Independent Cryptic #12074

2025-06-20

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Spanking offer? (6)

Generating...

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

KILLER (as a verb, ‘off’ can mean to kill in American slang, so an ‘offer’ could be a KILLER ) double definition

5a

Sea creature in oddly overlooked pulp film spooked mum (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Holy saints must take 10 to retract vile cant (10)

Generating...

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

([ S {saint} + S {saint}, giving saints] containing [must take] ORCA [entry at 10 across] reversed [to retract]) + an anagram of (vile) CANT

10a

Half-cut tumbler's flipped over in (4)

Generating...

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

ACRO (f irst 4  of 8 [half] letters in ACRO bat’s [tumbler’s]) reversed (flipped over)

11a

One-dimensional storyteller touring outskirts of Newcastle (6)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Independent n (8)

Generating...

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

( I [indep[endent] + ED [editor; newspaper boss]) containing (tackles) ( MP [Member of Parliament; politician] + [with] ART [skill])

13a

Perhaps press doctor to take Antabuse primarily to kick cocaine (5)

Generating...

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

MEDI c (doctor) with A (first letter [primarily] of A ntibuse] replacing (to kick) C (cocaine)

14a

Gore's book savagely doles dirt on Hillary for starters (9)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Cautiously advancing petition about the end of vaping (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Middle of old age? (5)

Generating...

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

L (central letter of [middle of] o L d, is the Roman numeral for fifty)

23a

Excuses one under five running through Smiths (8)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Hurt by rotten death (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Forster initially married a Miss Woodhouse? (4)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Conservative creep's measure that doesn't cover much (10)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Crawling home royal fool back in England (8)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Weeps as server's losing current (6)

Generating...

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

WA i TER’S (server’s) excluding (losing) I (electric current)

Down

2d

Number one tipple in West? (7)

Generating...

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

I (Roman numeral for one) + ( GIN [tipple] contained in [in] MAE [reference MAE West [1893 – 1980], American actress)

3d

Crook dressed in scarlet (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Concerning type seen in Martha's Vineyard? (6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Linda Martell's last song performed on audio channel in the US (15)

Generating...

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

( Anagram of [performed] LINDA and L [ final letter of {last} martel L ] and SONG ) + SOUND (audio)

6d

Figure of speech Homer coined to describe dance (8)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Picked up weak spot in deck (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Stash Spielberg's cap with Bruce's tail on island (7)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Dull lover has no energy (3)

Generating...

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

MAT e (partner: lover) excluding (having no) E (energy)

15d

One tight collaboration between members of Skunk Anansie and The Prodigy? (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Possibly Robin Hood's finale alas (3)

flowerflowerflower
17d

S Gogglebox t (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Superhero split female in two! (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Maybe VAT charge cut for passenger-free vehicle (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Mug up on bank's charter? (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Legendary cricketer's grand career (5)

flowerflowerflower