Independent Cryptic #12186

2025-10-29

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Across

1a

Ill-treatment is stopping contemplation (6)

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4a

America abandons teaching evolution (8)

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10a

Run down director to transfer country mansion at last for millions (9)

Generating...

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

D (=director) + E<N for M>IGRATE> (=to transfer country; “mansion at last”, i.e. last letter of “mansio N (=N) for M (=millions)” means letter “m” is replaced by “n”)

11a

Nonsense absolute nonsense about everything (5)

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12a

Think carefully: are carbon sinks complex? (14)

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14a

TV programme in short showing group of women in part of club (5)

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16a

List of people protecting Argentine Marxist in New York City (9)

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18a

Seven points written after one shows incompetence (9)

Generating...

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

I (=one) + N + E + PT + N + E + S + S (“seven points”, where six of them are points of the compass and the other one is the abbreviation “pt” for “point”)

20a

Chap running opera (5)

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21a

I mismanage folk developing laxative (14)

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25a

Almost stop false statement extremely briefly (5)

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26a

Lecturer appeased after late start took action (9)

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27a

Antiparticle with no resistance outside current location (8)

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28a

Have confidence in force (6)

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Down

1d

Dicky married to cross woman who is in charge (10)

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2d

Prickly character really lovely mostly (5)

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3d

Italian man pays no attention to raising son (7)

Generating...

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

IGNORE S (=pays no attention to; “raising son (=S)” means letter “s” moves upwards in the word)

5d

American fool's date number one with bishop (5)

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6d

Four Swedes in prison sharing a vegetable (7)

Generating...

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

ABBA (=four Swedes, i.e. the four singers/musicians that make up the group) in CAGE (=prison); there are two x “a” in “cabbage”, not three x “a”, so one x “a” has to be shared when “ABBA” is placed in “CAGE”

7d

I pitch to north London district (9)

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8d

Reportedly is aware of aroma (4)

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9d

Unconcerned about official losing heart (8)

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13d

Spiky type intoned I am no right-winger from South Shields (10)

Generating...

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

An iron maiden is an instrument of torture, hence “spiky type”; I cannot sort out the wordplay, alas

15d

Small trees on sierra showing quality of trees often found by river? (9)

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17d

Actors on show with yen to bury regular characters in durable TV series (8)

Generating...

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

<d> U <r> A <b> L <e> (“regular characters” means alternate letters only) in [CAST (=actors on show) + Y (=yen, as in Japanese currency)]

19d

Destroy US restaurant (7)

Generating...

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

A takeout is the US equivalent of the British takeaway; to take someone out is to kill or destroy them, in slang

20d

Short time on fashion magazine topless for pop icon (7)

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22d

Painting of revolutionary in book (5)

Generating...

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

OIL (=(type of) painting) + OF; “revolutionary” indicates reversal

23d

Evil being took article (5)

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24d

Caught body part in fastener (4)

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