Independent Cryptic #12259

2026-01-22

Solve on Independent →

Across

7a

See 22 Across

8a
21d

(and 21 Down) Hit Head of Technology with one project to keep peace! (5,3,5)

Generating...
9a
25a

(and 25 Across) To right of Caliban expert conceals opening on stage (3,3)

Generating...
10a

Typical method by which one exploits agent of pest control (6)

Generating...

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

MO (modus operandi – ‘typical method’) USER (‘one exploits’)

11a

Maybe the second row’s not written about (7)

Generating...

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

DIN (row) with ORAL (not written) outside or ‘about’

12a

Press grasping furniture store after review to snap up deal (6,1,7)

Generating...

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

STRAIN (press) round or ‘grasping’ IKEA (furniture store) and a reversal (‘after review’) of GRAB (snap up)

14a

I refuse to live over literary wood (4)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘over’) of NO (‘I refuse’) BE (live)

16a

See 4 Down

18a

DeGeneres the voice of her party line (4)

Generating...

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

DO (party) RY (railway – ‘line’) – we had to check this – Ellen DeGeneres was the voice of Dory in the Disney/Pixar film ‘Saving Dory’

19a

Divers in SOS: aides probing subject of inquirythis? (7,7)

Generating...

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

A clue-as-definition: an anagram (‘divers’) of IN SOS AIDES in or ‘probing’ CASE (subject of inquiry) – CAISSON DISEASE is decompression sickness, suffered by divers if they have to surface too quickly, perhaps in SOS situations

22a
7a

(and 7 Across) Eucalyptus to ground, our highest faller (7,5)

Generating...
24a

Capital letter indicating new driver is attached to rear of cab first (6)

Generating...

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

L (‘letter indicating a new driver’) IS + ON (attached to) after B (last letter or ‘rear’ of cab)

25a

See 9 Across

26a
27a

(and 27 Across) I run 180m downhill and consult our doctors (8,5)

Generating...
27a

See 26 Across

Down

1d

Business worked around inclusions, and yet with diligence (15)

Generating...

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

CO (company – ‘business’) + an anagram (‘worked around’) of INCLUSIONS and YET

2d

With nothing on there might be arrests, ok? (8)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘there might be’) of ARRESTS OK could be STARKERS with O (‘nothing on’)

3d

Engineer rings to fasten on the wagon (4)

Generating...

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

O O (rings) round or ‘fastening’ TT (‘on the wagon’) – we had to check this – a reference to Nicolaus Otto, a German Engineer associated with the early development of the internal combustion engine

4d
16a

(and 16 Across) A high point, the one of Akela’s lads who goes the extra mile? (6,5)

Generating...
5d

Endure way hatred’s taking the usual form (8,7)

Generating...

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

STAND (endure) + RD (road – ‘way’) in or ‘taken by’ AVERSION (hatred)

6d

A cosmetic crack (3-5)

Generating...

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

ONE (a) LINER (cosmetic)

7d

See 13 Down

13d
7d

(and 7 Down) Order two pints in the end: Burton Ale (5,5)

Generating...
15d

Couples in bar neck chiantiwhat impertinence! (8)

Generating...

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

Pairs of letters (‘couples’) in BA r ne CK CH ianti wh AT

17d

Such a cat might be a man (8)

Generating...

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

A clue-as-definition: Manx cats are TAILLESS – taking the last letter or ‘tail’ from Manx leaves us with ‘man’ – a man has no tail, but might, if he were, say, a jazz fan be referred to as a ‘cat’

20d

It’s regrettable about your escalating wage (6)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘about’) of ALAS (‘it’s regrettable’) + a reversal (‘escalating’) of YR (your)

21d

See 8 Across

23d

East side of city on Dee, Aberdeen’s over there (4)

Generating...

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

Y (last letter or ‘east side’ of city) ON D (dee)