Independent Cryptic #12138

2025-09-03

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Females stuffing money in stiff box (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Summary about dead bird (6)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Brawl regularly and continue to put on weight (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

The Voice u (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Confirmed what compiler from Staffordshire might do? (10)

Generating...

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

Cryptically, a compiler from Staffordshire might set (=compile) in Stone (=a town in Staffordshire)!

12a

Daily fetish: shaving backside (4)

Generating...

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

CHAR <m> (=fetish, talisman; “shaving backside” means last letter is dropped)

13a

Panache shown by feisty left-wingers (5)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Teach incorrectly in two types of wet weather (8)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Journalist regarding beer (8)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Wash Batman after split! (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Son frequently sympathetic (4)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Friendly nurses start to tend from birth (10)

Generating...

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

T <end> (“start to” means first letter only) in CONGENIAL(=friendly, agreeable)

23a

Fairly extensive NHS log I suspect (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Henry enters bar to get Flake (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Tip from tool of old South American found in container (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Sophisticated girl within county's borders (6)

Generating...

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

LASS (=girl) in C <ountr> Y (“borders” means first and last letters only)

Down

1d

Make first base not available in case (5)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Stokes quits following Root and Cook (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Resolute and popular nun cut books from the Bible (9)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Former island of Napoleon's enforced absence (5)

Generating...

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

EX (=former, old) + ÎLE (=island of Napoleon, i.e. the French word for island )

6d

Old writer is unscrupulous opportunist getting University to replace central figure (7)

Generating...

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

CHA N CER (=unscrupulous opportunist); “getting University (=U) to replace central figure (=middle letter)” means letter “u” relaces letter “n”; the reference is to the English poet and writer Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400).

7d

At four stops quietly with desire for medicine (9)

Generating...

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

[AT + IV (=four, in Roman numerals)] in [P (=quietly, i.e. piano, in music) + URGE (=desire)]; a purgative is a medicine that empties the intestines

10d

I'll be back! compiler called following disapproving reaction (9)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Herbivore gets drunk on tequila primarily taking too many drugs (9)

Generating...

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

*(GETS) + OD (=too many drugs, i.e. overdose) + ON + T <equila> (“primarily” means first letter only); “drunk” is the anagram indicator; the stegodont is an extinct mammal with ridged teeth, related to the mastodon and the elephant

15d

Dangerous but not fatal to underlease with Harold (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Old Charlie Brown covers: go figure (7)

Generating...

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

O (=old, as in OT) + C (=Charlie, in NATO alphabet) + [GO in TAN (=brown)]

19d

Husband entertained by fantastic Stevie Nicks (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Rate a coffee shop (5)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Speaker not starting to irritate (5)

Generating...

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

<t> ANNOY (=speaker, i.e. public address system, such as in a store; “not starting” means first letter is dropped)