Independent Cryptic #12154

2025-09-22

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Lover of Scotland's back to back articles making a grand? (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Stay supportive of nasty piece of work (8)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Professional record inhibited by modest use of obscenity (9)

Generating...

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

An insertion of PRO and LOG in COY. The insertion indicator is ‘inhibited by’. I only knew this word in its ‘study of faeces’ sense, but my Collins has:

11a

Companion that is married wears ring (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of CH for Companion of Honour and M inserted into IE for id est or ‘that is’. The insertion indicator is ‘wears’.

12a

Gradually introduce current after voicing concern (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Enemy forces at the Front combined poured forth (7)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Gather food (4)

Generating...

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

A dd. The first element is in its dressmaking sense; the second is most often heard in TUCK SHOP, mainly if you went to public school.

16a

Stressed diner due luncheon extremely agitated (10)

Generating...

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

(DINER DUE L[UNCHEO]N)* with ‘agitated’ as the anagrind.

19a

Nervous wreck in Spooner's depot supplying coffins? (10)

Generating...

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

A Spoonerism for CASKET BASE.

20a

Three seconds to illustrate problem on green? (4)

Generating...

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

A charade of MO, S and S, three ‘seconds’.

23a

Puzzles are not included in broadcast applications (7)

Generating...

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

And here’s another one which I always forget: A for ‘are’, the measurement of area. A charade of BE[A]M and USES.

24a

Lout lying about criminal youth (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Bit of offal I found in Indian wrap (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of LUNG and I.

27a

Rat cleans out family (9)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Bouquets console supplier quite disheartened following refusal (8)

Generating...

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

A charade of NO, SEGA and Y[E]S. SEGA is a supplier of consoles for video games.

29a

Suspicion of student clerics stealing rector's suit (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of S for the initial letter of ‘student’ and PAD[R]ES.

Down

1d

Pool ball's on top of pocket (7)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Brightest star has finally dropped behind mountain (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

On pest being uncovered without delay put up traps (6)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Like some poetry by Frost recited at bar (9)

Generating...

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

Aural wordplay (‘recited’) for RIME followed by LESS. The equivalence is in the phrase ‘bar none’.

6d

Everything deposited beneath base of cliff following shock? (8)

Generating...

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

This is a really clever cad. It’s a charade of ROCK, F for the last letter of ‘cliff’ and ALL; but the whole clue is also the definition.

7d

Travel around islands working out musical direction (9)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Revised pieces checked by one editor after another (7)

Generating...

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

An insertion of MEN for [chess] pieces in ED, followed by another ED. The insertion indicator is ‘checked by’.

9d

Nora Batty's a nag (4)

Generating...

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

Great clue. (NORA)* with ‘batty’ as the anagrind. Don’t know of Nora Batty? Google her.

15d

More than one window sticks when installed (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Shift scenery as required (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Going hungry about beginning of Eid? Quite the reverse (8)

Generating...

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

An insertion of E for the initial letter of ‘Eid’ in FASTING, and an extended definition. The insertion indicator is ‘about’.

19d

Newborn cat one's lost in garden city? (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of BABY and L[I]ON.

21d

Warship essentially goes off tack (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of S for the middle letter of ‘warship’ and ADDLES.

22d

Husband picked up corsage containing small aromatic plant (6)

Generating...

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

A charade of H and S inserted into POSY reversed. The insertion indicator is ‘containing’.

24d

Support line missed by player in game (4)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Amateur cutting old ruby with blades (5)

Generating...

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

An insertion of A in O and RED. The insertion indicator is ‘cutting’ and the definition refers to another sport, rowing.