Independent Cryptic #12142

2025-09-08

Solve on Independent →

Across

8a

Can I cut to boxing now before match involving Everton finally? (9)

Generating...

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

(To around in(=now in the sense of the "in" thing, I suppose)) + (peer(=match) around [Everto]n)

10a

Dripping with the flavour of vegetable picked up (5)

Generating...

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

Hom of "leeky" i.e. having the flavour of a leek.

11a

Hot range of erotica gathered (3)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Articulate European lacking expression for 'complete freedom' (11)

Generating...

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

Blank(=lacking expression) + hom of Czech (Czech articulated)

13a

Problem-solving instructions oral might obscure (9)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Who lives for drink? (4)

Generating...

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

CD/DD. I think beer is used in the sense of be-er i.e. someone who exists.

17a

South Korean coins possibly obtained at great expense (7)

Generating...

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

CD/DD – won is the currency of South Korea, so a coin version could be called "hard won".

18a

Dog that is pursuing Antarctic explorer (7)

Generating...

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

I.e.(=id est, latin that is) after Scott(=Robert Falcon Scott, Antarctic explorer)

20a

Briefly browse city (4)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Formal sporting rules? (9)

Generating...

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

CD. "Sporting" here is a red herring in that it just refers to sporting an item of clothing.

25a

You're not the only one to go to Chelsea? (11)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Wash home of Hollywood lead from production (3)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Design safety test with uncertainty (5)

Generating...

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

MOT + if(=uncertainty)

29a

Offensive old coach taking on negative football side beginning to object (9)

Generating...

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

(O{ld} bus(=coach)) around (no(=negative) + XI(=eleven, usual size football team) + o[bject])

Down

1d

Classes engaged in history and philosophy say on reflection (6)

Generating...

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

(At(=engaged in) + arts(=subject that includes history and philosophy))<

2d

Threaten to scrap unreliable car failing to start (8)

Generating...

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

End(=scrap) + [b]anger(=unreliable car)

3d

Open global body had nothing to hide outside of negligence (10)

Generating...

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

UN(=global body) + (fasted(=had nothing in the sense of ate nothing) around n[egligenc]e)

4d

What some hiker turns up for? (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

A pop group holds record (5)

Generating...

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

A-ha(=Norwegian pop group most famous for the song "Take on Me") around LP(=long play record). The def is from the phonetic alphabet.

6d

Line for a drink reduced by 25% in ship (6)

Generating...

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

(Bar que[ue]) with 2 of 8 letters removed, so reduced by 25%. A barque is a type of 3 masted sailing ship.

7d

Crumbs near pig full of energy (8)

flowerflowerflower
9d

Naked in back of strip club running drunken event (8)

Generating...

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

Raw(=naked) in ([stri]p + club*). I think running is the anagram indicator unless the def is just "event", which seems a little weak.

14d

I'm about to trade whatever possible to get hold of cocaine variety (10)

Generating...

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

I'm< + (sell any(=trade whatever possible) around c{ocaine})

16d

He's excited about Gold on television showing trailer (8)

Generating...

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

(He's* around or(=gold)) + box(=a slightly dated term for TVs now that most of them are flat-screen)

17d

Senior judge and upper-class politician bound to compete in this (8)

Generating...

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

High(=senior) + j{udge} + U(=upper class from U/non-U) + MP(=politician). You could perhaps make the criticism that the def isn't clearly stated. Although the clue alludes to it being a competition, it's not a &lit as judges and politicians aren't the usual competitors in high jump.

19d

Over DiCaprio stopping affair later (8)

Generating...

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

(O{ver} and Leo(=Leonardo DiCaprio)) inside(="stopping") to-do(=affair). The two contained words are in different places, which is a little unusual, although I can't see why it wouldn't be valid. The def is just later when you used as a way of saying goodbye – instead of "see you later" people just say "later".

21d

Pilot bothered by drills (6)

Generating...

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

Via(=by) inside(=drills) ate(=bothered, as in "What's eating Gilbert Grape?")

23d

Retrospectively Elon's beginning message on his platform? (6)

Generating...

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

E[lon] + (post on X), X being of course the new name for Twitter which Musk purchased.

24d

Hammer small volcanic rock (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Rejecting outsiders members upset true selves (4)

Generating...

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

[L]eg[s](=members) +so<(=true, in the sense of "that is so").