Independent Cryptic #12070

2025-06-16

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Make challenging basket (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Dock sent back tough fish (8)

Generating...

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

Clip<(=dock) + hard(=tough)

9a

Mobile places stocking new glass protector (7)

Generating...

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

Places* around n{ew}

11a

Do replace content in slang with established language (7)

Generating...

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

Hindi replacing the content of s[lan]g

12a

He's stuffed waffle to come close to encapsulating Belgium (14)

Generating...

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

Padding(=waffle) + (to near) around B{elgium}. I wasn’t aware that Paddington was a stuffed bear – I’d always assumed he was meant to be a real bear from Peru, so not entirely sure on the definition.

14a

Some cocksure talk retracted in future (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Throw goes with current entryway carpet (9)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Polite sign-off after count (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Swim club here ejecting old royal (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

After week will he bin Pac-Man to play this? (14)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Thankless sort chosen for office grind (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Appraise retro chopper from my collection (7)

Generating...

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

Axe<(=chopper) + mine(=from my collection)

27a

Secured Asian holiday with her newsroom boss ... (8)

Generating...

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

Tet(=Vietnamese New Year, famously known from the “Tet Offensive”) + her + ed{itor}

28a

... if not one in France to a smaller extent (6)

Generating...

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

Un(=French for one) + less(=to a smaller extent)

Down

1d

Only sounded religious (4)

Generating...

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

Hom of wholly(=only)

2d

Island cocktail (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Person making cryptic requires space and fresh decor (7)

Generating...

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

En(=space in printing) + decor*

5d

Tiny map perhapsit covers three points (5)

Generating...

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

It around N, S and E(=three compass points)

6d

Fried item almost neutralising wine (7)

Generating...

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

Chi[p](=fried item) + anti(=neutralising). Anti for neutralising seems a bit odd – I assume it’s in the sense of an antiseptic or antigen i.e. something that cancels out something else.

7d

Confuse swaying steps with splits (5)

Generating...

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

[W]addle – swaying steps is a waddle that has “w{ith}” splitting i.e. leaving.

8d

Who'll make setters beg ordered to set differently (10)

flowerflowerflower
10d

Suffer in pursuit of rubbish style (7)

Generating...

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

Ache(=suffer) after pan(=rubbish in the sense of “to pan/rubbish something”)

13d

Following cat duck plunged into drink where violence could flare (10)

Generating...

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

F{ollowing} + lash(=cat, as in cat o’ nine tails) + (pint(=drink) around o).

16d

Last ones in company now spreading free bad apps? (7)

Generating...

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

Last letters of [compan]y [no]w in(=spreading) spare(=free)

17d

Careful visiting temporary lodging I have (9)

Generating...

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

At(=visiting) + tent(=temporary lodging) + I’ve

19d

Cheese ramen out-of-bounds fare for vegans (7)

Generating...

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

Edam(=Dutch cheese) + [r]ame[n]. Edamame is an Asian side-dish of soybeans.

20d

Monarchy curses fall (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Man heading off when people go out? (5)

Generating...

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

[K]night. A chess piece is called a “man”.

23d

Superior pork pie brought round for one (5)

Generating...

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

Lie(=pork pie) + e.g.(=for one)

24d

Spot top scorer dropping back (4)

Generating...

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

Mess[i]. The def refers to being “in a spot/mess”.