Independent Cryptic #12229

2025-12-18

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

At Arsenal United fan starts to dance so wildly it makes ground shake (15)

Generating...

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

*(AT ARSENAL + U (=United, as in Man U ) + FAN + D <ance> S <o> (“starts to” means first letters only)); “wildly” is anagram indicator; cryptically, one can say that, as a cause of earthquakes, the San Andreas Fault “makes (the) ground shake”!

9a

Mock host screening film 'Big' regularly (5)

Generating...

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

<f> I <l> M <b> I <g> (“regularly” means alternate letters only are used) in MC (=host, i.e. Master of Ceremonies)

10a

Odious businessman backed ban on the French (9)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Erotic film produces high-pitched sound - what caused it? (8)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Tennis shot entertains with change of direction ... (6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

... and following shot not in court (9)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Supporter on track about to get run over (5)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Very large wardrobe separates clothes (5)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Crack cocaine around ship - coming onboard (9)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Quite popular thing to do (6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

A Welsh woman reportedly avoided illness in pandemic (8)

Generating...

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

A + SIAN (=Welsh woman, i.e. a typical Welsh female forename) + homophone (“reportedly”) of “flew (=avoided, fled from)”; the deadly Asian flu pandemic swept across the world in 1957-8

26a

Hand over old business it's stuffed (9)

Generating...

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

EX- (=old, former) + [IT in TRADE (=business)]

27a

Mean ratbag finally knocking out cold unappetising meal (5)

Generating...

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

C RUEL (=mean, nasty); “ ratba g finally (=last letter, i.e. G) knocking out cold (=C)” means letter “g” replaces letter “c”

28a

Posh area's reputation ruined with start of rock band (15)

Generating...

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

STOCK (=reputation, estimation, according to Chambers ) + BROKE (=ruined, destroyed) + R <ock> (“start of” means first letter only) + BELT (=band, stripe)

Down

1d

Review first three parts of music? (5)

Generating...

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

Cryptically, the “first three parts (=letters) of mus ic ” are MUS, which corresponds to “SUM” up (=vertically reversed)!

2d

Initially nervous individual seals off brownish leak (9)

Generating...

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

UMBER (=brownish) in [ N <ervous> (“initially” means first letter only) + ONE (=individual)]; to go for a number one is to go for a wee, take a leak !

3d

Help oneself to son's chips (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Ignoring wife write choral works over-elaborate in style (10)

flowerflowerflower
5d

National Trust eschews God Save the King ? I doubt that! (4)

Generating...

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

A <nt> HEM (=God Save the King, i.e. the national anthem; “ National Trust (=NT) eschews” means letters “nt” are dropped)

6d

Wire melts in separate small explosions (9)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Permit entry into godless Scottish town? (5)

Generating...

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

(d)UNBAR (=Scottish town; “ god -less” means that letter “d (=God, i.e. Deus)” is dropped

8d

Pure note played capturing hearts immediately (9)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Cut and hurl piece of spruce wood (10)

Generating...

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

CHUCK (=hurl, toss) + S <pruce> (“piece of” means first letter only) + TEAK (=wood); chuck is a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade

14d

Inane nature of noises fashioned by beginner in guitar (9)

Generating...

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

G <uitar> (“beginner in” means first letter only) + *(OF NOISES); “fashioned” is anagram indicator

15d

In Disneyland maybe politician takes refuge in wooden shelter (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Foreign Office to employ locks expert (9)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Papers lying about excessive returns as before (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Put out stove sinking last of lobster (5)

Generating...

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

RANGE (=stove, e.g. Aga; “sinking last (=last letter) of lobste r ” means letter “r” moves to end of word; to put out is to offend, upset, hence anger

24d

Perhaps squadron guards left in the dark (5)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Suffering 50% cut like army's pork pie supplier (4)

flowerflowerflower