Independent Cryptic #12115

2025-08-07

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Across

1a

Dance workers in trousers that stretch (3,5)

Generating...

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

SKIP (dance) ANTS (workers)

6a

Poor grades blocking musical trainees (6)

Generating...

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

D and E (poor grades in exams) in or ‘blocking’ CATS (musical)

9a

Magistrate miserable having released 50 (4)

Generating...

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

B l EAK (miserable) missing or ‘releasing’ the ‘l’ (50 in Roman numerals)

10a

Issue consuming Brown small, or hard to handle? (10)

Generating...

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

COME (issue) round or ‘consuming’ UMBER (brown) S (small)

11a

Flyer downed in nice warm gustwings always failing (6)

Generating...

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

n IC e w AR m g US t with the first and last letters or ‘wings’ omitted or ‘failing’

12a

Tunnels side by side near the bridge? (8)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition – referring to the bridge of the nose

13a

Shock a mate unnamed in US region (10)

Generating...

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

APPAL (shock) A CHI n A (mate) missing the ‘n’ (name) or ‘unnamed’

16a

String quartet from Gossec or Dvorak? (4)

Generating...

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

Four letters (quartet) hidden in GosseC OR Dvorak

17a

Mountain nymph backing appeal to Anglicans? (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘backing’) of OH (appeal to) CE (church)

19a

Dangerous WWI agent really good with chat (7,3)

Generating...

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

MUSTARD (really good, as in ‘keen as…’) GAS (chat)

22a

Copper tense after punchthat goes against the grain (8)

Generating...

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

CU (copper) T (tense) after CROSS (punch – in boxing)

24a

Hold back timethe price? (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Similar tit, cuckoo and hawk (10)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Wife leaving got bigger cut (4)

Generating...

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

w AXED (got bigger) with the ‘w’ (wife) leaving

28a

Changes One put out by East European composer (6)

Generating...

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

VAR i ES (changes) missing or ‘putting out’ the ‘i’ (one) + E (east)

29a

Most ancient ateliers renovated (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

2d

Born in crowd, raised in Belfast threesome (7)

Generating...

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

NEE (born) in a reversal (‘raised’) of PACK (crowd)

3d

Passable cuts for every card game (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

One rebuilt casino invests divided capital (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘rebuilt’) of CASINO round or ‘investing’ I (one)

5d
8d

(and 8 Down) Two Frenchmen battling with Interpol as in The Saint (5,7)

Generating...
6d

More tea houses where Kings Road is located (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Director-General moved fast to cover lives stigmatised (9)

Generating...

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

DG (Director General) RACED (moved fast) round or ‘covering’ IS (lives)

8d

See 5 Down

14d

Setter's wretched existence? (1,4,4)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition

15d

Takes in heroin and arsenic (3)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Island century or so ago banning travel (7)

Generating...

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

C (century) OR SIC (so) A go missing or ‘banning’ ‘go’ (travel)

19d

Butter club sandwiches in decorative craft? (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Such a professional as might be called to account? (7)

Generating...

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

Cryptic definition

21d

Elgar is studied in African capital (7)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Tea's first, cereal second (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

City revolutionary writer cripples? (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘revolutionary’) of I (writer) MAIM (cripple)