Independent Cryptic #12150

2025-09-17

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Lack of equivalence around society on Sabbath (8)

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5a

Plan finesse in clubs initially (6)

Generating...

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

TACT (finesse = skill in handling awkward situations) + initial letters of I [n] C [lubs].

9a

Dutch and American-Chinese live in Asian capital (8)

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10a

Revolutionary had an accident touring country (6)

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12a

Persist wanting good make-up (5)

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13a

Resolve to corrupt wartime leader (9)

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14a

Possible pick-up points on crusades to empty planes (12)

Generating...

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

RE (on = on the subject of) + QUESTS (crusades) + TO (from clue text) + P [lane] S without the inner letters (empty). Locations on a bus route (or train stations) where the driver stops only if a passenger wants to get on or off.

18a

Case of water heater cool (12)

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21a

More limes! snarled waiter (9)

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23a

Lead hammer consumes energy (5)

Generating...

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

LASH (hammer, as a verb = make a sustained attack on, especially as in “storms lashing the country”), containing (consuming) E (abbreviation for energy). Lead = leash = a strap fixed to a dog’s collar to keep it under control.

24a

Prime characters in tiddliest prison: lazy individuals (6)

Generating...

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

Letters in prime-number positions (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13) in [t] ID [d] L [i] E [st] [p] R [i] S [on].

25a

Mug tree that encapsulates my exasperation (8)

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26a

Child recalled desire for offal (6)

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27a

Notice possibility for fostering (8)

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Down

1d

Land deal to smuggle 500 diamonds (6)

Generating...

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

SALE (commercial deal), containing (smuggling) D (Roman numeral for 500) + D (abbreviation for diamonds, in card games). Land, as a verb = saddle = to encumber with something unwanted, as in “that might land you with a big tax bill”.

2d

Permission unchanged during delivery? (6)

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3d

Location of flight from distant hotspot satisfactory crossing India (9)

Generating...

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

STAR (a distant ball of flaming gas = hot spot) + WELL (satisfactory, as in “all is well”), containing I (India in the radio alphabet). Location of a flight of stairs.

4d

Couple of spivs oddly supporting root's consumption (12)

Generating...

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

Odd-numbered letters from C [o] U [p] L [e] O [f] S [p] I [v] S , after (below, in a down clue = supporting) TUBER (root = swollen underground part of a plant, such as a potato). Consumption = old name for tuberculosis, from the days when nobody really knew what caused it and sufferers would just “waste away”.

6d

Saying a mild oath from the south (5)

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7d

American tour diary of composer wearing dress (8)

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8d

Sit up in pursuit getting reprimand (8)

Generating...

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

SIT reversed (up = upwards in a down clue), inserted into CHASE (as a noun = pursuit).

11d

Rugby player in ecstasy in hospital toilets? (12)

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15d

Fibre from sample is hot surprisingly (9)

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16d

Excitedly kiss and stroke Pole in the snow (8)

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17d

Tottered as partially fermented grape juice drained (8)

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19d

Eccles is more's the pity returning sausage (6)

Generating...

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

I’M (our crossword setter Eccles is) + ALAS (more’s the pity = an expression of regret), all reversed (returning). Cured and dried sausage.

20d

Witchdoctor's fake article (6)

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22d

Pint lacking head? That is strange (5)

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