Independent Cryptic #12055

2025-05-29

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Without hesitation gun dogs can lead you to badger holes (5)

Generating...

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

SETT er S (any of various breeds of large gun dogs) excluding (without) ER (expression of hesitation)

4a

What may arise from steeds rushing across pampa unconfined? (9)

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9a

Upset conductor by beginning to dance (7)

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10a

Black uniform seen on colonel in charge of tending cattle (7)

Generating...

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

B (black, on lead pencils) + U (uniform) + COL (colonel) + I/C (in charge)

11a

British Rail have transport in Paddington for one (9)

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12a

Remove the first piece of toilet paper - it's coming out (5)

Generating...

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

t ISSUE (toilet paper) excluding the first letter (remove the first piece) T

13a

Cook say flour eggs and milk (6)

Generating...

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

BATTER (in cookery, a BATTER is formed from a combination of flour, eggs and milk) double definition

14a

Liberal chap obsessed with pussy? (8)

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17a

Tropical fish whales and a turtle? (8)

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19a

Dog's beaten - how sad (6)

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22a

Dash alongside horse to force into an inlet (5)

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24a

Rugby player from Britain doing fine at the end of the season (9)

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26a

Something dug by female ox left wearing digging tool (7)

Generating...

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

F (female) + OX + ( L [left] contained in [wearing] HOE [a garden digging tool])

27a

Parsnip in frying pan both sides of which are modified (7)

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28a

Song by prog rock band rated 'weird' but then at last 'revolutionary' (9)

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29a

Decontaminating a sesspool containing ammonia and methane? (5)

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Down

1d

Small baby tiger say runs inside bush (5)

Generating...

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

S (small) + ( R [runs] contained in [inside] CUB [name for a baby tiger])

2d

Charlie's atop castle with traitor beheaded in retaliation (9)

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3d

Stop speaking because Roland Barthes's article is boring (7)

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4d

Head for Schwarzkopf counter further down (6)

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5d

A right bad smell coming from the heart of trees (8)

Generating...

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

A + R (right) + BO (body odour; bad smell) + REAL (sincere; coming from the heart)

6d

Gregory is hot and hungry (7)

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7d

Northern valleys the source of slate and lead supply (5)

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8d

Afraid move around bully that's beyond reproach (9)

Generating...

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

S CA RED (afraid) with the letters rearranged [move around] to form S AC RED + COW (to intimidate or bully) – may also be based on CA (circa; about; around) being reversed (moved) to AC

13d

Frivolous person that's fat carried by stagecoach (9)

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15d

Red winged creatures - hens? (9)

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16d

Large cask holds all of beer's froth (8)

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18d

From now on the heart of Queen Mary is broken (7)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (is broken) ON and E ( middle letter of [heart of]

20d

Looking for money dropped outside (7)

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21d

Macabre girls mutilated the backside of teddy (6)

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23d

Socks and pants abandoned by the side of river (5)

Generating...

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

BOXE r S ( BOXER shorts; loose fitting underpants for men) excluding (abandoned) R ( letter on either side of the word R ive R )

25d

High-flown things I start to think during film (5)

Generating...

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

( I + T [ first letter of {start to} Think]) contained in (during) KES (1969 British coming-of-age drama film)