Independent Cryptic #12090

2025-07-09

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Across

1a

Enormous donation hard for English actor (9)

Generating...
6a

Become very excited about eating a rice dish (5)

Generating...

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

Become very excited about eating a rice dish A in PILF (FLIP=become very excited; “about” indicates reversal)

9a

Towards the end priest turned over a new leaf? (5)

Generating...

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

Towards the end, priest turned over a new leaf? LATE (=towards the end, as in late in life ) + P (=priest); “turned over” indicates reversal)

10a

Rebuild tiny crate? Sure thing (9)

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11a

Tesla worker assuming continent is part of Australia (8)

Generating...

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

Tesla worker assuming continent is part of Australia T (=tesla, i.e. SI unit) + [MAN (=worker, hand) in ASIA (=continent)]

12a

Part of plant found in repellent creme caramel (6)

Generating...

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

Part of plant found in repellent crème caramel Hidden (“found in”) and reversed (“repellent”) in “cr EME CAR amel”; according to Chambers , a raceme is an inflorescence in which stalked flowers are borne in acropetal succession on a main stalk or lateral branches – now we know!

14a

Bishop rejected Bill's complaint (4)

Generating...

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

Bishop rejected Bill’s complaint B (=bishop, in chess) + EEF (FEE=bill, charge; “rejected” indicates reversal)

15a

City girl in the mountains briefly exhausted racing across river (10)

Generating...

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

City girl in the mountains briefly exhausted racing across river ELBE (=river, in Germany) in [ HEID <i> (=girl in the mountains, in the novel by Johanna Spyri; “briefly” means last letter is dropped) + R <acin> G (“exhausted”, as in “emptied”, seems to imply dropping of all but first and last letters)

18a

Answer about angry husband ignored again and again (10)

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19a

Nasty smell near vessel (4)

Generating...

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

Nasty smell near vessel B.O. (=nasty smell, i.e. body odour) + AT (=near, by)

21a

Post Office blocking argument warning of crime? (6)

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23a

Spooner's solid fuel projection is possible energy saver (8)

Generating...

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

Spooner’s solid fuel projection is possible energy saver Spoonerism of “ p eat (=solid fuel) + h ump (=projection, protuberance)”

26a

In Scotland greet revolutionary about to abandon notorious lover and dance (9)

Generating...

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

; “ about (=CA, for circa) to abandon” means letters “ca” are dropped)

27a

Tolerate Baron punching assistant (5)

Generating...

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

Tolerate Baron punching assistant B (=Baron) in AIDE (=assistant)

28a

English Channel ebbsget out of the way (5)

Generating...

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

English Channel ebbs – get out of the way E (=English) + DAVE (=channel, on UK TV); “ebbs”, i.e. flows back, indicates reversal

29a

Decorated salesman's spiel reflected study (9)

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Down

1d

Leave house quietly to get sex (5)

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2d

Persuaded old lecturer to cut notice period to begin with providing pass out (9)

Generating...

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

Persuaded old lecturer to cut notice period, to begin with, providing pass out GOT (=persuaded, as in I got him to help ) + O (=old, as in OT) + {L (=lecturer) in [SEE (=notice, spot) + P <eriod> (“to begin with” means first letter only is used)]}

3d

Flautist forever ignoring son after golf (6)

Generating...
4d

Great Greek agreed to be inspired by God (10)

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5d

Right-wing Republican entertained by dwarf (4)

Generating...

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

Right-wing Republican entertained by dwarf R (=Republican) in TOY (=dwarf, miniature)

6d

Mountain-climbing lead is willing to forgive (8)

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7d

Bachelor to leave remainder for Pierce (5)

Generating...

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

Bachelor to leave remainder for Pierce <ba> LANCE (=remainder, of bill; “ bachelor (=BA, i.e. Bachelor of Arts) to leave” means letters “ba” are dropped): to lance e.g. a boil is to pierce it

8d

Lefty Whig spreads division (9)

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13d

Grown-up arranged time to seize drug contaminant (10)

Generating...

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

Grown-up arranged time to seize drug contaminant E (=drug, i.e. Ecstasy) in [ADULT (=grown-up) + RAN (=arranged, organised) + T (=time)]

14d

Dart around to stop authority making rest area for frequent flyers? (9)

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16d

Development of rising affection leading to marriage? Time for first bairn at last (9)

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17d

Landing zone's small step (each flap moves) (8)

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20d

Gas in French and Chinese and English (6)

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22d

Staple food in bygone America (5)

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24d

Sample advertisement showing petition (5)

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25d

Ring Christopher Robin's friend up (4)

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