Independent Cryptic #12053

2025-05-27

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Flipped over, part of landscape so perfect lay still (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a
18d

(and 18 Down) American biscuit, 12 11 with an excellent example (6,7)

Generating...
8a

Stupendous case of unbelievable morons horsing around (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘horsing around’) of U, E (first and last letters or ‘case’ of unbelievable) and MORONS

10a

Editor probes social media sites for item on noodle (6)

Generating...

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

ED (editor) in or ‘probing’ FORA (plural of ‘forum’ – social media site)

11a

Man of prominence in Cumbria? That's doubtful (6)

Generating...

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

FELL (‘prominence in Cumbria’) ER (‘that’s doubtful’)

12a

Miscreant caught at home between border and lake area the other way (8)

Generating...

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

C (caught) + IN (at home) between RIM (border) and a reversal (‘the other way’) of L (lake) A (area)

13a

A male's been misrepresenting skilled hands (4,6)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Put away in silence after denial (4)

Generating...

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

SH (silence) after NO (denial)

16a

Defence some 12 lawyers retracted (4)

Generating...

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

Hidden (‘some’) and reversed (‘retracted’) in criminaL (12ac) LAWyers

18a

12 11 - possibly 1D 23 tyre track belonging to them? (10)

Generating...

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

CAR (Range Rover – 1d/23 – perhaps) RUT (tyre track) HERS (belonging to them?)

21a

Suspect abed cutting string up? Nod vigorously (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘suspect’) of ABED in or ‘cutting’ HANG (‘string up’)

22a

Social outcasts trapped by juvenile personalities (6)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Town in the Borders that uncovered illuminating bit of string (6)

Generating...

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

t HA t missing the first and last letters or ‘uncovered’ + WICK (‘illuminating bit of string’ – in a candle)

25a

Joke one has about it, meant as retribution (8)

Generating...

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

PUN (joke) I’VE (one has) round IT

26a

Former mate with brief wanting second counsel (6)

Generating...

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

EX (former mate) s HORT (brief) missing or ‘wanting’ ‘s’ (second)

27a

One takes a great deal of interest, certainly, in what occupies jury (6)

Generating...

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

SURE (certainly) in UR (middle letters of or ‘what occupies’ jury)

Down

1d
23d

(and 23 Down) Start of road rage connected with 4x4 (5,5)

Generating...
2d

12 who's out with a part to play in exercise (7)

Generating...

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

A ROLE (part to play) in PE (exercise) – a reference to a criminal (12) who’s out of jail

3d

Sorry rogues divided by start of case, cause of distress (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘sorry’) of ROGUES round or ‘divided by’ C (first letter or ‘start’ of case)

5d

Brute's sport fine and innocent? On the contrary (7)

Generating...

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

RU (rugby union – ‘sport’) F (fine) + a reversal (‘on the contrary’) of NAIF (innocent)

6d

Emperor enjoyed wet weather on island heading north (7)

Generating...

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

HAD (enjoyed) + RAIN (wet weather) with the ‘i’ (island) moving forward (‘north’ in a down clue)

7d

Duck answer, breaking scheme to work together? (9)

flowerflowerflower
9d

Report of diseased leaf travellers picked up somewhere along 6's 16 (8,3)

Generating...

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

A homophone (‘report’) of SICK + a reversal (‘picked up’) of PAGE (leaf) ROMA (travellers) – the location along Hadrian’s wall (6’s 16)

14d

Silly gamble before 12 case, ultimately saying he did it? (5,4)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘silly’) of GAMBLE + AM (‘before 12’ – noon) E (last or ‘ultimate’ letter of case)

17d

Like yobs, pleased after topping beauty (7)

Generating...

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

g LAD (pleased) missing the first letter or ‘after topping’) DISH (beauty)

18d

See 4 Across

19d

E.g. moors map held by police sergeant with uniform on (7)

Generating...

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

PLAN (map) in or ‘held by’ PS (police sergeant) with U (uniform in the phonetic alphabet) in front or ‘on’

20d

Chap who follows what's trending cheers broadcast of cut tree (7)

Generating...

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

HIPS (cheers) + an anagram (‘broadcast’) of TRE e missing the last letter or ‘cut’

23d

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