Independent Cryptic #12080

2025-06-27

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Overlay records on daily broadcast observing Greek mode (10)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Simple plant one found among bulrushes no end of trouble (4)

Generating...

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

Simple plant , one found among bulrushes, no end of trouble MOS <e> S (=one found among bulrushes, in OT; “no end (=last letter) of troubl e ” means letter “e” is dropped)

10a

Exercise system sees one participating in races (7)

Generating...

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

Exercise system sees one participating in races I (=one) in PLATES (=races, i.e. contest with cup as prize)

11a

Reformer enthralled foremost in Italy - Stradivarius? (7)

Generating...

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

Reformer enthralled foremost in Italy – Stradivarius? I <taly> (“foremost in” means first letter only) in LUTHER (=reformer, i.e. German theologian Martin Luther); a luthier is a maker of lutes, guitars and other stringed instruments, hence such as the Italian violin-maker Stradivarius

12a

Replace drink - see red when drunk (9)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Unattractive person turned me on after a bit of loving(5)

Generating...

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

Unattractive person turned me on after a bit of loving L <oving> (“bit of” means first letter only) + EM (ME; “turned” indicates reversal) + ON

14a

great attraction though missing good bit of loving in affair (5)

Generating...

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

… great attraction, though missing good bit of loving in affair <gl> AMOUR (=great attraction); “though missing good (=G) + bit (=first letter) of l oving ” means letter “gl” are dropped

15a

Out on the moat drifting (9)

flowerflowerflower
17a

American produced design - elaborate insect - under instruction (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Make changes to official computer systems? (5)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Clergyman reversed one prohibition involving Bishop (5)

Generating...

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

Clergyman reversed one prohibition involving Bishop B (=bishop, in chess) in [I (=one) + BAR (=prohibition, ban)]; “reversed” indicates reversal

23a

Bold backing one university getting criticised (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Enduring dropping heavily losing initial power (7)

Generating...

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

Enduring dropping heavily, losing initial power <p> LUMPING (=dropping heavily; “losing initial power (=P, in physics)” means the first “p” is dropped); cf. Like it or lump it!

26a

Copying fellow holding it probing it (7)

Generating...

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

Copying fellow holding it, probing it [IT in MAN (=fellow)] in IT

27a

Having no water? Relief bringing river in (4)

Generating...

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

Having no water? Relief bringing river in R (=river) in AID (=relief, assistance)

28a

Treatment of awkward prisoner obscures month with capture of Republican (10)

Generating...

Down

1d

Work amidst a lot of confusion feels sad (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Wooden instrument: axes cut hard one (9)

Generating...

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

Wooden instrument : axes cut hard one X Y (=axes, on a graph) + LOP (=cut (off)) + H (=hard, as in HB pencils) + ONE

3d

Lines in revised article? It’s penned by largely productive reviewer (14)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Notice detective going round one European research centre (7)

Generating...

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

Notice detective going round one European research centre [I (=one) in DS (=detective, i.e. Detective Sergeant)] + CERN (=European research centre, for nuclear physics)

5d

Follow chaps cycling? Something wrong here (7)

Generating...

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

Follow chaps cycling? Something wrong here TAIL (=follow, covertly) + MEN (=chaps); “cycling” means first letter moves to the end of the entry

7d

Old maxim spurned by court producing disapproval (5)

Generating...

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

Old maxim spurned by court, producing disapproval O (=old, as in OT) + [ DI <ct> UM (=maxim, saying; “spurned by court (=CT)” means letters “ct” are dropped]

8d

Severe line mostly taken by bloke (9)

flowerflowerflower
9d

Rebuild of initial atrium involving small aspiration to maximise happiness (14)

Generating...

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

Rebuild of initial atrium involving small aspiration to maximise happiness S (=small, in sizes) in *(INITIAL ATRIUM); “rebuild of” is anagram indicator

14d

A rigged trial held in America and another country (9)

Generating...

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

A rigged trial held in America and another country A + [*(TRIAL) in USA (=America)]

16d

Maintaining radio silence? That’s working for a thief (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Comfortable seat extended to accommodate you ultimately (7)

Generating...

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

Comfortable seat extended to accommodate you ultimately <yo> U (“ultimately” means last letter only) in LONGER (=extended)

19d

Pulling out contribution to exhibition? (7)

Generating...

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

Pulling out // contribution to exhibition? Double definition: drawing is pulling out, extracting AND a drawing is a contribution to (an art) exhibition

22d

Film and book with limited range? (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Get rid of department before long (5)

flowerflowerflower