Independent Cryptic #12036

2025-05-07

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Appreciating 60 minutes without husband in bar (9)

Generating...

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

H OUR (60 minutes) excluding (without) H (husband) contained in (in) SAVING (except; bar)

9a

Wishing to be free from restrictions, one is charged for belief (7)

Generating...

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

H OPIN G (wishing) excluding the outer letters (free from restrictions) H and G + ION (a charged particle; one is charged)

10a

Failing to shake off Victor, choose mountaineering equipment (3,4)

Generating...

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

V ICE (a failing) excluding (to shake off) V (Victor is the International Radio Communication code for the letter V ) + PICK (choose)

11a

I'm doubtful sleeping policeman needs hotel (5)

Generating...

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

HUMP (sleeping policeman) + H (Hotel is the International Radio Communication codeword for the letter H )

12a

Exciting new erotica includes introduction from Noddy Holder (9)

Generating...

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

( Anagram of [exciting] N [new] and EROTICA ) containing (includes) N ( first letter of [introduction from] N oddy)

13a

Can lose oar at sea (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Lodger is very boring chap (5)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Perhaps Trump followed by small crowd (5)

Generating...

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

PRES ( PRES ident.  Donald Trump is an example of a PRES ident) + S (small)

18a

Like to meet American uncle in Indian region (5)

Generating...

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

AS (like) + SAM (reference Uncle SAM [the United States or its people])

19a

Change the last Word document's header (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Picked up method, but badly, for part of cheese-making kit (4,3)

Generating...

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

WHEY ( sounds like [picked up] WAY [method]) + an anagram of (badly) BUT

23a

Left article with disappointing news for Jeremy Clarkson? (9)

Generating...

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

L (left) + AN (indefinite article) + DOWNER (depressing experience; depressing news)

25a

King claiming the French become more friendly (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Fresh support system (7)

Generating...

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

BRACING (a system of braces used to strengthen or support – Collins gives this nounal definition) double definition

28a

Crazy about North American pop star (7)

Generating...

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

MAD (crazy) + ON (about) + NA (North American)

29a

Upper-class girl finally treated terrible gas - about time! (9)

Generating...

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

DE (l ast letters of [finally] each of treate D and terribl E ) + ( BUTANE [a gas] containing [about] T [time])

Down

1d

Cane comedian in school (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Even a Times cryptic can be a foreign language (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (cryptic) EVEN A TIMES

3d

Furious engineer ruins map (2,2,4)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Arrange to be at home with family (3,2)

Generating...

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

IN (at home) + KIN (family)

5d

Lech organised church dance music (3,6)

Generating...

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

GOAT (figurative term for a lecher; lech) + RAN (organised) + CE (Church [of England])

6d

Nonentity turned over photo with woman (6)

Generating...

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

PIC ( PIC ture; photograph) reversed (turned over) + HER (woman)

7d

Scum is a movie (4)

Generating...

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

FILM (movie) double definition

8d

Dealing with Louise's travel companion Mike moving south and running away (2,3,3)

Generating...

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

ON (about; dealing) + THEL M A (Louise’s travel companion in the 1991 film THELMA and Louise) with the M moving south (down entry) to form THE LA M

14d

Temporary withholding of dodgy payment by government (10)

Generating...

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

SUS ( SUS pect; dodgy) + PENSION (the State PENSION is a payment by Government)

16d

Valley with large mammals upset animal carer (6,3)

Generating...

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

( DALE [valley] + L [large] + BATS [flying mammals]) all reversed

17d

River Wear damaged politician's audio equipment (5-3)

Generating...

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

PO (reference River PO in Italy) + an anagram of (damaged) WEAR + MP (Member of Parliament; MP)

18d

Briefly recommend drinking a drink (8)

Generating...

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

ADVOCAT E (recommend) excluding the final letter (briefly) E and containing (drinking) A

21d

Leader of Tories making cuts, which is difficult (6)

Generating...

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

T ( first letter of [leader of] Tories + AXING (making cuts)

22d

British scoundrel, it's said (6)

Generating...

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

B (British) + ROGUE (scoundrel)

24d

Wealthy individual to take over Barclays, initially (5)

Generating...

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

NAB (steal; take) + O (over) + B ( first letter of [initially])

26d

Cover head in outdoor pool (4)

Generating...

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

LID (cover) + O ( first letter of [head in] O utdoor)