Independent Cryptic #12214

2025-12-01

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Across

1a

Foxy young thing is model for painter (6)

Generating...

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

Cub(=young fox) + is + T(=Model T)

4a

Foreshadowed detailed papers with article say about Germany (8)

Generating...

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

Pres[s](={news}papers "detailed" i.e. tail removed) + a(=indefinite article) + e.g.< + D(=Deutschland)

9a

A sound spoken declaration (6)

Generating...

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

Hom of "a vowel"

10a

Steadfast initiate defends barbaric law (8)

Generating...

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

Start(=initiate) around law*

12a

Air-conditioning in car starts to tickle your cheek (8)

Generating...

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

(A{ir} C{onditioning} in Audi(=car)) + t[ickle] y[our]

13a

Stick poster in this spot (6)

Generating...

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

Ad(=poster i.e. advertisement) + here(=in this spot)

15a

Italicus's hounded by morning prayer leader (4)

Generating...

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

I'm(=Italicus') + AM(=morning)

16a

Fellow wearing sleek ruff incited ructions (10)

Generating...

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

F{ellow} in (sleek ruff)*

19a

They find flaws in Spooner's hollow drawers (10)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of pit(=hollow) knickers(=drawers)

20a

Run after American drug addict (4)

Generating...

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

R{un} after (US(=American) + e{cstasy})

23a

Dig up former philosopher (6)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Obligatory conclusion about enemy sheltering Catholic (8)

Generating...

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

End around (Foe(=enemy) around R{oman} C{atholic})

27a

Regretted placing trust in feeble journalist (8)

Generating...

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

NT(=National Trust) in (lame(=feeble) + ed{itor}(=journalist))

28a

Follow-up question stops evasive character pursuing point (6)

Generating...

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

(Qu{estion} in eel(=evasive character)) after S{outh}(=point)

29a

Absurdly small Irish county hosts Italy's foremost soprano on vacation (8)

Generating...

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

Derry(=Irish county) around (I[taly] s[opran]o)

30a

Serve dinner to team coming round regularly (6)

Generating...

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

Reversed alternate letters of d i n n e r t o t e a m"

Down

1d

In such a patisserie you'll find bread (7)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Bad actors ruined show (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Seize heroin containers heading north across Thailand (6)

Generating...

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

(H{eroin} + cans)< around T{hailand}

5d

Author laid bare religious practice (4)

Generating...

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

[W]rite[r]

6d

Set of grotesque idols guarding island extremely ferociously (8)

Generating...

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

(Idols* around i{sland}) + f[erociousl]y

7d

Kiss skin (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Detective on the periphery of riots hesitates (7)

Generating...

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

DI(=Detective Inspector) + the + r[iot]s

11d

Cuts around arm exposed veins (7)

Generating...

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

Steaks(=cuts of meat) around [a]r[m]. The def is in the sense of veins of ore in a mine, for example.

14d

Prime example of Roman numeral personally speaking? (7)

Generating...

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

CD/DD. I representing one would be the prime(first) example of a Roman numeral. The other def is in the sense of "I for one believe this".

17d

Outclass refined European? One hasn't a hope! (9)

Generating...

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

Outclass* + E{uropean}

18d

Shiny suit? (8)

Generating...

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

CD

19d

Required to keep line baited (7)

Generating...

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

Needed around l{ine}

21d

Perforated kitchen utensil without lid finally exploded (7)

Generating...

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

[G]riddle + [explode]d

22d

Stronghold breached by English close to enormous plantation (6)

Generating...

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

Fort(=stronghold) around (E{nglish} [enormou]s)

24d

He wrote epics set in obscure Mohican uprising (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Heckle old-time entertainer heartlessly (4)

Generating...

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

Je(=old-time) + e[ntertain]r. I'm not sure of the sense in which je is old-time. The only thing I can find is that Je has been used as an abbrev for June.