Independent Cryptic #12084

2025-07-02

Solve on Independent →

Across

5a

Onward keeping United just out of the medals (6)

Generating...

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

FORTH (onward) containing (keeping) U (United)

7a

Half of best silver ultimately lost around grandma's flat (8)

Generating...

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

( ST [ second two of the four {half} letters in be ST ]) + ( AG [chemical symbol for silver] + T [ final letter of {ultimately} los T ]) containing (around) NAN (grandma)

9a

Shape up with sore back in Pakistani city (8)

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10a

Genteel date isn't ending in intimacy (6)

Generating...

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

D (date) + AIN’T (informal contraction of is not [isn’t]) + Y ( last letter of [ending in] intimac Y )

11a

Soldiers on horseback annoyed when liberal advanced Christian symbol (12)

Generating...

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

CAVA L RY (soldiers on horseback) with the letter L (Liberal) advanced in the word to form CA L VARY ) + CROSS (annoyed)

13a

Is going to old women to get wood (6)

Generating...

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

WILL (is going to) + O + W (women)

15a

Host on one leg (6)

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18a

Actor toeing the line to stop moral posturing (12)

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21a

Muralitharan for example elbow bent essentially mesmerising (6)

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22a

Perhaps fear and loathing of computer stools? (8)

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23a

Novel battery contains single metal oxide (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (novel) BATTERY containing (contains) I (Roman numeral for one; single)

24a

Crowning glory of American health insurance programme heartlessly rejected (6)

Generating...

Down

1d

Closest competitor losing heart about records (8)

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2d

Exhibitionist in waterfall? (6)

Generating...

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

SHOWER (a fall of water; waterfall) double definition (both fairly cryptic)

3d

Chinese entertaining food from Japan (8)

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4d

Becomes a zombie? That's pants (6)

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6d

Time to be introduced to one measuring spirit of musical drama (8)

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7d

Naked African runner tense and harsh (6)

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8d

Meet once about revealing communication (4)

Generating...

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

NOTE ( reversed [about] hidden word in [revealing] me ET ON ce)

12d

Contract ends once broken (8)

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14d

A gown to wear at hospital may be kept here (8)

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16d

Importance of Italian desserts salesman finally yielding to Victor (8)

Generating...

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

GRA N ITAS (Italian desserts made of grainy-textured flavoured water ice) with N ( last letter of [finally] salesmaN) being replaced by [yielding to] V (Victor is the international radio communication code for the letter V )

17d

Italian city is more up-to-date some might say (6)

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18d

Fungal growth is not serious we recalled (6)

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19d

Very keen to have kids switches sides (6)

Generating...

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

B R OODY (of a woman, wanting to have babies [kids]) with the R (right side) changed to L [left side] – changing sides)

20d

In hiding run away from home (4)

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