Independent Cryptic #12048

2025-05-21

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Trying to sell jam in golf club (8,5)

Generating...

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

PITCHING (trying to sell) WEDGE (jam)

9a

Nick metal from dictator (5)

Generating...

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

A homophone (‘from dictator’) of STEEL (metal)

10a

Metal cover or head covering source of liquid (4,5)

Generating...

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

GOLD (‘or’ – in heraldry) + PATE (head) round or ‘covering’ L (first letter or ‘source’ of liquid)

11a

Conservative blocks negotiation for drug? (10)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Deviate from standard time (4)

Generating...

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

PAR (standard) T (time)

14a

Backing representative personal computers to run fairly briskly (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘backing’) of REP (representative) MACS (personal computers)

16a

Mournful ending to programme on finance oddly ignored (7)

Generating...

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

E (last letter or ‘ending’ to programme) LEG (on in cricket) f I n A n C e (even letters only or ‘oddly ignored’)

17a

Mostly sincere about rector's money-making schemes (7)

Generating...

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

EARNES t (sincere) missing the last letter or ‘mostly’ round R (rector)

19a

Figure deceased since November (7)

Generating...

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

DEC (deceased) AGO (since) N (November in the phonetic alphabet)

20a

Captain America abandoning assumed name when making comeback (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘making comeback’) of a LIAS (assumed name) missing or ‘abandoning’ A (America)

21a

Voyage welcoming stir-crazy Dawn (5,5)

Generating...

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

FLIGHT (voyage) round or ‘welcoming’ an anagram (‘crazy’) of STIR

24a

The greatest leader in Africa follows Italian football team, among other things (5,4)

Generating...

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

ALI (Mohammed Ali, who described himself as ‘the greatest’) A (first letter or ‘leader’ in Africa) following INTER (Italian football team – Inter Milan)

25a

A woman from Belgrade, maybe, reported being bitter (5)

Generating...

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

A + a homophone (‘reported’) of SERB (woman from Belgrade, maybe)

26a

Slightly conservative seaside resort rejecting outsiders following recent changes (5-2-6)

Generating...

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

b RIGHTO n (seaside resort) missing or ‘rejecting’ the first and last letters or ‘outsiders’ + F (following) + an anagram (‘changes’) of RECENT

Down

1d

Advertise degree in delivery office? (14)

Generating...

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

POST (advertise) MASTERS (degree) HIP (‘in’ – trendy)

2d

X protects Republican, with Democrat in vogue (5)

Generating...

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

TEN (X in Roman numerals) round or ‘protecting’ R (Republican) + D (Democrat)

3d

Cheer pilot manoeuvring hovercraft? (10)

flowerflowerflower
4d

NOT gate is NOR gate when tweaked (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Reception shortened considerably before setter receives company (7)

Generating...

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

WEL l (considerably) missing the last letter or ‘shortened’ ME (setter) round or ‘receiving’ CO (company)

6d

Party games for idiot (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Sending chap on day trip regularly, in England (9)

Generating...

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

MAN (chap) d A y T r I p (alternate or ‘regular’ letters) in ENG (England)

8d

Law enforcement officer quite right to get out prisoner's record (5,9)

Generating...

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

P r ETTY (quite) with the ‘r’ (right) missing or ‘getting out’ + CON’S (prisoner’s) TABLE (record)

13d

Claps nice dancing at centre of residential home for writers? (6,4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘dancing’) of CLAPS NICE + E (middle or ‘central’ letter of residential)

15d

One held up by traffic periodically stopping to modify part of car (3,6)

Generating...

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

I (one) and t R a F f I c (alternate or ‘periodic’ letters) in or ‘stopping’ ALTER (modify) – we weren’t sure about the inclusion of ‘held up’ in the clue – it seemed to be an unnecessary reversal indicator? However, as it is a down clue, it is fair to say that the I is ‘held up’ by RFI – and it makes an excellent surface

18d

Pan collection enthrals butcher (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

500 international employees making work for women (7)

Generating...

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

D (500 in Roman numerals) I (International) STAFF (employees)

22d

Outstanding fireplace picked up (5)

Generating...

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

A homophone (‘picked up’) of GRATE (fireplace)

23d

Pull in Bostonian street (4)

Generating...

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

Double definition