Independent Cryptic #12083

2025-07-01

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Across

1a

Bad smell? Choke around Charlie's underwear! (6)

Generating...

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

BO (abbreviation for body odour = bad smell) + DIE (choke, as a verb = slang for die) around C (Charlie in the radio alphabet).

4a

Smoke from joint maiden exchanged for heroin (8)

Generating...

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

S [h] OULDER (a joint), with M (abbreviation for maiden, in cricket scoring) replacing the H (slang abbreviation for heroin). Smoulder = to burn slowly, producing smoke but not flames.

10a

Hen do attendees hit the jackpot hugging Hoskins (5)

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11a

Tinned offal that Spooner delivers in barrows (9)

Generating...

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

As Spooner might have said (delivered): CANNED HEARTS = tinned offal.

12a

Handyman caught stuffing portly old stomach (8)

Generating...

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

C (abbreviation for caught, in cricket scoring), inserted into (stuffing) FAT (portly) + O (abbreviation for old) + TUM (stomach). Someone who does a range of practical tasks: from Latin fac totum = do it all.

13a

African island a navy surrounds close to Oman (6)

Generating...

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

KEY (island) + A + N (abbreviation for navy, as in RN = Royal Navy), around the last letter (close) of [oma] N .

14a

Young dude stashing ecstasy for principal (4)

Generating...

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

LAD (young dude), containing E (slang abbreviation for the drug ecstasy). As in “lead singer” = the principal singer in a group.

15a

Painters or oculists in a state of disarray (10)

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18a

Dodgy CEO tips off national authority (10)

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20a

In which vicar lectures flock to avoid sex and flesh (4)

Generating...

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

PULP [it] (raised platform from which a vicar preaches) without IT (sex appeal, or more loosely just “sex”). Pulp = flesh = the soft part of a fruit surrounding the seeds.

23a

Clothing left out for close friend from Perth (6)

Generating...

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

C [l] OBBER (slang for clothes), without the L (abbreviation for left). Not Perth in Scorland, but Perth in Australia: cobber = Australian form of address to a friend.

25a

Poor player addicted to whiskey in Sandwich? (8)

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26a

Film industry wholly upset over drug overdose (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram (upset) of WHOLLY , then O (abbreviation for over, in cricket scoring) + OD (abbreviation for a drug overdose).

28a

Plonk with concerning flipping characteristic qualities (5)

Generating...

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

SET (plonk, as a verb = put) + ON (on the subject of = concerning), all reversed (flipping). Notes = individual scents that can be detected in a perfume or a type of wine = characteristic qualities.

29a

Impressive head of store secures commercial relations (8)

Generating...

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

GRAND (impressive) + first letter (head) of S [tore], containing (securing) AD (short for advertisement = commercial).

30a

Setter gyrating butt is very notorious person (6)

Generating...

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

GEL (something that sets = setter), reversed (gyrating = spinning round), then BUTT (the end of a cigarette). I’m not convinced by the definition: “legend” usually implies approval as well as fame, but “notorious” suggests disapproval.

Down

1d

Boyfriend you left squeezing hooter is helping? (7)

Generating...

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

BF (slang abbreviation for boyfriend) + U (you, in text messaging) + L (abbreviation for left), containing (squeezing) OWL (a bird that hoots = hooter). Bowlful = a serving of food = a helping.

2d

Protest singers describing Conservative politicians (9)

Generating...

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

DEMO (short for demonstration = a public protest) + RATS (singers = slang for informers), containing (describing) C (abbreviation for Conservative).

3d

Protection member gets for a Congressional event? (6)

Generating...

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

[Edited:] I think the intention here is M (abbreviation for member, as in MP = Member of Parliament) after CON (abbreviation for Congressional?) + DO (slang for a party = event). I couldn’t find dictionary backing for this meaning of CON as an abbreviation, though Flea @1 has found some evidence.  I’m also not sure why M is at the end: perhaps we’re supposed to take “protection” as meaning the rest of the wordplay is above, but that seems a bit too devious. Extended definition: protection for the male member during sexual congress.

5d

Drug dealer old lady set upon heading to nunnery (3)

Generating...

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

MA (old lady = slang for mother) before (set upon = above, in a down clue) the first letter (heading) of N [unnery]. Slang for a drug dealer, or so I’m told.

6d

Person taking pawn with a rook is not certain (7)

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7d

Brits regularly seen in amateur work with sexual content (5)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (regularly) from [b] R [i] T [s], inserted into DIY (abbreviation for do-it-yourself = amateur household maintenance or building work). As in “dirty joke” = one containing sexual references.

8d

Republican earl with small extremities gets off again (7)

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9d

Brush aside second husband not wearing a hairpiece? (8)

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16d

Wooded gardens Harrods landscaped outside clubs (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram (landscaped = rearranged) of HARRODS outside C (abbreviation for clubs, in card games). Orchard = a garden containing fruit trees.

17d

Flirtatious young lady reordering beer and stout (9)

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18d

Selfish ice-hockey player is mischievous spirit and pig (7)

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19d

A single getting stared at like Peter Falk? (7)

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21d

Very glad Penny calmed down after snorting line (7)

Generating...

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

P (abbreviation for penny) + EASED (calmed down), containing L (abbreviation for line).

22d

Religious type that's after heavenly body (6)

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24d

Bishop at dance without a top on gets wood (5)

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27d

Vintage rum making heart turn baleful ultimately (3)

Generating...

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

O [d] D (rum = strange), with the middle letter (heart) replaced by the last letter (ultimately) of [balefu] L .