Independent Cryptic #12190

2025-11-03

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Pushing driving seat that's faulty (11)

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7a

Embarrassing error follows Best's header for Marsh (3)

Generating...

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

A charade of B and OG. For those who are not lovers of the Beautiful Game, George Best and Rodney Marsh are footballers from a bygone age (which you didn’t need to know) and OG stands for own goal (which you did need to know).

9a

If time is saved more like flying for some distance (9)

Generating...

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

An insertion of T in (MORE LIKE)* with ‘flying’ as the anagrind. The insertion indicator is ‘if … is saved’.

10a

German car wheel is sound (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of AUDI and O. O for ‘wheel’ is crosswordspeak.

11a

One must leave sooner on quiet fishing boat (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of P for the musically ‘quiet’ and EARL[I]ER.

12a

Go west skirting island fire (7)

Generating...

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

An insertion of I in PASS ON. The insertion indicator is ‘skirting’ and PASS ON and ‘Go West’ are both euphemisms for ‘die’.

13a

I occasionally cook nosh for models (5)

Generating...

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

A charade of I and C[O]O[K] N[O]S[H].

15a

Pal spots rivals (9)

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17a

Absorbed by matching notes leaves meeting (9)

Generating...
19a

Small fragment is missing lead for Lewis TV detective (5)

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20a

Wild fellow managed revolutionary sex clubs (7)

Generating...

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

A charade of F, RAN, IT reversed and C for the playing card ‘clubs’.

22a

Misty n (7)

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24a

Hibernian player's backside is pinched by international hard! (5)

Generating...

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

An insertion of R for the final letter of ‘player’ and IS in I and H. The insertion indicator is ‘pinched by’.

25a

Rely on Gore to find place for donations (9)

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27a

Heading off get syrup (3)

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28a

Cleans grime off dairy product (11)

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Down

1d

Some sauerkraut put up in cupboard (3)

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2d

Off to visit Virginia holiday home? (5)

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3d

Discovers the truth about New York street fights? (7)

Generating...

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

A dd. Remember the Rumble in the Jungle?

4d

On set Piers cut off abruptly when about to butt in (9)

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5d

Freeze last of bolognese in single container (5)

Generating...

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

An insertion of E for the last letter of ‘bolognese’ in I and CUP.

6d

They should be charged for toast (7)

Generating...

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

A cd.

7d

County rubbish tip lacking room (9)

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8d

Thunder? Goes running for something waterproof (11)

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11d

Reason for struggle with Outlook (11)

Generating...

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

A charade of POINT OF, VIE and W. ‘What is the point of/reason for that?’

14d

Appalling tabloid's drawn in by spin (9)

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16d

Nursery crop with holes spreading (9)

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18d

Characters remaining when Hammersmith is evacuated (7)

Generating...

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

If you remove all but the outside letters of the London suburb, you are left with two AITCHES.

19d

Tuneful Spice Girl tackling loud bit now and then (7)

Generating...

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

An insertion of ODI for the regular letters of lOuD bIt in MEL C. The insertion indicator is ‘tackling’.

21d

Islander's bar joined by regulars from club (5)

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23d

'Hacked Off' copy has page missing (5)

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26d

Scans unwrapped Kipling novel (3)

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