director shared (8)

Generating...

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

STUD (boss) DYING (on the way out) ‘sharing’ the ‘d’ (director) – last letter of ‘stud’ and first letter of ‘dying’

11a

Ben blocks busy bus lane - shocking! (11)

Generating...

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

PEAK (Ben – as in a Scottish mountain) in or ‘blocking’ an anagram (‘busy’) of BUS LANE

15a

Gymnast that can be found on a bar? (7)

Generating...

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

Double definition

17a

Bad, bad sign for corporation (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘bad’) of BAD + OMEN (sign)

18a

Where offensive Greek waiters were tweaking Jon's hot rear (6,5)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Ram squeezing through cages? (8)

flowerflowerflower
23a

She fires revolting Piers Morgan at last (6)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘revolting’) of PIERS and N (last letter of Morgan)

24a

Island famous for its bars? (8)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition – the ‘bars’ being prison bars

25a

Favourite character cut in Beetlejuice! (6)

Generating...

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

PET (favourite) ROL e (character) missing the last letter or ‘cut’ – PETROL being the ‘juice’ for a VW Beetle

Down

1d

Jam and cream going on last bits of traditional scone (6)

Generating...

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

PICK (cream) L E (last letters or ‘bits’ of traditional scone)

2d

Miss Gardner supporting British actors performing in Spanish location (5,5)

Generating...

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

AVA (Ava Gardner, the actress) after or ‘supporting’ an anagram (‘performing’) of B (British) ACTORS

3d

Slice bloomer loaf after brown bread (8)

Generating...

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

HEAD (loaf) after DEAD (brown bread – in Cockney rhyming slang)

4d

Fly low around edge of Sahara Desert (8)

Generating...

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

MOO (low) round S (first letter or ‘edge’ of Sahara) QUIT (desert)

5d

Trying Morse code finally, struggling with it (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘struggling’) of MORSE, E (last or ‘final’ letter of code) and IT

7d

Godfather's over in Benidorm (4)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Fruit from diagram 19? (4)

Generating...

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

FIG. S would be the 19th ‘figure’ (diagram) if the first is Fig. A, the second Fig. B etc.

12d

Great numbers have been massacred here? (7,3)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition: the ‘numbers’ being songs

13d

Setter's in favour of exercise, right? Wrong (8)

Generating...

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

I’M (‘the setter is’) PRO (in favour of) PE (exercise) R (right)

14d

Basic shape: triangle (8)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Well-read story entertains time after time after time (8)

Generating...

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

LIE (story) round or ‘entertaining’ T (time) ERA (time) T (time)

19d

Appetite's greater around noon (6)

Generating...

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

HUGER (greater) round N (noon)

20d

Zip on handbag regularly splits (4)

Generating...

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

Alternate or ‘regular’ letters of oN hAnDbAg

21d

Part of brass section from Berlioz in concert (4)

flowerflowerflower