Independent Cryptic #12162

2025-10-01

Solve on Independent →

Across

9a

Force out wild civet (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

When one suddenly understands a warning sign about bad actor at Tesla? (9)

Generating...

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

{HAM (=bad actor) in [A + OMEN (=warning sign)]} + T (=Tesla, i.e. SI unit)

11a

Revolutionary routine forbidden wearing headdress (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Drink some fake firewater (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Working at welcoming Germans in public relations exercise? (7)

Generating...

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

G G (=Germans, i.e. 2 x G=German) in DOING (=working at, busy with); the definition refers saucily to the practice of having sexual relations in a public place, such as in a parked car.

15a

C Kent's love interest runs over plainsman (7)

Generating...

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

L LANE (C Kent’s love interest, in Superman , i.e. Clark Kent and Lois Lane) + R (=runs, on cricket scorecard) + O (=over, on cricket scorecard); a llanero is an inhabitant of the plains in the northern part of S America

17a

South American dictator expelling revolutionary - a red perhaps? (5)

Generating...

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

PINO <che> T (=South American dictator, i.e. Chilean General Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006); “expelling revolutionary (=”Che”, i.e. Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-67)” means letters “che” are dropped

18a

Look at report of imaginary number (3)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Son abandoning pet sponge (5)

Generating...

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

<s> MOOCH (=kiss, pet; “ son (=S) abandoning” means letter “s” is dropped); to mooch is to sponge off, cadge off

22a

Somewhat exposed and losing heart ousts soprano (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Rearing jockeys with longer legs (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Jeopardy for each international lecturer (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Maybe newspaper is getting editor disciplined (9)

flowerflowerflower
30a

South-west India's thorn tree (9)

Generating...

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

SW (=south-west) + I (=India)’S + SPINE (=thorn, spike)

31a

Is acquainted with aroma that's picked up (5)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Expert fed up with Thailand (4)

flowerflowerflower
2d

N Italian actor Seth supports Milan ultimately (8)

Generating...

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

<mila> N (“ultimately” means last letter only) + IT (=Italian) + ROGEN (=actor Seth, from Canada); the lone N is thus the definition, the chemical symbol for nitrogen!

3d

Musteline mammal with no tail seen in portico (4)

Generating...

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

STOA <t> (=musteline animal; “with no tail” means last letter is dropped)

4d

Philanthropist's explosive anger with ICE (8)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Man drinking with liberal composer (6)

Generating...

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

[AND (=with) in HE (=man)] + L (=liberal); the reference is to the German-born composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

6d

Fish rolls with nut in the main (10)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Ego that is shot (6)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Russian leader promoting second top performer (4)

Generating...

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

T S AR (=Russian leader; “promoting second (=S)” means letter “s” moves to a higher position in the word

13d

Maybe Arsenal regularly drank on return (5)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Present Helen with shift changes (10)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Additional concern when bishop excommunicated (5)

Generating...

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

<b> OTHER (=concern, worry; “when bishop (=B, in chess) excommunicated” means letter “b” is dropped

19d

Leaves ahead of schedule to collect odd characters from garden (8)

Generating...

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

G <a> R <d> E <n> (“odd characters” means odd letters of word only are needed) in EARLY (=ahead of schedule); Earl Grey is a type of fragrant tea, hence “leaves”

21d

Exclusion of head of Omani embassy (8)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Standard family fare in Yorkshire (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Substantial figure taking temperature is showing no emotion (6)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Drink up and start to stroke cat (4)

Generating...

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

PUS (SUP=drink; “up” indicates vertical reversal) + S <troke> (“start to” means first letter only)

28d

Northern music producer's devastating weapon (4)

flowerflowerflower
29d

Unhappy about husband's style (4)

flowerflowerflower