Independent Cryptic #12079

2025-06-26

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Without complaining, Saint Columba's left to take in attention-seeker's utterance (5)

Generating...

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

( ST [Saint] + C [ first letter of [leftmost; ‘s left]) containing (to take in) OI (a cry uttered by someone seeking your attention)

4a

Act embodying a lack of conviction within Welsh rugby (5)

flowerflowerflower
7a

Hello Dolly's opening is screened (3)

Generating...

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

HI (hello) + D ( first letter of [opening of] D olly)

9a

One nun takes the top off friar 'for a laugh' (2,3)

Generating...

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

I (Roman numeral for one) + ( NUN containing [takes] F [ first letter of {top} F riar])

10a

Perhaps Spooner and his American agent cry (9)

Generating...

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

Reverend Spooner would pronounce BEDFELLOW as FEDBELLOW ( FED eral agent of the Federal Bureau of Invesigation) + BELLOW (cry)

11a

Colonel Mustard, say, or Reverend Green? (10)

Generating...

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

SERVICEMAN (a Reverend preaches at a service)

12a

Accumulation of dirt close to canal (4)

Generating...

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

POO (excrement;’ dirt) + L ( last letter of [close to] cana L )

14a

Cool woman with a whistle? Hers gets blown (7)

Generating...

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

REF ( REF eree; woman with a whistle) + an anagram of (gets blown) HERS

17a

Sportswoman to portray Queen Elizabeth on stage? (6)

Generating...

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

PLAY (portray on stage) + ER (Elizabeth Regina; Queen Elizabeth)

19a

8, 31, 12 17, 26 21, or 6 29 24, reportedly? (6)

Generating...

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

DAWDLE [8 down]: move slowly [ POTTER {busy oneself in a desultory way}]

20a

Place to unwind - or not (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Choice rump steak's middle left until last (4)

Generating...

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

R E AR (rump) with the first letter of the central pair E A [middle left] E moved to the end [last] to form RAR E

23a

Friend with depression - worried before date - did tremble (10)

Generating...

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

PAL (friend) + PIT (depression) + ATE (worried) + D (date)

27a

Rubbish musical instrument Charlie brought round for one raising money? (9)

Generating...

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

( ROT [rubbish] + CELLO [musical instrument] + C [Charlie is the international radio communication codeword for the letter C ]) all reversed (brought round)

28a

No parking in London suburb that's close to the centre (5)

Generating...

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

p INNER (London suburb) excluding (no) P (parking)

29a

Boy George's intro removed from Karma Chameleon? (3)

Generating...

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

SON g (Boy George [born 1961], lead singer of Culture Club sang a SONG called Karma Chameleon) excluding (removed from) G [ first letter of [intro] G eorge]

30a

Waiting on a vacant driveway (5)

Generating...

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

RE (with reference to; on) + A + DY (letters remaining in D rivewa Y when the central letters rivewa are removed [vacant])

31a

Badger runs right through grass (5)

Generating...

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

( R [runs] + R [right]) contained in (through) HAY (grass cut for fodder)

Down

1d

Cracking cross is finished by Souza's opener for the Blades (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (cracking) CROSS IS + S ( first letter of [opener] S ouza)

2d

Volunteer hitman? (5)

Generating...

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

OFFER (killer; hitman, based on the American meaning of off [to kill]) double definition

3d

In control of one's movements south to get to Africa and Antarctica? (10)

Generating...

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

CONTINENT (in control of one’s bladder and bowel movements) + S (south)

4d

Switch side of black sword (5)

Generating...

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

SAB L E (black) with L (left) changed to R (right) – switching sides

5d

Celeb gets snapped here, in seaside town, with sweetheart (3,6)

Generating...

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

REDCAR (seaside town in the North of England) + PET (sweetheart)

6d

Dull, sadistic Christian? (4)

Generating...

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

GREY (reference Christian GREY , a leading character in the Fifty Shades trilogy written by E L James [born 1963]) double definition

7d

Movie auditorium assigned to screening number one (9)

Generating...

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

HALL (auditorium) + ( ON [assigned to] containing [screening] WEE [urination; number one])

8d

Move like a snail or like a duck, half-twisted (6)

Generating...

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

WAD DLE (move like a duck) with the first 3 [of 6, half] letters reversed [twisted] to form DAW DLE

13d

Repton's head breaking into part of his supply for school member (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Diagram recorded fault with incomplete machinery (5,4)

Generating...

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

FLOOR ( sounds like [recorded] FLAW [fault]) + PLAN t (machinery) excluding the final letter (incomplete) T

16d

The tips of leaves and branches are blended for infusion (6,3)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (blended) THE and LAB ( first letters of [tips of] each of L eaves, A nd and B ranch es) and ARE

18d

Gracious solver would put up with setter's latest boring material (8)

Generating...
21d

Magic garment lifted around conjurer's face (6)

Generating...

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

SKIRT (garment) reversed (lifted; down entry) containing (around) C ( first letter of [face] C onjurer)

24d

Quietly, mum spurns sherry for an alternative (5)

Generating...

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

P (piano; quietly) + sh ERRY excluding (spurns) SH (be silent; be mum)

25d

Singer sung note (5)

Generating...

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

TENOR ( sounds like [sung] TENNER [banknote])

26d

Punter eschewing races to get a drink (4)

Generating...

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

BE tt ER (punter) excluding (eschewing) TT (reference the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle races)