Independent Cryptic #12116

2025-08-08

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Across

1a

That chap going to pub in dress bewildered country workers (9)

flowerflowerflower
6a

Increasingly precise printer program? Not very (5)

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9a

Article suggests removing old parts of churches (5)

Generating...

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

A (the indefinite article) + P [o] SES (suggests a question for discussion), without the O (abbreviation for old). Apse = a semicircular recess at the east end of a church.

10a

Idiot jumped striking head being attacked (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Wretched area involved in most of Bond film (4)

Generating...

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

A (abbreviation for area), in DR N [o] (1962 Bond film) without the last letter (most of). Darn = a minced oath, for damned = wretched = a term of disparagement.

12a

Translation of second rune available to read (10)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Right remains in control of Nationalist Society leading to impulsive behaviour (8)

Generating...

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

R (abbreviation for right), then ASHES (cremated remains) containing (in control of) N (abbreviation for Nationalist), then S (abbreviation for Society).

15a

A pretentious type returned one sort of tree (6)

Generating...

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

A + SNOB (pretentious type), all reversed (returned), then I (one in Roman numerals). A tree grown as a miniature specimen in a shallow container.

18a

Farm tool out of condition left half unused (6)

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20a

We’re off taking trip around - arrivederci ! (8)

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23a

Associations? Man tingles excitedly (10)

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24a

Regretting not taking one step (4)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Installs first of cameras one time in mysterious Ness (9)

Generating...

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

First letter of C [ameras] + ONCE (one time), in an anagram (mysterious) of NESS . Probably more common in the passive form “ensconced” = installed = firmly established.

27a

Silly bishop returning to embrace witch (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Cheers seeing off first of heavily armoured vehicles (5)

Generating...

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

T [h] ANKS (cheers!), without the H which is the first letter of H[eavily].

29a

Smooth attempt to go round one of orbiting bodies (9)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Expectations from booths surrounding a road (9)

Generating...

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

STANDS (booths, at an exhibition or a market), around A + RD (abbreviation for road).

2d

Guarantees criticisms will see leader ousted (7)

Generating...

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

[c] ENSURES (criticisms), without the leading letter.

3d

Quiet American seen between rugby posts (4)

Generating...

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

US (abbreviation for United States = American) between H H (H = the shape of rugby goalposts).

4d

Reduce amount of study after daughter leaves adopting new state of existence (8)

Generating...

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

REA [d] LESS (reduce amount of study), without the D (abbreviation for daughter), around N (abbreviation for new).

5d

Nurse is mostly tough on the outside (6)

flowerflowerflower
6d

More than one American shop carpet’s ripped when detective comes around (10)

Generating...

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

RUG’S (small carpet is) + TORE (ripped), with DS (abbreviation for Detective Sergeant) around it.

7d

Junior employees playing tennis with director at last (7)

Generating...

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

Anagram (playing) of TENNIS + last letter of [directo] R .

8d

Communist papers further edited? (5)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Cosy places? No agreement to occupy one first to last (10)

Generating...

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

NO + OK (agreement, as in “waiting for your OK on this”), inserted into (to occupy) SINGLE (one) with the first letter moved to the end (first to last). Inglenook = a recess around a fireplace, typically with seating.

16d

I will say supporter is ignoring the law (9)

Generating...

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

I’LL (I will) + EG (e.g. = say = for example) + ALLY (supporter).

17d

Disney film profitable around Northern part of the globe (8)

Generating...

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

FAT (profitable) around N (abbreviation for Northern), then ASIA (a continent = part of the globe). 1940 animated film.

19d

Is accordingly entering container a watertight container (7)

Generating...

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

IS + SO (accordingly), entering CAN (container). A watertight structure, typically used in engineering projects such as building bridge foundations within a body of water: it allows water to be pumped out, creating a dry area to work in. “Container” doesn’t seem quite right because the water is on the outside . . .

21d

Remoter regions of old city swinging both ways in middle of Texas (7)

Generating...

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

UR (city in ancient Mesopotamia, now southern Iraq) + BI (short for bisexual = swinging both ways), inserted into the middle letters of [t] EXA [s]. Further out than suburbia: commuter areas around a large city.

22d

Military police officer departs during summary (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

A grant to bring in river warning signal (5)

Generating...

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

A + LET (grant, as a verb = allow), containing R (abbreviation for river).

25d

I fish letting nothing escape in area with a coast (4)

Generating...

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

I + S [o] LE (a flatfish), without the O (zero = nothing).