Independent Cryptic #12110

2025-08-01

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Armour? A lot of concern for postal vehicle (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Photographic depiction of warning about fresh coffee? (7)

Generating...

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

A play on the fact that a warning about a fresh cup of coffee may be ‘MUG’S HOT’

9a

American shopping centre returned wool (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘returned’) of A (American) MALL (shopping centre)

10a

A part of eagle I observed in California or part of Spain (9)

Generating...

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

A TALON (part of eagle) I ‘observed’ in CAL (California)

11a

I open chain diversifying covering area around Syria? (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘diversifying’) of I OPEN CHAIN

12a

Ticker tape welcoming return of this expedition (4)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Plan small church straddling border (6)

Generating...

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

S (small) CE (church) around or ‘straddling’ HEM (border)

16a

Navigator abandoning coach leading new group of troops (6)

Generating...

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

COLUM bus (navigator) without or ‘abandoning’ ‘bus’ (coach) ‘leading’ N (new)

19a

Cosmetic supplement (6)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Bring up regular payment given to secretary (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Couple not first in competition (4)

Generating...

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

b RACE (couple) without first letter or ‘not first’

24a

Charity retailer curtailed the openings before spring (10)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Serving of food and wine tucked into by second drunk (9)

Generating...

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

PLATE (serving of food) and RED (wine) with S (second) ‘tucked in’

28a

Ancient city favoured by senior artist (5)

flowerflowerflower
29a

African capital mostly invested in vegetable or flowering plant (7)

flowerflowerflower
30a

Turned up with support and took first place (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Travel indicator for edifice excessively viewed by Spooner (8)

Generating...

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

A Spoonerism of PILE (edifice) MOST (excessively)

2d

I’m a strategy game in final stage of development (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Continually light up groups of shops? OK with me possibly (10)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Extravagant edges to odour rising - Chanel? (6)

Generating...

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

O dou R (first and last letters only or ‘edges’) reversed or ‘rising’ + COCO (as in Coco Chanel)

5d

Antifreeze say satisfied Harry on reversing inside (8)

Generating...

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

MET (satisfied) HAL (Harry) with a reversal of ON inside

6d

Opening for gourmets in the manner of a festivity (4)

Generating...

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

G (first letter or ‘opening’ to Gourmets) A LA (in the manner of)

7d

Back people to circumvent Nationalist obstruction (9)

Generating...

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

HIND (back) RACE (people) around or ‘circumventing’ N (Nationalist)

8d

Cheers military vehicles encircling Hungary (6)

Generating...

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

TANKS (military vehicles) around or ‘encircling’ H (Hungary)

13d

Prevent cherub swamping a work about religious figure (10)

Generating...

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

PUTTO (cherub) around or ‘swamping’ A OP (work) around ST (religious figure – saint)

15d

Household skills came forth after development (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

European promoted a lot of hot air elevating feelgood sensation (8)

Generating...

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

E (European) UP (promoted) HO t (missing last letter or ‘a lot of’) + a reversal (‘elevating’) of AIR

18d

Dispute with Director about leading playwright (8)

Generating...

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

SPAR (dispute) D (Director) about TOP (leading)

21d

Finish work preparing for Christmas? (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Small telescope with sharper perception Germany imported (6)

Generating...

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

FINER (with sharper perception) around or ‘importing’ D (Germany) – we had to check the definition here

25d

Place to stay very popular with the Spanish (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Surprise publicity event curtailed (4)

Generating...

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

STUN t (publicity event) missing last letter or ‘curtailed’