Independent Cryptic #12088

2025-07-07

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Across

1a

Rugby players upset club one making unwelcome suggestions (14)

Generating...

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

Backs(=Rugby players) + eat(=upset) + driver(=club in golf)

9a

Toast? That is a delicious snack (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Child not quite right having eaten school soup (7)

Generating...

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

Bo[y] + (r{igh}t around sch{ool})

11a

Father Ted maybe to meet Catholic order (6)

Generating...

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

Sit(=meet) + C{atholic} + OM(=order of merit). Sits is a synonym for meet in the sense of “The Council sits/meets tomorrow”.

12a

Cast finished broadcast in European country (7)

Generating...

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

Hom of “mould over”

15a

Shot that takes golfer hours (5)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Eddy West dead in France knocked over by Lexus on vacation (9)

Generating...

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

Mae(=actress Mae West) + (mort<(=French word for dead) on L[exu]s)

19a

He thought he was mad asserted leader of council (9)

Generating...

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

(Asserted + c[ouncil])*. The def refers to Descartes’ famous phrase “I think therefore I am”.

21a

Husband against underwear that's showy (5)

Generating...

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

H{usband} next to bras(=underwear)

22a

A soldier thanks those exhausted in campaign (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Miscellaneous collection of biblical characters (6)

Generating...

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

Job + Lot(=characters from the bible)

28a

July? I must avoid motorway - it's busy (7)

Generating...

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

[M]onth(=July as an example) + ego(=I in Latin)

29a

Common disease to wipe out wild mice (7)

Generating...

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

End + mice*

30a

Can nuns act in time over contaminated food warning? (14)

Generating...

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

May(=can, as used in sentences such as “Can/may I have a biscuit?”) + (nuns act in t{ime} o{ver})*

Down

2d

Rear ducks to be restricted in the air (5)

Generating...

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

OO(=ducks) in aft(=rear). The def is in the sense of “the game’s afoot”.

3d

Comedian's demise unusual: topped by butt of wisecrack (7)

Generating...

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

(End(=demise) + odd(=unusual)) with [wisecrac]k on top

4d

What is 2+5 if you subtract 1 at the start? (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Unspeakable filling from fajita book (5)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Red rose transformed decoration in church (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Wrongdoing against Nebraskan periodically? On the contrary (9)

Generating...

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

Vice(=wrongdoing) + v{ersus} + even letters of N e b r a s k a n

8d

Thoughtless repetition lecturer's marked on paper (4)

Generating...

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

Hom of wrote

9d

Mount champion horse? (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Corporation's put up indecent material (4)

Generating...

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

Tum’s<(=corporation’s)

14d

Impeach President ultimately turning decisive (8)

Generating...

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

(Impeach [Presiden]t)*

16d

You and me every evening entwined? That's revolting! (9)

Generating...

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

Us(=you and me) mixed with nightly

18d

Lubed up Greek scored no problem (4)

Generating...

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

[Gr]easy

20d

Foreign actor accepting of French style (7)

Generating...

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

Actor* around de(=of in French)

21d

Extend course flanked by Scottish mountain (7)

Generating...

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

Road(=course) in ben(=Scottish mountain)

23d

Fish in river caught by hawk (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Check statement of one chasing after lecturer (5)

Generating...

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

I’m it(=statement of person chasing in a game of tag) after l{ecturer}

26d

Unknown animal noise repelled fly (4)

Generating...

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

Z(=unknown in X,Y,Z) +moo<(=animal noise)

27d

Hairy creature besides Coot (4)

Generating...

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

Yet(=besides)+I(=Coot, the compiler)