Independent Cryptic #12152

2025-09-19

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Hamburgers? Hunger management only partially succeeded (7)

flowerflowerflower
5a

Must pay charges weekly for bathroom supplies (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Manuel taking a beating saving male body parts (5)

Generating...

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

Manuel taking a beating, saving male parts *(<m> ANUEL ); “saving male (=M)” means letter “m” is dropped from anagram, indicated by “taking a beating”

11a

Duck hawk sex observed periodically by postdoc? (5)

Generating...

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

Duck hawk sex observed periodically by postdoc? DR (=doctor, since one already has a doctorate) + <h> A <w> K <s> E <x> (“periodically” means alternative letters only are used)

12a

According to Kylie Brit is flipping idle mostly (3)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Appear withdrawn digesting tense encounters (5)

Generating...

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

Appear withdrawn digesting tense encounters T (=tense, in grammar) in MEES (SEEM=appear; “withdrawn” indicates reversal)

14a

Unknown demand to be introduced by boss over formal visits (9)

Generating...

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

Unknown demand to be introduced by boss over formal visits [Y (=unknown) + CALL (=demand, require)] in DUTS (STUD (=boss, knob); “over” indicates reversal)

15a

Plug type of wheat soap less accepted abroad (8)

Generating...

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

Plug type of wheat soap less accepted abroad *(WHEAT SO <a> P ); “ less accepted (=a) ” means letter “a” is dropped from anagram, indicated by “abroad”; a two-phase electrical device is one employing two phases whose voltages are displaced from another by ninety electrical degrees

17a

What could be major disruption to English class (6)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Wet and cold perhaps one covers up at home (6)

Generating...

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

Wet and cold, perhaps, one covers up at home W IN TERY (=cold, perhaps); a (=one) covers up at home (=in) means letter “a” replaces “in”

21a

Clock chimes with party retiring for sweets (8)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Learning's trendy according to lecturer here? (9)

Generating...

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

Learning’s trendy according to lecturer here ? Homophone (“according to”) of “lore’s (=learning’s) + cool (=trendy)”

26a

Express disgust with most of the stand (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Opener is short of exercise and runs single (3)

Generating...

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

Opener is short of exercise and runs single O <pe> NE <r> (“short of exercise (=PE) and runs (=R, in cricket)

28a

Control for Hearts against Arsenal vulnerable on the wings (5)

Generating...

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

Control for Hearts against Arsenal, vulnerable on the wing V (=against, i.e. versus) + A <rsena> L V <ulnerabl> E (“on the wing” means first and last letters only)

29a

What might front tooth cut say - 50% of breads? (5)

flowerflowerflower
30a

Fashion accessory agent put on singer Rita (6)

flowerflowerflower
31a

Adjusts position to pay attention when touring student blocks (7)

Generating...

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

Adjusts position to pay attention when touring student blocks L (=students, i.e. learner) in SITS UP (=adjusts position to pay attention); banks of sediments can silt up a river, say

Down

1d

Stuffing for sturgeon prepared with drop of masala? I'll try it! (7)

Generating...

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

Stuffing for sturgeon prepared with drop of masala? I’ll try it! *(<s> TURGEO <n>) + M <asala>); “drop of” means first letter only is used in

2d

Poured water over blooming angry diners earlier (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Acting heads in renewable energy and science departments (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Camp policeman's husband is something else at dinner (8)

Generating...

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

Camp policeman’s husband is something else at dinner SIDE (=camp, as in on my side, in my camp ) + DI’s (=policeman’s) + H (=husband)

6d

Part of fat old detective's outfit contains lice crawling about (9)

Generating...

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

Part of fat old detective’s outfit contains lice crawling about [*(LICE) + A] in [O (=old) + CID (=detective’s outfit, i.e. organisation)]

7d

Throw out old strip clearing bottom of wardrobe (5)

Generating...

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

Throw out old strip clearing bottom of wardrobe EX- (=old, former) + PE <e> L (=strip, undress; “clearing bottom (=last letter) of wardrob e ”

8d

American uncle's gobbling doughnut and special American pastries (7)

Generating...

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

American uncle’s gobbling doughnut and special American pastries [O (=doughnut, pictorially) + S (=special) + A (=American)] in SAM’s (=American uncle’s)

9d

Causing a stink increase volume at start of celebration? (5)

Generating...

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

Causing a stink , increase volume at start of celebration? P ARTY (=celebration); “crease volume at start of” means that P (=piano, at front of word) becomes F (=fortè)”

16d

Thick skin of one published for the first time? (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

It's slow essentially and bound to travel in opposite directions (9)

Generating...

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

It’s slow, essentially, and bound to travel in opposite directions <s> LO <w> (“essentially” means middle letters only) + [+ *(BOUND) in [N (=north) + S (=south)]; “to travel” is the anagram indicator; “north” and “south” provide our opposite directions

19d

William called revolting southern red a sort of tea (8)

Generating...

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

Will called revolting southern red a sort of tea Buill (homophone of Will, also an abbreviated form of William) + DER S (S=southern + RED; “revolting” indicates vertical reversal); builders tea tends to be black and strong, often sugared, popular in construction work

20d

Act up by either side of duff hotel (7)

Generating...

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

Act up by either side of duff hotel WAL (LAW (=act, piece of legislation; “up” indicates reversal) + D or F (“either side of duff”, i.e. first or last letter); the Waldorf (Hilton) is a famous London hotel

22d

Arduous journey in shelled Syrian city after school (7)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Strong birds? Turkeys and geese to name two (5)

Generating...

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

Strong birds? Turkeys and geese, to name two F (=strong, i.e. fortè) + OWLS (=birds)

25d

Bond takes control of international exercise (5)

Generating...

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

Bond takes control of international exercise I (=international) in WELD (=bond, fuse together); to exercise e.g. power or influence is to wield

26d

Security protecting Harris finally leaves (5)

Generating...

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

Security protecting Harris finally leaves <harri> S (“finally” means last letter is used) in BAIL (=security, in exchange for release from custody); basic is an aromatic plant, hence “leaves”