Independent Cryptic #12125

2025-08-19

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

VP insanely excited about a new state (12)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘excitedly’) of VP INSANELY ‘about’ A N (new)

8a

Setter leaves for America in ruin of marriage (7)

Generating...

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

I (the setter) leaving SPO i L (ruin) and being replaced by USA (America)

9a

Over in a pit installing last of rhythm instruments (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘over’) of IN A PIT round or ‘installing’ M (last letter of rhythm)

11a

My boring article a nut squirrelled away? (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Eccentrically loopy ... like this (8)

Generating...

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

We had to check this. We both knew what an ellipse was from our A Level Maths days but thought that ‘eccentrically loopy’ was a rather strange definition. However, on checking in Chambers, an ellipse can also refer to the mark … – so perhaps we have a double definition here.

14a

Occasionally two in a hundred (3)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters only or ‘occasionally’ in TwO iN

15a

Given illumination naturally newspaper wasted (6)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Flipping internally shoot projectile (4)

Generating...

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

The answer had to be DART which looked like it was DRAT (‘flipping’ as an interjection?) with the middle letters ‘flipping’ but then ‘flipping was doing double duty and we then had two definitions. Bert eventually worked out that SHOOT is an American interjection similar to DRAT in the UK.

18a

Make slow progress heading off in airship (4)

Generating...

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

b LIMP (airship) missing first letter or ‘heading off’

20a

Perhaps Andrew discovered love away from Ontario? (6)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Banker cutting college area in half (3)

Generating...

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

CAM pus (college area) missing half

22a

University abbreviated article - prejudice finally censored (8)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Case of brainier private detective in clerical garb (5)

Generating...

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

B rainie R (first and last letters only or ‘case’) OWN (private) – the ‘clerical detective’ is Father Brown, a fictional priest and amateur detective created by G K Chesterton.

26a

Returning banana must a shopper sample another fruit? (7)

Generating...

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

Reversed (‘returning’) and hidden (‘sample’) in bananA MUST A Shopper

27a

Harvard's motto? In retreat something ironic: victory (7)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘in retreat’) of SATIRE (something ironic) and V (victory)

28a

Quiet 24-hour period after a fast start (12)

Generating...

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

SH (quiet) WEDNESDAY (24hr period) after A

Down

2d

Sound made by cow entering from Exeter a very remote place it's unlikely to jump over (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Nothing wrong in Head being inquisitive (8)

Generating...

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

O (nothing) SIN (wrong) in NESS (head) – the definition seems a bit odd here with nosiness in Chambers as a noun but ‘inquisitive’ is an adjective. Once again, we may be looking at this in the wrong way.

4d

Goat with anatomically incorrect horns? Some royal emblem! (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Clinical observations of extremely scrupulous vigilant treatment (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘treatment’) of S crupulou S (first and last or ‘extreme’ letters only) and VIGILANT

6d

These produce rain with ample abundance every second in part of the UK (5)

Generating...

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

I M B (second letters in wIth aMple aBundance ) in NI (part of the UK)

7d

Cutting from azalea can't have a thorn for example (7)

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8d

Wise guys - scammers stealing one million talk deceptively (11)

flowerflowerflower
10d

Goads popular couple blocking change in Florida (11)

Generating...

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

IN (popular) + ITEM (couple) inside or ‘blocking’ CENTS (change in Florida)

13d

Disobedient deputy dismissed? More than reasonable (10)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Monstrous dog initially caged escaped regrettably but certain to turn up (8)

Generating...

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

C E R (first or ‘initial’ letters of Caged Escaped Regrettably But ) with SURE (certain) reversed or ‘turning up’ Thanks to grantinfreo for pointing out the missing B

19d

The Home Guard? Missing in action guarding island literally (7)

Generating...

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

MIA (missing in action) around or ‘guarding’ I (island) LIT (literally)

21d

Spies gather nothing after Republican located in Adriatic country (7)

Generating...

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

CIA (spies) around or ‘gathering’ O (nothing) after R (Republican) AT (located in)

23d

Something anyone can see inside insect trap (5)

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25d

Couples in love went somewhere hot (4)

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