Independent Cryptic #12201

2025-11-15

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Number of goods transported out of France (5)

Generating...

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

fr EIGHT (goods) missing or ‘out of’ ‘fr’ (France)

4a

Promotes unique en suite stores (6)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Release version of song for two barely behind schedule (7)

Generating...

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

c OVER (release version of) DUE t (song for two) missing the first and last letters (‘barely’)

10a

Short noble in Lyon that is flamboyant (7)

Generating...

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

BARO n (noble) missing the last letter or ‘short’ + QUE (‘that’ in French as spoken in Lyon)

11a

Order soldiers away from alcohol inside? That's not right (7)

Generating...

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

OBE (‘order’ – of the British Empire) with LIQU or (alcohol) missing ‘or’ (other ranks – ‘soldiers’) inside

13a

Out of bounds area not suitable for children (7)

Generating...

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

OB (out of bounds) SCENE (area)

14a

Stuck fast at home reading novel (9)

Generating...

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

IN (at home) + an anagram (‘novel’) of READING

16a

Divorce leads to tummy aches leaving aunt queasy (5)

Generating...

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

First letters or ‘leads’ in Tummy Aches Leaving Aunt Queasy

18a

Hat and necklace jeweller ultimately junked (5)

Generating...

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

TO r QUE (necklace) missing or ‘junking’ ‘r’ (last or ‘ultimate’ letter of jeweller)

20a

Begin to grow first sign of grey fur around bare pate (9)

Generating...

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

G (first letter or ‘sign’ of grey) ERMINE (fur) round p AT e missing first and last letters or ‘bare’

22a

Sweet affectionate soldier (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Players square off with sides before international game wanting third place (7)

Generating...

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

s QUAR e missing first and last letters or ‘sides’ + TE s T (international game) missing or ‘wanting’ the third letter or ‘place’

25a

Scrap bolt (7)

flowerflowerflower
26a

New boy garb? (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Rodent's sudden movement when dodging king snake (6)

Generating...

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

JER k (sudden movement) missing or ‘dodging’ the ‘k’ (king) + BOA (snake)

29a

Muscles shown by cycling team (5)

Generating...

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

SQUAD (team) with the first letter moved to the back or ‘cycling’

Down

1d

Energy company records temperature to inspire one environmentalist (9)

Generating...

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

E (energy) CO (company) LOGS (records) T (temperature) round or ‘inspiring’ I (one)

2d

Doctor going on vacation early billed UK resident (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘doctor’) of G oin G missing the middle letters or ‘on vacation’ and EARLY

3d

Trifle cheers date (3)

Generating...

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

TA (‘cheers’) D (date)

4d

File one used to break out of trap (5)

Generating...

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

A homophone (‘out of trap’) of CUE (‘one used to break’ – in snooker or billiards)

5d

Dress up bride more fancy (9)

flowerflowerflower
6d

American candy requires core to be made right (5)

Generating...

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

NE e DS (requires) with the middle letter or ‘core’ changed to R (right) – we’d never heard of these American sweets

7d

Cry of son the same after dropping ecstasy (6)

Generating...

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

S (son) EQUAL (the same) with the ‘e’ (ecstasy) moving back or ‘dropping’ in a down clue

8d

Lacking any guts endeavour to bung me in lake (4)

Generating...

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

E ndeavou R missing the middle letters or ‘lacking any guts’ in or ‘bunging’ ME

12d

Vibrate small particle without resistance back in institute (5)

Generating...

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

QUA r K (small particle) missing ‘r’ (resistance) + E (last letter or ‘back’ of institute)

15d

Drinkers here prepared big lunch scoffing tons (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘prepared’) of BIG LUNCH round or ‘scoffing’ T (tons)

16d

Arctic forest thawing every so often north of America (5)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters (‘every so often’) of T h A w I n G + A (America)

17d

Search about to stop is creating problems (9)

Generating...

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

QUEST (search) + ON (about) in or ‘stopping’ IS

19d

Quality Assurance Agency checking books students at the front go far using them? (6)

Generating...

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

QAA (Quality Assurance Association) round or ‘checking’ NT (New Testament – ‘books’) + S (first letter or ‘front’ of students)

21d

Vibrant iguana sheltering somewhere in the Caribbean (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

After reflection headquarters provided understanding religious law (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘after reflection’) of HQ (headquarters) IF (provided) – a new word for us

23d

Concur with adult longing to be rid of daughter (5)

Generating...

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

A (adult) GREE d (longing) missing or ‘rid of’ ‘d’ (daughter)

24d

Intelligence turned up note claiming bishop's praying this way (5)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘turned up’) of IQ (intelligence) + LA (note) round or ‘claiming’ B (bishop)

27d

Grill toppings for beef burgers quickly (3)

Generating...

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

First letters or ‘toppings’ of Beef Burgers Quickly