Independent Cryptic #12091

2025-07-10

Solve on Independent →

Across

8a

Drug supplied by Debbie Downer? (10)

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9a

One serving up Whoppers in trouble over recipe (4)

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10a

Paul Mescal stripped off body parts (8)

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11a

One targeted by swingers at a party (6)

Generating...

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

We think this is a cryptic definition – we had to look this up but we couldn’t find anything that matched. However, when Joyce looked at the possibilities for P?N?T? she suddenly remembered PIÑATA – a decorated figure containing sweets that is suspended from a height and then broken by blindfolded children swinging sticks at a celebration. It is in Chambers but not when you search with missing letters.

12a

Row belonging to us after tip from Crystal Palace supporter (8)

Generating...

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

OUR TIER (row belonging to us) after C (first letter or ‘tip’ of Crystal)

14a

Quince's entertained by part of Bottom's hostility (6)

Generating...

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

I’M (Quince – the setter – is) in or ‘entertained by’ ANUS (part of bottom)

15a

Ottolenghi's cooking for cultural authority (11)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘cooking’) of OTTOLENGHI’S

19a

Quiet Olympian is not selfish (6)

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20a

They're stoned and shouting about that woman (8)

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22a

Harbour designs current to recede in choppy sea (6)

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23a

Get Quince shot in the arm (8)

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24a

Hearts united by American city's hippy movement (4)

Generating...

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

H (hearts) U (united) LA (Los Angeles – American city)

25a

Spooner's assassin sticks out biscuits (10)

Generating...

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

A Spoonerism of NINJA (assassin) JUTS (sticks out)

Down

1d

Keep rapping: it could play to your advantage (7)

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2d

Point of departure for Louis Armstrong and John Lennon? (15)

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3d

Little bits involved in clue (6)

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4d

Republican pulled out of debate for illness (4)

Generating...

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

A r GUE (debate) with the ‘r’ (Republican) removed or ‘pulled out’

5d

A couple of hits? Exactly! (8)

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6d

Stunt men blurt out about popular club? (15)

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7d

Apply bronzer to President firing Pence in rage (7)

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13d

Priest in church is thing of the past (5)

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16d

Head nurses get back government savings (8)

Generating...

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

NESS (head) round or ‘nursing’ a reversal (‘back’) of GET and G (Government)

17d

One legendary cover from Suede breaking America (7)

Generating...

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

S ued E (first and last letters or ‘cover’ only) in or ‘breaking’ THE US (America)

18d

In Café Rouge I am taking time to make order (7)

Generating...

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

JE SUIS (‘I am’ in French as in ‘Café Rouge’) round or ‘taking’ T (time)

21d

Deny the man won following what's left of F (6)

Generating...

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

HE (the man) W (won) after ESC (the escape key to the left of F1 on a computer keyboard) – a crafty bit of misdirection!

23d

Auditor's hurt one getting framed (4)

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