Independent Cryptic #12276

2026-02-11

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Across

1a

Parents meeting Conservative legend? (9)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Former partner looks after projects (7)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Chauvinist perhaps is able to welcome male bores (7)

Generating...

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

( AVE [hail!; welcome] + M [male]) contained in (bores) CAN (is able to)

11a

Rat on waste container after party (5)

flowerflowerflower
12a

See revolutionary cycling round Greek island? That's hush-hush (9)

Generating...

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

SPOT (see) reversed (revolutionary) + CRET E (Greek island) with the letters cycled one place to the right and the final letter moving to the front to form E CRET )

13a

Appreciative audience member showing tongue (7)

Generating...

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

CLAPPER (the tongue of a bell, or just an informal term for the tongue) double definition

15a

Dance and drink with bachelor (5)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Loud and confusing instruction when filling in questionnaire (5)

Generating...

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

NO IS Y (no is yes; a somewhat confusing instruction for filling in a questionnaire)

18a

Join jolly adult for bit of entertainment (5)

Generating...

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

M e RRY (jolly) with A (adult) replacing (for) E ( first letter of [bit of] E ntertainment)

19a

Fungal tissue found in single bacterium (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Granite rocks forming city (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Placate PR after upsetting one that it's important not to upset? (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Now and again favourite American shows something from the heart? (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Foot of an anthropoid primate found next to stone (7)

flowerflowerflower
28a

It is cold in South Africa no? (7)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Assistant unfeeling wrote badly (9)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Views reality shows primarily encapsulating English (6)

Generating...

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

( FACT [reality] + S [ first letter of {primarily} S hows]) containing (encapsulating) E (English)

2d

Shaking this aphrodisiac could result in violent poo (10)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Attempt to support extremely stroppy Frenchwoman in correspondence (8)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Women in Nevadan city upset proprietor (5)

Generating...

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

W (women) contained in (in) RENO (city in the American State of Nevada) reversed (upset; down entry)

5d

Baking ingredient easy to change with bit of cheese in recipe (9)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Help at small northern arenas (6)

Generating...

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

( AID [help] + AT + S [small]) all reversed (northern in a down clue)

7d

Elitist doctor losing drug on the counter (4)

Generating...

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

BON e S (nickname for a doctor) excluding (losing) E (ecstasy tablet; drug) and then reversed (on the counter)

8d

Yes angry crook shows lack of coordination (8)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Standard complaint about international political representatives (10)

Generating...

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

PAR (standard) + ( LAMENT [complaint] containing [about] I [international])

16d

How many Russian aircraft are allowed for journey (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Singer is Greek character with thick head of hair (8)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Staff think highly of Pulp (8)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Prophet is I see welcoming ChatGPT? (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Ambitious tattooist somewhat obsessive character regarding figures (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Hand around second hymn (5)

Generating...

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

PALM (hand) containing (around) S (second)

26d

Powder not good for skin (4)

Generating...

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

g RIND (to powder) excluding (not) G (good)