Independent Cryptic #12106

2025-07-28

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Across

1a

Validate moves to incarcerate Welsh bore (9)

Generating...

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

Validate* around W{elsh}

6a

Open form of government originally adopted from the east (4)

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8a

Disheartened marksmen receiving daily shots (8)

Generating...

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

Sni[p]ers(=marksmen) around FT(=Financial Times, a daily newspaper)

9a

Periodically orders big guns to stand down (6)

Generating...

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

Even letters of "o r d e r s b i g g u n s"

10a

Track fox discovered in wood (6)

Generating...

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

[F]o[x] in grove(=a small wood). "Discovered" here is used in the sense of dis-cover=remove the cover.

11a

Journalist concludes former police constable went mad (8)

Generating...

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

Ed{itor}(=journalist) after (ex plod(=derogatory term for a police constable)). The def is used in the sense of "the situation exploded/went mad".

12a

Associated verse about knight with Germany (6)

Generating...

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

(Line(=verse in some forms of poetry) around k{night}) + D{eutschland}

15a

Detective's on edge meeting Henry for food (8)

Generating...

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

(DI's(=detective inspector's) + H{enry}(=abbrev for SI unit of inductance)) after side(=edge)

16a

Writer exposed adult male stalking posh swinger (8)

Generating...

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

Pen(=writer) + (([a]dul[t] + m{ale}) around U(=posh from U/non-U))

19a

Show embarrassment when teacher circles question mark (6)

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21a

Circus performers welcoming suggestion about dirty movie theatres (8)

Generating...

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

Fleas(=performers in a flea circus) around tip<. Dirty here is used in the sense of shabby or unclean rather than pornographic.

22a

Squat soldier's backside fills sofa (6)

Generating...

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

[Soldie]r in couch(=sofa)

24a

Seabird perched on a pole at rear of ship (6)

Generating...

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

Tern(=seabird) on (a S)(=south pole)

25a

Sample mince pies oddly neglecting second one (8)

Generating...

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

(Mince p[i]es)*

26a

Notice worries pygmies somewhat (4)

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27a

First Lady regularly on vacation in Switzerland? Absolutely! (9)

Generating...

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

Eve(=first lady in literal sense) + r[egularl]y + in + ch(=country code for Switzerland)

Down

1d

Singer vocalising note (5)

Generating...

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

Hom of tenner(=note)

2d

Agent turned up on hard stuff? Dismiss from office! (7)

Generating...

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

Fed<(=agent in the FBI) + rock(=hard stuff in literal sense)

3d

Superior say taken in by tall tale (5)

Generating...

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

E.G.(=say) in lie(=tall tale)

4d

Responds to article and promises to delete another (7)

Generating...

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

An(=indefinite article) + swe[a]rs(=promises with a, the other indefinite article, deleted)

5d

Unionist pride is cruelly crushed by English dramatist (9)

Generating...

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

(U{nionist} pride is)* + E{nglish}. Euripides was an ancient Greek dramatist.

6d

Flee from sailors caught on delta (7)

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7d

Silver and gold-encrusted robe daughter swapped with German invader (9)

Generating...

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

(Ag(=silver in periodic table) + or(=old term for gold)) around(=encrusted) (dress with d{aughter} swapped for G{erman})

13d

Ladies sit awkwardly in 20s (9)

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14d

Brief affair ultimately destroyed partnership (9)

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17d

Puny rep arduously held up curtains (7)

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18d

Spooner's worked out setter is unmissable (7)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of "sussed me"

20d

Perfect instructor stripped most of instrument (7)

Generating...

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

[T]uto[r](=instructor) + pian[o]

22d

Tough revolutionary essentially spewing poppycock (5)

Generating...

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

Che (Guevara) + [spe]w[ing] [popp]y[cock]

23d

Language test is oral (5)

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