Independent Cryptic #12178

2025-10-20

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Across

1a

Flipping secretary kept quiet about pest in bed (5)

Generating...

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

PA<(=personal assistant i.e. secretary) + hid(=kept quiet about). Bed in the def refers to flower beds.

4a

Limits reasons why calls cannot be made (9)

Generating...

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

CD/DD (dead lines = why call cannot be made)

9a

One teacher taken aback by child introducing the French philosopher (9)

Generating...

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

A + sir<(=teacher) + tot(=child) + le(="the" in French)

10a

Bookie at last contributing to TV presenter's bets (5)

Generating...

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

[Booki]e in Ant's(=TV presenter's, one half on Ant & Dec)

11a

Is setter nuts about first wave? (7)

Generating...

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

(Am I)(=is setter) with nuts* in front of it(first)

12a

Information age leaks at the outset not specific (7)

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13a

Grants a right to settle in Mobile (8)

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15a

Mature individuals saluted oddly after dropping ecstasy (6)

Generating...

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

Salut[e]d*

18a

Goodness! Comic Jack's packing weapon (6)

Generating...

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

Dee(=Jack Dee, UK comic) around arm(=weapon)

20a

Nurse Amy accidently produces swelling in vessel (8)

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23a

Tourist's permit terminated prematurely before riot breaks out (7)

Generating...

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

Vis[a] + riot*

24a

With half of month gone crew finally get increase (7)

Generating...

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

Aug[ust] + men(=crew) + [ge]t

26a

Doctor heading procedures providing solution for viewers (5)

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27a

Raison d’être of Labour Party this writer's embracing son (9)

Generating...

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

Social(=party) + (I'm(=this writer's) around s{on})

28a

Dealing with tense champion getting publicity travelling (9)

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29a

Spirit supplied by Newmarket hostelry (5)

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Down

1d

Papers supporting articles covering equality and system suppressing it (9)

Generating...

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

ID(=papers) after ((a + the)(=articles) around par(=equality))

2d

Report of triumph at altitude in lines from the East (5)

Generating...

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

Hom of "high coup"

3d

Take away tips from Dante passage (7)

Generating...

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

D[ant]e + tract(=passage)

4d

Explained how follower is restricted by Act (8)

Generating...

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

Tail(=follower, as in tailing someone) in deed(=act)

5d

Exact retribution on German hiding uniform during course of action (6)

Generating...

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

Avenue(=course of action) with G{erman} replacing(=hiding) u{niform} (abbrev from phonetic alphabet)

6d

Discovered illegal run held periodically (7)

Generating...

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

Even letters of "i l l e g a l r u n h e l d "

7d

Beat around Russian river extremely lonely of course (9)

Generating...

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

Tan<(=beat) + Ural(=Russian river) + l[onel]y

8d

One interupting girl climbing rope (5)

Generating...

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

I in lass<

14d

Move coaches out of Italy to Marseilles for example (9)

Generating...

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

Tra[i]ns (I{taly} removed) + port(=Marseilles for example)

16d

Note police turning over house at intervals (9)

Generating...

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

So(=note) + MET(=police) + semi<(=house)

17d

Conclude he can receiving treatment inside be made better (8)

Generating...

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

End(=conclude) around (he can)*

19d

China welcoming International Space Station painter (7)

Generating...

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

China(=mate in the "my old china" sense) around I{nternational} S{pace} S{tation}

21d

Daughter in Prague working to pay for nicer accommodation perhaps (7)

Generating...

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

D{aughter} in Prague*

22d

Break into Post Office quickly (6)

Generating...

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

Rest(=break, as in taking a break) in P{ost} O{ffice}

23d

Film capital banning card game (5)

Generating...

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

[Monte]video. Monte is a gambling game in which the player bets that the next card drawn will match the suit of the previous two.

25d

Head of Hollywood costume department sailing north aboard yacht I'd equipped (5)

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