Independent Cryptic #12111

2025-08-02

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Subject of Geography left out for a term(4)

Generating...

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

WOR l D (subject of Geography) with the ‘l’ (left) missing or ‘out’

3a

which sees head becoming Latin master ... (4)

Generating...

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

w ORD (the previous entry) with L (Latin) replacing the first letter or ‘head’

6a

but English covering the last lessons of History? (4)

Generating...

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

LOR d (the previous entry) with E (English) replacing or ‘covering’ the last letter

10a

Space for Divinity to provide income (7)

Generating...

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

An RE VENUE might be a space (VENUE) for Divinity (RE – Religious Education)

11a

Position of fascists in the past - it’s a mixed bag (7)

Generating...

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

Fascists are on the FAR R (right) + AGO (in the past)

12a

Chaos of latest police blackout (12)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Curries regularly kept by French to have later (8)

Generating...

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

c U r R i E s (alternate or ‘regular’ letters) in or kept by’ AVOIR (French for ‘to have’)

16a

Make Manx soldiers dedicated to duty (6)

Generating...

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

To ‘make Manx’ could whimsically be to DE-TAIL (remove the tail – Manx cats have no tail)

19a

England’s back batting twice before finally bowling and taking lunch (6)

Generating...

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

D (last letter or ‘back’ of England) IN IN (‘batting’ twice) G (last or ‘final’ letter of bowling)

20a

Massive fan of Italian cheese - if it’s brought back for me (8)

Generating...

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

PAR me SAN (Italian cheese) with a reversal (‘brought back’) of IT replacing ‘me’

22a

Scrappy win was eighth attempt at covering up problems (12)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Sister introduces a discontented combative daughter as ‘a bit different’ (7)

Generating...

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

NUN (sister) round or ‘introducing’ A + C ombativ E missing the middle letters or ‘discontented’ + D (daughter)

26a

State of Virginia getting new union at university (7)

Generating...

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

VA (Virginia) N (new) U (union) AT U (university)

27a

Outer layer in between radius and diameter… (4)

Generating...

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

IN between R (radius) and D (diameter)

28a

minus end and start of great circle(4)

Generating...

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

RIN d (the previous entry) missing the last letter or ‘minus end’ + G (first letter or ‘start’ of great)

29a

needs 21st in series for one part of 21? (4)

Generating...

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

R i NG (previous entry) with U (21st letter in the alphabet or ‘series’) replacing the ‘i’ (one) – 21d is LADDER

Down

1d

Responsibility of The Guardian to illustrate reflectively (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘reflectively) of DRAW (illustrate)

2d

Badly want to displace Conservative party (4)

Generating...

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

c RAVE (badly want) missing or ‘displacing’ the ‘c’ (Conservative)

4d

Some nerve - keeping time like a diva (8)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Fried fish starter battered to provide contrast (6)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘battered’) of FRIED and F (first letter or ‘starter’ of fish)

6d

Look and place letter R down first (it's representative of King) (14)

Generating...

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

LO (look) + LIEU (place) TENANT (‘letter’) after R D (down)

7d

Think again about scattering paper on hike (10)

Generating...

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

RE (about) + an anagram (‘scattering’) of PAPER + RAISE (hike) Thanks Hovis

8d

Put out hip brought together with nice manoeuvring internally (14)

Generating...

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

IN (‘hip’ – trendy) CONVENED (brought together) round an anagram (‘manoeuvring’) of NICE

9d

The only league on Earth (4)

Generating...

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

L (league) ON E (Earth)

13d

One used to spell with with with with (4)

Generating...

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

W (with) with AND (with)

14d

Scent of female led soldier to get brief attack of nerves (10)

Generating...

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

F (female) RAN (led) GI (soldier) PANI c (attack of nerves) missing the last letter or ‘brief’

17d

Extended overhaul to maintain big ends (4)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Get money from the rich? Ultimately the opposite here (8)

Generating...

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

TAX (get money from) HAVE s (the rich) with the ‘s’ (south) replaced by N (north) or ‘ultimately the opposite’

21d

Run after one across the boundary here! (6)

Generating...

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

The perimeter entries (‘boundary here’) form a WORD (1ac) LADDER

22d

Opportunity to get 33% reduction in unwanted gas (4)

Generating...

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

WIND ow (opportunity) missing the last two letters or with a ‘33% reduction’

23d

Obama extremely content to leave Honolulu where it is (4)

Generating...

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

O A (first and last letters or ‘extremes’ of Obama) + H onolul U (missing the middle letters or with the ‘content leaving’) – Honolulu is on the island of OAHU

24d

Held on ignoring the cold for a breather (4)

Generating...

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

c LUNG (held on) missing or ‘ignoring’ ‘c’ (cold)