Independent Cryptic #12122

2025-08-15

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Companies disturbed boundaries of healthy game (10)

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6a

Current force not high-powered? (4)

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10a

Quick - put out improper poem (7)

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11a

Soothing comment about a tense scene of operations (7)

Generating...

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

THERE (example of a word expressing reassurance; a soothing comment) containing (about) ( A + T [tense])

12a

Tree dweller with flightless bird in both hands (5)

Generating...

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

EMU (flightless bird) contained in (in) ( L [left hand] + R [right hand] – both hands)

14a

Acknowledgement everyone will attend old washed-out church (9)

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15a

Unidentified prison sentence after nabbing a railway predator (13)

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18a

Our Phi possibly in trouble two ways around love - love of cats? (13)

Generating...

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

([ OUR + PHI ] contained in [possibly in] [ AIL {trouble} + AIL {trouble}] reversed ,  giving trouble in two ways) all containing (around) O (character representing zero [love score in tennis]) – I am not sure what purpose the word ‘possibly’ is serving in the clue

22a

Heartless young lads rig up link between heaven and hell (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

City enthralled by return of a German relative (5)

Generating...

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

EC (postcode including the City of London)] contained in (enthralled by) EIN (German for the indefinite article ‘a’) reversed (return of) – note that this could also have been clued as ( EC EIN ) all reversed, but that’s not what the wordplay indicated

25a

Bird returned at start of October with a lively manner (7)

Generating...

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

MINA (any of various related sturnoid Asiatic birds of which the species Gracula religiosa, black with white spots on the wings, can be taught to imitate human speech; alternative spelling of MYNA ) reversed (returned) + AT + O ( first letter of [start of] O ctober)

26a

Travelling Hollywood actor returned in car initially (7)

Generating...

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

DAMON (reference Matt DAMON [born 1970], American film actor; Hollywood actor) reversed (returned) + IC ( first letters [initially] of each of I n and C ar)

28a

Some nautical gases - seaweed? (4)

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29a

Rocky debris aroused anger in young computer expert (10)

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Down

1d

Romantic partners perhaps stroke and love yielding heart (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Whip around and start to threaten (3)

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3d

International body upset America releasing articles regarding figures (7)

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4d

Decorator ruined part of Paris (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (ruined) DECORATOR

5d

Vehement line about English inn (5)

Generating...

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

( HOT [impassioned; vehement] + L [line]) containing (about) E (English)

7d

Photographer’s concern working metal (tin) a long time (11)

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8d

Degree of knowledge probing garden issues in time off from work? (8)

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9d

Go up entering place offering a degree of freedom (6)

Generating...

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

WEE (urinate; go) reversed (up; down entry) contained in (entering) LAY (to place)

13d

I’m upset over nearly everything in new player adjusting poorly (11)

Generating...

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

I’M reversed (upset) + ( AL l [everything] excluding the final letter L [nearly] ) contained in (in) SIGNING (a new SIGNING is a new player added to a team squad)

16d

Bald and not quite honest misrepresenting colour of wig? (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Source of protein found in island except for a rodent (8)

Generating...

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

( P [ first letter of {source of} P rotein] contained in [found in] CAY [a low island]) + BAR (except for) + A

19d

What supporters are following United with a right great clamour (6)

Generating...

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

U (United) + PRO (in favour of, which is what supporters are in relation to the person supported) + A + R (right)

20d

Telecommunication worker to call love up (7)

Generating...

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

( NAME [call] + NIL [zero [love score at tennis]) all reversed (up; down entry)

21d

Cloth dealer mostly happy about outer items in cashmere (6)

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23d

A lot of criticism about old follower of Zeno (5)

Generating...

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

STIC k (criticism) excluding the final letter K (a lot of) containing (about) O (old)

27d

Leave daughter climbing track (3)

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