Independent Cryptic #12194

2025-11-07

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Across

1a

African country say surrounded by twisting roads (7)

Generating...

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

E.G. (for example) contained in (surrounded by) LANES (roads) reversed (twisting)

5a

US city cross with company importing silver (7)

Generating...

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

CHI (Greek letter equivalent to X in our alphabet; the character is shaped like a cross) + ( CO [company] containing [importing] AG [chemical symbol for silver])

9a

Long to get over theatrical production (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Display area marks Welsh river (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Again measures length of house returning after getting retired (7)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Hold back official description of poor weather? (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Get angry about the Earth with shifting of a lake - one’s joining movement (11)

Generating...

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

G L OBAL (referencing the whole world [about the Earth] with the first [one of] L [lake] moved to the end [shifting] to form GOBAL L ) + I’S (one’s) + TIC (spasmodic twitch; movement) – the L that is moved could finish as either the 5th or 6th letter as both are L

17a

Reinterpreted a man’s action in Californian city (11)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (reinterpreted) A MAN’S ACTION

20a

Still wearing recent baby clothes (7)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Poet: one’s range covering start of sonnet (7)

Generating...

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

I (Roman numeral for one) + ( AMBIT [scope, ex; range] containing [covering] S [ first letter of {start of} S onnet])

23a

Minor recipient of honour this evening? (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Position taken for wellbeing as an Australian (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Historic state capital certain to retain an opening for them (7)

Generating...

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

SAFE (secure; certain) containing (to retain) ( AN + T [ first letter of {opening for] T hem])

27a

Political situation and other things swirling around South American capital (7)

Generating...

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

ETC (et cetara; and others) reversed (swirling) containing (around) LIMA (capital city of the South American country of Peru)

Down

1d

Unconscious mental pressure to have a drink before attempt (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Tiny molecule never found in form of butane (8)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Revolutionary in leaving place for boat tidy (5)

Generating...

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

MOOR in G (place where boats are secured; place for boats) excluding (leaving) IN and then reversed (revolutionary)

4d

Severe punishment having caught one neglecting entomology for biology? (11)

Generating...

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

LIFE S ent ENCE (severe punishment) excluding (neglecting) ENT [entomology]) and then containing (having) ( C [caught] + I [Roman numeral for one] ) in its place (for)  – giving CI replacing (for) ENT

5d

Tea hot served in Central America(3)

flowerflowerflower
6d

as a result of American engaging in various topics (9)

Generating...

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

( OF + A [American]) contained in (engaging in) an anagram of (various) TOPICS

7d

Cheers when splitting a variable screen image (6)

Generating...

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

TA (thank you; cheers!) contained in (splitting) ( A + VAR [variable])

8d

Upset not working? Stop working (6)

flowerflowerflower
12d

Unexpectedly it curtails retaining expression of individuality following religious practice (11)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (unexpectedly) IT CURTAILS containing (retaining) I (expression of individuality)

14d

American aboard drifting Italian ship sunk during war (9)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Remote lake - it’s repeatedly brought up with two accounts raised (8)

Generating...

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

IT reversed (brought up; down entry) + IT reversed (brought up; down entry) giving IT s repeatedly brought up + AC (account) reversed (raised; down entry) + AC (account) reversed (raise; down entry) giving two accounts raised.

16d

Ancient city source of history in times of horse-drawn transport? (8)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Cool location initially has top entertainers (6)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Monster very active in West and North (6)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (active) VERY contained in (in) ( W [West] + N [North])

22d

The writer’s intent on sending up US city (5)

Generating...

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

( I ‘M [I am; the writer’s ] + AIM [intent]) all reversed (sending up; down entry)

24d

Odd bits of energy recycled? That’s cool! (3)

Generating...

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

EE G ( letters 1, 3 and 5 of [bit of] E n E r G y) recycled by one place right and round to form G EE