Independent Cryptic #12184

2025-10-27

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Impressed women in the main when reversing vehicle (9)

Generating...

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

Insertion of W into a reversal of SEA (in the main when reversing) + TRUCK

6a

Religious teaching bishop found on carbon copy (4)

Generating...

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

RI (religious instruction) + B after (found on) C (carbon)

8a

Infernal odour permeates laid-back island clubs (8)

Generating...

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

Insertion (permeates) of BO inside a reversal (back) of LAID + I + C

9a

Clothing line? (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Spike Lee endlessly hounds politician in Iowa (6)

Generating...

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

LE (LEe endlessly) after (hounds) MP inside IA (abbreviation for Iowa)

11a

King captivated by cuts on revolutionary's facial features (8)

Generating...

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

Insertion of R (king) inside (captivated by) a reversal (revolutionary) of SLITS ON

12a

Ease off drug following essentially miserable period of abstinence (6)

Generating...

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

E (drug) after R (central letter – essentially – of miseRable) + LENT

15a

Fancy letters initially ignored by Yankee (8)

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16a

Foul salt on the rocks where sewage pipes emerge (8)

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19a

Discovered articles for every mood (6)

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21a

Put under pressure archaeologist ultimately unveiled treasure alongside earl (8)

Generating...

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

Last letters (ultimately) of pressur E archaeologis T + c HERIS h (treasure unveiled – ie without the outer letters) + E

22a

Door in castle regularly decorated (6)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (regularly) of d O o R i N c A s T l E

24a

Old water pipe retains L-shape (6)

Generating...

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

O + BONG (water pipe used in smoking hash, for example) around (retains) L

25a

Model wakes up with runs in legwear (8)

Generating...

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

T (model, as in Model T Ford) + insertion of R (runs) in ROUSES (wakes up)

26a

Son boarding plane makes joke (4)

Generating...

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

S inside (boarding) JET

27a

Allow time on vacation to partake in some exotic meals (9)

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Down

1d

Saying nothing after team splits before noon (5)

Generating...

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

Insertion (splits) of XI + O (nothing after team) into AM (before noon)

2d

Married couple overwhelmed by European welcome (7)

Generating...

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

M + BRACE (pair, couple) below (overwhelmed by) E

3d

Spanish accent brightened up hollow discourse (5)

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4d

Weird upper-class childminder steals redcoat's heart (7)

Generating...

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

U + insertion of C (middle letter of redCoat) inside NANNY

5d

Provide stimulus to quit celebrity contest's final (9)

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6d

Switzerland enraged over new heraldic device (7)

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7d

Part of shoe pinching enclosed nerve (9)

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13d

English queen put on international food fair (9)

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14d

Reprimand resulting from crooked tag on kilt (9)

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17d

Cautiously approach hooligan with prior charge (7)

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18d

Staff worked out secret about head of production (7)

Generating...

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

Anagram (worked out) of SECRET around P

20d

Is bothered by extremely elitist attitude (7)

Generating...

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

MINDS (is bothered by) + outer letters (extremely) of E litis T

22d

Australia working with Spain to produce natural sunscreen (5)

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23d

Spells words (5)

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