Independent Cryptic #12268

2026-02-02

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Get up and play cards? (6)

Generating...

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

DD with a slightly fanciful second def. I presume it's in some sort of sense of supplying yourself with a deck of cards.

4a

Fancy circles marry off stock holder (8)

Generating...

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

Fad(=fancy) around marry*

10a

A game is fixed, with an order for more? (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Less than tight clues back in Indy (5)

Generating...

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

Tips + [Ind]y. Tight is a slang term for drunk, so less than tight might mean mildly drunk or tipsy.

12a

Set of characters performing in Fawlty Towers primarily (4)

Generating...

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

On(=performing) in F[awlty] T[owers]

13a

French school form ran out, beginning to exclaim "Five gold rings!" (3,7)

Generating...

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

(Ran out)*(form is the anagram indicator) + (e[xclaim] in (V(=five) + au(=gold in periodic table)). Rings indicates inclusion.

15a

Stealing odd bits of sleep, night ghost stretches (7)

Generating...

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

Odd letters removed from "s l e e p n i g h t g h o s t".

16a

Reportedly take out bob on runners racing (6)

Generating...

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

Hom of slay + very cryptic def which is some sort of reference to a bob sleigh on runners (although a bob sleigh is so-called because it uses bob runners, so the def seems a bit tautological).

18a

When cycling, green light turnssame old story! (4,2)

Generating...

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

Jade(=green) with the de "cycled" to the front + UV(=light)<

20a

American idiot's back making posh belly of veal for main course (7)

Generating...

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

Doofus<(=American idiot) with the U(=posh) replaced by [v]ea[l]. "Main course" could either be interpreted as a the principal course of the meal or as food coming from the "main"(=sea).

23a

Remake of Grease gets bonus content (6,4)

Generating...

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

(Grease gets)*. Easter eggs are bonus content on things like DVDs.

25a

Party to love cracking pub (2,2)

Generating...

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

O(=love) in inn(=pub)

27a

That is how one can move caravan (2,3)

Generating...

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

Sort of DD with differently arranged letters. How to move caravan = tow it.

28a

Did Polish brand start to invent junk? (9)

Generating...

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

Burn(=brand) + i[nvent] + shed(=junk in the sense of "junking something")

29a

See 7 Down

30a

'Hard borders' is deliberately vague (6)

Generating...

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

H{ard} + edges

Down

1d

Grumpy colleague finding it hard to make friends (7)

Generating...

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

DD with first part referring to the Seven Dwarves.

2d

Men on acid lost control (9)

flowerflowerflower
3d
26d

(and 26 Down) Economical extracting business, perhaps? (4,4)

Generating...
5d

They hang out in the sun: oily, topless, and beginning to sweat (7)

Generating...

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

[F]awning(=oily topless) +s[weat]

6d

Quince's second part's in Hamlet - he's playing patriarch (10)

Generating...

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

[Q]u[ince](second part=second letter) in (Hamlet he's)*

7d
29a

(and 29 Across) Sweet place to see Ashes balls after short programme (5,8)

Generating...
8d

Test two things paint can do (3,3)

Generating...

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

Dry + run(=two things that paint can do)

9d

Ministers about to enter residences (6)

Generating...

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

Re(=about) in pads(=residences)

14d

Duet Italian gets the hang of in audition (2,5,3)

Generating...

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

I{talian} + hom of "takes to"

17d

Boring American government with plump monopolist (9)

Generating...

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

G{overnment} + round(=plump) + hog(=monopolist)

19d

A blue novel about endless sex apt to be drawn on? (7)

Generating...

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

(A blue)* around se[x]

20d

Sickly Lord Byron's only character that descends (6)

Generating...

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

Sugar(=Lord, referring to The Apprentice figurehead) + [B]y[ron] (the Y is the only character which goes beneath the line)

21d

Uncovers men boxing men, striking head (7)

Generating...

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

Dudes(=men) around [m]en

22d

Half a dozen lines established opening scene (6)

Generating...

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

Est{ablished} in(=opening) set(=scene). A sestet is a six line poem or the last six lines of a sonnet.

24d

Seam expert tipping about Anderson for one (5)

Generating...

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

((Re(=about) + Wes(=Anderson for one, referring to the film director Wes Anderson))<.

26d

See 3 Down