Independent Cryptic #12175

2025-10-16

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Across

1a

Mark spies jiffy bags about (9)

Generating...

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

CICATRICE (a mark which can take various forms)

6a

Mantra from East Thailand provided thematic element (5)

Generating...

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

MOTIF (a design, symbol, etc on a manufactured article, whether decorative or identifying the manufacturers; a thematic element)

9a

Erect nude looking embarrassed covers front (7)

Generating...

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

UNBOWED (not bent; erect)

10a

Bevy of eggs expensive reportedly (7)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Judge from German city (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

They clap with excitement after Conservative gives way (9)

flowerflowerflower
14a

One playing a small part in business and government (3)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Female mathematician with award discovered unknown number (11)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Spirit? It is not to be administered for this condition (11)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Tips for building your dream car (3)

Generating...

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

BYD ( first letters of [tips for] B uilding, Y our and D ream)

20a

Nobody has news about Spooner oddly (9)

Generating...

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

( N [new] + N [new] giving news) containing (about) an anagram of (oddly) SPOONER

22a

Best closely woven fabric shunned by European duke (5)

Generating...

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

WORST e d (closely woven fabric) excluding (shunned by) E (European) and D (duke)

24a

Lively piece from singer with variable penetrating note (7)

Generating...

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

( CHER [reference the American singer and actress CHER [born 1946] + Z [letter frequently used to denote a variable in mathematics]) contained in (penetrating) SO (note of the tonic sol-fa)

26a

One aircraftman later checks out (7)

Generating...

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

I (Roman numeral for one) + ( NEXT [succeeding; later] containing (checks) AC [aircraftsman])

27a

Jam made by a simple machine (5)

Generating...

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

WEDGE (an example of a simple machine; The six basic types are the lever , wheel and axle , pulley , screw , wedge , and inclined plane. See definition of simple machine in Collins dictionary) double definition

28a

Kipling beast has shaken her up (9)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Royal attendants love short skirts (5)

Generating...

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

COURT (the body of persons who form the sovereign’s suite or council; royal attendants)

2d

Get a tight grip when fixing a bit of bad wiring (7)

Generating...

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

CABLING (wiring)

3d

Little Diana Stewart after dressing up is most gaudily dressed (9)

Generating...

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

TAWDRIEST (most gaudily dressed)

4d

What's offered to persuade Bond to dive in river (11)

Generating...

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

INDUCEMENTS (incentives; benefits; what’s offered to persuade)

5d

Blunder made by Fermat after ignoring two transcendentals (3)

Generating...

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

ERR (make a mistake; blunder)

6d

Irishwoman turned up in the morning on the previous day (5)

Generating...

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

MAEVE (female Irish name)

7d

Cut through horseshoe for one English bay (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Advanced German for present day (9)

Generating...

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

FÜR (German for ‘for’) + THERE (in attendance; present) + D (day)

13d

K-9 beheaded emperor (11)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Tool used in dealing with gnome (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

English women must wear high heels at religious classbut not in this place (9)

Generating...

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

E (English) + ( W [women] contained in [must wear] an anagram of [high] HEELS ) + RE (religious education; religious class)

18d

Republican party leader loses article made from animal skins on a farm (7)

Generating...

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

R (Republican) + ANC (African National Congress; political party in South Africa) + HE a D (leader) excluding (loses) A (indefinite article)

19d

Old homosexual in black knickers! (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Governess protects island home for birds (5)

Generating...

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

EYRE (the fictional character Jane Eyre was a governess) containing (protects) I (island)

23d

Giant squeeze announced (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Roman goddess dances topless (3)

Generating...

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

h OPS (dances) excluding the first letter (topless) H