Independent Cryptic #11998

2025-03-24

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Across

1a

Workers accepting hard taskmaster's initial request (6)

Generating...

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

(Bees(=worker bees) around h{ard}) + t[askmaster]

4a

German rogue asks how to get birds! (8)

Generating...

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

G{erman} + (asks how)*

9a

Book flight (6)

Generating...

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

DD referring to the Biblical book

10a

Set out scheme in document (8)

Generating...

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

Ploy(=scheme) in deed(=document)

12a

Yellow rope encircling wide area by empty lay-by (8)

Generating...

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

(Cord around w{ide} a{rea}) + l[ay b]y

13a

Airline lying about lounge being on fire (6)

Generating...

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

BA<(=British Airways) + laze(=lounge)

15a

Heroines oddly overlooked for long periods (4)

Generating...

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

Even letters (odd letters overlooked) of h e r o i n e s

16a

Resolute, revolutionary fanatics besieging a church (7)

Generating...

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

(Nuts< around a) + ch{urch}

20a

Pit worker against absolute goddess (7)

Generating...

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

Miner(=pit worker) + v(=against,versus) + a{bsolute}

21a

Setter adopted by average couple (4)

Generating...

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

I(=the setter) in par(=average in golf)

25a

Turn on extremely neglected fairground ride (6)

Generating...

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

[C]arouse[l]

26a

Compulsive clenching of fists? (8)

Generating...

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

DD

28a

Mysterious male trapped in perverse union with American (8)

Generating...

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

(M{ale} in union*) + US(=American)

29a

Company taking on graduates exposed in newspaper piece (6)

Generating...

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

Co{mpany} + [a]lumn[i]

30a

Plant an English explorer found on Malta (8)

Generating...

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

M{alta} on an Drake(=English explorer)

31a

Ceremonial garments pinched duchess's rear (6)

Generating...

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

Stole(=pinched) + [duches]s

Down

1d

Trees around river providing places to load barrels (8)

Generating...

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

Beeches(=Beech trees) around r{iver}. The def refers to breech-loading rifles.

2d

Sucker punch clinches essentially humdrum victory (8)

Generating...

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

Hook(=a punch in boxing) around ([hum]d[rum] win)

3d

Tip of Sioux Indian's dart (6)

Generating...

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

S[ioux] + curry(=Indian meal)

5d

Frank is taken aback by online post (4)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Restrain impudent journalist for Spooner (4,4)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of “bold hack”

7d

Welsh army heartlessly set ambush (6)

Generating...

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

W{elsh} + a[rm]y + lay(=set e.g. set/lay a trap)

8d

Unexpected sound regularly upset Homer's neighbour (6)

Generating...

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

Odd letters of s o u n d + Ned<, referring to the character Ned Flanders from The Simpsons.

11d

Comparatively drab fawn (7)

Generating...

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

DD (fawn in the sense of fawning over something)

14d

Squire worried about lover's heart tremors (7)

Generating...

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

Squire* around [lo]v[er]

17d

Detective left clairvoyant nursing national beer (8)

Generating...

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

PI(=private investigator) + l{eft} + (seer(=clairvoyant) around n{ational})

18d

Henry maintains somewhat upper-class routine (8)

Generating...

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

Hal(=familiar form of Henry) around (a bit U(=upper class in U/Non-U sense))

19d

Desperados holding area of ship and last of supplies (8)

Generating...

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

Brig(=area of ship) + and + [supplie]s

22d

On motorway, football team consumes gallon bottle (6)

Generating...

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

(Man U(=football team) around g{allon}) on m{otorway}

23d

Narrow focus of animal sanctuary - mostly mustelidae (4,2)

Generating...

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

Zoo(=animal sanctuary) + min[k]

24d

Develop dilapidated US port (6)

flowerflowerflower
27d

Oriental vessel graces Cajun kitchen (4)

flowerflowerflower