Independent Cryptic #12231

2025-12-20

Solve on Independent →

Across

6a

Time Out s (11)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘slammed’) of BRIAN ENO HIT

9a

One's interested in fish out of water naturally (4)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Local batting like Englishendlessly hopeless (10)

Generating...

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

IN (batting) DIG (like) E (English) NO USe (hopeless) missing last letter or ‘endless’

11a

Look forward to raise for top job (8)

Generating...

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

FACE (look forward to) LIFT (raise)

13a

Some feel Biden lies about being fit to serve (6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Battery hen potentially (13)

Generating...

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

A play on the fact that a CHICKEN NUGGET has batter on it and a chicken is a young or ‘potential’ hen. As there isn’t really a definition, it’s not one of our favourite clues – or one of our favourite ways of eating chicken given the likely use of battery hens in the nuggets!

16a

Withdrawn votes exposed American menace (6)

Generating...

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

COY (withdrawn) + v OTE s missing first and last letters or ‘exposed’

17a

Toys winning hearts and minds (8)

Generating...

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

TINKERS (toys) around or ‘winning’ H (hearts)

19a

Secure a soft drink then start to down a cocktail (10)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Something to reflect on like touring team (4)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Rome wasn't built in a day? On the contrary she sells (11)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘built’) of ROME WASN’T around (not ‘in’ because of the ‘on the contrary’) A D (day)

Down

1d

Fund scrapping first new union joiner (6)

Generating...

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

FI n ANCE (fund) – missing or ‘scrapping’ the first n (new)

2d

Risk to cuddle flash European one encountered in bed (10)

Generating...

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

PERIL (risk) around or ‘cuddling’ WINK (flash) followed by E (European)

3d

Woman fed up for the most part (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘up’) of DINE d (fed) missing the last letter or ‘for the most part’

4d

Party time to cut a long story short (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Moving forwards guards love taking a break (8)

Generating...

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

LUNGING (moving forwards) around or ‘guarding’ O (love)

7d

'I am on call' he garbled in anguish (11)

flowerflowerflower
8d

has news Express about works being held up (11)

Generating...

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

BULLETIN (news) around or ‘about’ a reversal (‘held up’) of ART (works)

12d

Theory of X and Y taken across the Pyrenees? (5)

Generating...

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

TEN (X) ET (‘and’ in France) – in Spain (‘across the Pyrenees’) ‘and’ would be y

13d

One clarifying crude oil at supply (10)

flowerflowerflower
15d

T False God a (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘fluttered’) of TAYLOR and I D (middle letters or ‘hearts’ of swIft duDes)

18d

Tree huggers agreed on retirement sadly (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘on retirement’) of OK (agreed) + ALAS (sadly)

20d

Better figures that he represents in hues? (4)

Generating...

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

A play on the fact that ‘h’ and ‘e’ are the ODD letters in ‘hues’

21d

Setter leaves surface behind (4)

Generating...

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

AR i SE (surface) with I (the setter) missing or ‘leaving’