Independent Cryptic #12232

2025-12-22

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Across

1a
6a

(and 6 Across) George’s scheme involving one chasing car (9,5)

Generating...
6a

See 1 Across

9a

Plane diverted somewhere in Asia (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Sacking every good person, rock station put off everybody (3,3,3)

Generating...

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

[St]one(=rock) + [st]and(=station) + [st]all(=put off) (all words with S{ain}t(=good person) removed)

11a

Flowing waters engulf men with one going missing (8)

Generating...

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

Seas(=waters) around m[a]les

12a

Exaggerate malfunction (4,2)

Generating...

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

DD

14a

Luvvie going over to embrace with smoochy sound (4)

Generating...

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

Ham<(=luvvie i.e. an actor) around w{ith}

15a

Joanna (my Mum’s mum) paid for renovation? Over my dead body! (5,5)

Generating...

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

Gran(=my Mum's mum) + paid* + no(=over my dead body!)

18a

Struggling, naked, are we born again? (10)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Rum, say, is licensed exclusively at first (4)

Generating...

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

Is + l[icensed] e[xclusively]. Rum (properly Rùm) is an island in the Inner Hebrides.

21a

Announce sailor from the East’s election (6)

Generating...

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

(Toll(=announce with a bell) + ab{le seaman))<

23a

Wing, maybe pro-British, inspiring return of imperial measurement (8)

Generating...

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

For B(=pro-B{ritish}) around mile<

26a

Transcends right and wrong reversing sign of aging (5,4)

Generating...

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

(Tops(=transcends) r{ight} evil(=wrong))<

27a

Friend from Potsdam I googled (5)

flowerflowerflower
28a
29a

(and 29 Across) Political skullduggery as small business replaced MP’s car again (5,9)

Generating...
29a

See 28 Across

Down

1d
14d

(and 14 Down) Mass burial twice in awfully catastrophic year (5,9)

Generating...
2d

Big cheese beat restriction, having discovered tax not applicable (3,6)

Generating...

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

Top(=beat) + ban(=restriction) + [t]a[x](=tax dis-covered) + n{ot} a{pplicable}(common abbrev used in forms etc)

3d

Mankini looked “lovely” on vacation - euphemistic to put it thus (6)

Generating...

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

M[ankin]i l[ooke]d l[ovel]y

4d

Unusual result, ergo, put a pin in it (7,3)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Ruminate about shape (4)

Generating...

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

C{irca}(=about) + hew(=shape e.g. with an axe)

6d

Run off after writer - she waited a long time (8)

Generating...

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

Elope(=run off) after pen(=writer). The def refers to Penelope, wife of Odysseus, who awaits his return from the Trojan War.

7d

Green field fairly empty (5)

Generating...

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

Lea(=field) + f[airl]y

8d
24d

(and 24 Down) Directories help one to be organised, fair and ultimately scrupulous (9,5)

Generating...
13d

Failing to meet man right before death (4,6)

Generating...

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

(To meet man r{ight})*

14d

See 1 Down

16d

Aisling Bea briefly floundering - way to let people down! (9)

Generating...

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

(Aisling Be[a])*. Aisling Bea is an Irish comedian.

17d

Navvy’s dog more sullen when daughter's not around (8)

Generating...

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

Lab{rador}(=dog) + [d]ourer(=more sullen minus d{aughter})

20d

State in North America welcoming drummer Grohl turning up (6)

Generating...

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

N{orth} A{merica} around Dave<(=Grohl, referring to the musician from the bands Nirvana and Foo Fighters )

22d

US bank oddly lied to recruit First Lady (5)

Generating...

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

Odd letters of l i e d around Eve(=First Lady in biblical sense). The bank here refers to the dykes used in the US to hold back flooding (which famously failed in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck).

24d

See 8 Down

25d

Very impressive bit of extreme picnicking (4)

flowerflowerflower