Independent Cryptic #12193

2025-11-06

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

For example, Perrier Award certain to be less independent when restructured (10,5)

Generating...

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

Anagram (when restructured) of AWARD CERTA [i] N TO BE , minus the I (abbreviation for independent).

9a

Flyer told to pay for uniform? (7)

Generating...

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

Sound-alike (told = spoken out loud) of BUY (pay for) PLAIN (uniform = homogeneous or undecorated).

10a

Delivery of sink cancelled (4-3)

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11a
12a

(and 12 Across) Artificial Intelligenceoddly local children accepted digital refinement tool (4,8)

Generating...
12a

See 11 Across

16a

Mostly they enjoy similar things (3,4)

Generating...

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

THE [y] (mostly = all but the last letter) + LIKE (enjoy).

17a

Monk, say, when jerk joins church (7)

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19a

Make out with Diane regularly seeking penetration (7)

Generating...

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

SIGHT (as a verb = make out = begin to see), after alternate letters (regularly) of [d] I [a] N [e]. Insight = penetration = understanding?

20a

Everlasting Lovehit single over in AmericaCarl finally makes it (7)

Generating...

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

Last letters (. . . finally makes it) of [lov] E [hi] T [singl] E [ove] R [i] N [americ] A [car] L .

21a
23a

(and 23 Across) Ace encore music playingwithout American cornet (3-5,4)

Generating...
23a

See 21 Across

26a

Possibly radish on the counter as requested (2,5)

Generating...

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

RED ROOT (for example a radish) reversed (on the counter).

28a

Select a quiet property (7)

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29a

Run article Henry McDonald edited for writer (7,8)

Generating...

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

R (abbreviation for run, in cricket scoring) + A (the indefinite article), then an anagram (edited) of HENRY MCDONALD . US detective fiction writer.

Down

1d

Mischievously inscribe an item with tip from Tommy Cooper maybe (7,8)

Generating...

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

Anagram (mischievously) of INSCRIBE AN ITEM + first letter (tip) of T [ommy]. For example Yvette Cooper, currently Foreign Secretary and therefore a Cabinet Minister.

2d

They make good couple on TV showbreaking short series up (9)

Generating...

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

PAIR (a couple) + ER (a TV show), contained in (breaking) SER (short for series) reversed (up, in a down clue).

3d

Cricket groundsomewhere to go round in retirement (4)

Generating...

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

LAV (short for lavatory = somewhere to go = somewhere to urinate) + O (round), all reversed (in retirement). Surrey County Cricket Club’s home ground, now officially called the Kia Oval after its sponsors.

4d

Having beer with Charlie - Guinness? (4)

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5d

Mounting madness after old woman abandoned ship - escaping death (3)

Generating...

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

[ma] DNE [ss] reversed (mounting = upwards in a down clue), without (. . . abandoned) MA (old woman = slang for mother) and without (. . . escaping) SS (abbreviation for a steamship).

6d

Club with spirits and cider? (10)

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7d

Misfit team manager is one using English left back (5)

Generating...

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

E (abbreviation for English) + PORT (left, in nautical terminology), all reversed (back). Not sure about the definition here: trope = a frequently-encountered concept (perhaps a slightly less disparaging term than cliché), but I’m not familiar with “misfit team manager” as one.

8d

Discophile making my day following deal with binman (6,9)

Generating...

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

RE [cord] COLLECTOR (discophile), with COR (cor! = my! = and expression of surprise) + D (abbreviation for day) replaced by F (abbreviation for following) + USE (deal with).

13d

Flush loohandle occasionally stays down (have wiped) (6)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (occasionally stays = only some of the letters stay?) from L [o] O [h] A [n] D [l] E , then D [own] with OWN (have) removed (wiped). Flush = loaded = slang for wealthy.

14d

Instrument used to ride cycles through gunge? (10)

Generating...

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

DID (used to = did in the past but no longer do), then RIDE (with the letters “cycling” to put E at the front) inserted into (through) GOO (gunge = a messy substance).

15d

Some remember that collar (6)

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18d

Working accordingly during test of hairdressing (9)

Generating...

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

ON (working, as in “is the electricity on?”) + SO (accordingly), inserted into TRIAL (test).

22d

Key material drawn by Hergé conclusively? (5)

Generating...

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

BONY (drawn = thin and unhealthy-looking) next to the last letter (conclusively) of [herg] E . Type of hardwood traditionally used for black piano keys.

24d

Daughter remains in touch (4)

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25d

Put favourable slant on offence involving parking (4)

Generating...

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

SIN (offence) containing P (abbreviation for parking, in street signs and maps).

27d

Staff enter no bid, according to terms (3)

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