Independent Cryptic #12132

2025-08-27

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Across

1a

Gasping about first piece of incredible work of art (8)

Generating...

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

PANTING (gasping) containing (about) I ( initial letter of [first piece of] I ncredible)

5a

Like to take grandma fruit (6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Wine and fish with chips following shot (8)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Shocked military commanders and leader in Turkey (6)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Smug cosmonaut is in base (13)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Precipitous shooting in Philadelphia that led to a spate of similar shootings (5)

Generating...

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

The first film in the ROCKY series, starring Sylvester Stallone [born 1946], was shot in Philadelphia.  Parts of subsequent films in the series were also shot there.

16a

Improving the appearance of dog ass and rodent in the mirror (9)

Generating...

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

( PUG [breed of dog] + NIT [idiot; ass] + RAT [rodent]) all reversed (in the mirror)

17a

Demeanour changes in love (9)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Make disapproving noise at American skirts (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Courier predicts hair dryer's cap is broken (13)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (is broken) PREDICTS HAIR and D ( first letter of [cap] D ryer)

22a

Fizzy drink losing bit of sparkle in Settle (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Got rid of electronic device producing dangerous gas (8)

flowerflowerflower
25a

American taking year off allowed ornament (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Ready to receive delivery for example (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Old insecticide is put in two targets for golfer (10)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Fish's brainwave cut short (3)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Vacancy retracted by play's writer (7)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Surprisingly rational men stealing a substance with tiny particles (12)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (surprisingly) RATIONAL MEN containing A

6d

Drink gin or generic drinks from the south (7)

Generating...

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

NEGRONI ( reversed [from the south; down entry] hidden word [drinks] g IN OR GEN eric)

7d

Myopic Spooner's fortune teller given honour (11)

flowerflowerflower
8d

What I do reportedly in burrow (4)

flowerflowerflower
11d

Opening lesson about overdose's not succeeded (12)

Generating...

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

IN s TRUCTION (a lesson) excluding (not) S (succeeded) containing (about) OD (overdose)

13d

Tied down? Then kiss (11)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Sign seen in grocers' apropos the bananas (10)

Generating...

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

APOSTROPHE (the clue refers to the stereotype of grocers describing bananas, apples and pears as banana’s, apple’s and pear’s on their displays) – &Lit clue

18d

Former pupil's treatment is not widely known (7)

Generating...

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

OB’S (old boy’s; former pupil’s) + CURE (treatment)

19d

Barrage of suffering when Republican displaces millions (7)

Generating...

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

TO R m ENT (suffering) with R (Republican) replacing (displaces) M (millions)

21d

Cheese fondue primarily with Greek character (4)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Bristle as lake disappearing from grassy area (3)

Generating...

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

l AWN (grassy area) excluding (disappearing from) L (lake)