Independent Cryptic #12209

2025-11-25

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Across

1a

US sex worker gets with Hoskins in a cottage? (4)

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4a

Roofer or hairdresser might some people say (8)

Generating...

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

THATCHER (someone who covers roofs with straw or similar material; roofer)

9a

Religious type spread right pish about ecstasy (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (spread) RIGHT PISH containing (about) E (ecstasy)

10a

Ancient German quarry excavating phosphorus (4)

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11a

Go to get Liverpool's latest strip (4)

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12a

Ink manufacturer is mixed up in fetish cult (10)

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14a

Country type coming up on drugs on the radio? (6)

Generating...

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

I don’t know where to begin with the wordplay for this clue.

16a

Light on other side of harbour in Oregon city (8)

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18a

Earned bucks screening Black Earth and Metropolis (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (buicks) EARNED containing (screening) ( B [black when describing pencil lead] + E [earth])

20a

I will get new patient if there happens to be a need (6)

Generating...

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

I + N (new) + CASE (a person or animal having a disease; patient in medical or veterinary terms)

22a

No gent will put out for an item of footwear (10)

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24a

Language of Monsieur Duchamp (4)

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26a

Nurse getting on my boss will find paradise (4)

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27a

Dispense with a dead person found in cabinet? (10)

Generating...

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

A + D (dead) + MINISTER (a person in a Government cabinet.  I think the UK Cabinet is formed mainly from Secretaries of State, but there are also some Ministers entitled to attend)

29a

Lousy do I got going in an offensive way (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (got wrong) LOUSY DO I

30a

Jesus appears in clam bake! (4)

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Down

2d

Oscar rejected wicked name for a baby girl? (5)

Generating...

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

O (Oscar is the international radio communication codeword for the letter O) + EVIL (wicked) reversed (rejected)

3d

After getting on beers old husband expires (7)

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4d

Earl has intercourse upside-down in restraint (3)

Generating...

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

( E [earl] + IT [sexual intercourse]) all reversed (upside-down; down entry)

5d

Paintings by The Spanish Cooperative in the USSR (5)

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6d

Cautious on turning right into group of a load of chickens? (7)

Generating...

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

CA R EFUL (cautious) with R (right) being replaced by (turning into) G (group) to form CA G EFUL

7d

Church services still no good? Head to Satan! (9)

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8d

Remains drunk mostly drinking a drop of grappa (8)

Generating...

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

WRECKE d (drunk) excluding the final letter D (mostly) containing (drinking) ( A + G [ first letter of [drop of] G rappa)

13d

Grass up granny perhaps in Barnet do? (7)

Generating...

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

POT (cannabis; marijuana; grass) reversed (up; down entry) + KNOT (a granny is an example of a KNOT )

15d

Lend nude drunk clothes bishop kept in original state? (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (drunk) LEND NUDE containing (clothes) B (bishop)

17d

Criminal ringing about evil leader in power (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (criminal) RINGING containing (about) E ( first letter of [leader] E vil)

19d

Italian anatomist using some Demerol and opiates (7)

Generating...

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

ROLANDO ( hidden word in [using some] deme ROL AND O piates)

21d

Lawyer local authority brought into hearing (7)

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23d

Note-grabbing relatives will make some bread (5)

Generating...

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

NANS (relatives) containing (grabbing) A (a musical note) – NANS are clued as ‘grabbing relatives’.  They are grabbing A (note)

25d

Trance band who provided Blair's campaign tune (5)

Generating...

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

D:REAM ( D:REAM are a Northern Irish pop and dance group whose UK No. 1 hit “Things Can Only Get Better” was adopted by the Labour Party as a campaign tune in the UK 1997 General Election which led to Tony Blair [born 1953] becoming Prime Minister) double definition

28d

Old lady sat by gym nude in page on a calendar? (3)

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