Independent Cryptic #12279

2026-02-14

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a
19a

(and 19 Across) Criticise terrible roads - shock source of troubles? (8,3)

Generating...
5a

Eat around six? Perfect! (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

My new strong horse gets some maize (7)

Generating...

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

COR (My!) N[ew] COB (string horse)

11a

Headgear that guy allows to protect back of cranium (7)

Generating...

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

HE (guy) LETS (allows) around [craniu]M

12a

What flows through 5 Greeks and mythic horse-man (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Chef's sauce ingredient (4)

Generating...

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

Double Def. Ref. Michel &/or Albert Roux (both fathers and sons) Serious chefs < Wiki >

14a

Sad university sportsperson (4)

Generating...

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

Double Def.

16a

Chat with airline about several places to shop (6,5)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Brown booth stripped down (3)

Generating...

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

[s]TAN[d] Is a booth a Stand? I cannot think of another way to get TAN

19a

See 1 Across

20a

Not very juicy food from fir set druid reeling (5,6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Songwriter Neko starts to create another sad elegy (4)

Generating...

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

First letters (starts) of C[reate] A[nother] S[ad] E[legy] I have never heard of this person Wiki: Neko Case

24a

The first old rocking Billy? (4)

Generating...

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

I (The first, i.e. 1, I) (OLD)* AInd: rocking . Ref. < Wiki: Billy Idol >

26a

Power Russian plane with hydrogen tank at the front (5)

Generating...

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

MIG (Russian plane) H[ydrogen] T[ank]

28a

Certain to contain final elements of the Iraqi blitz attack (7)

Generating...

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

[th]E [iraq]I [blit]Z inside SURE (certain)

29a

Joyous time before opening of lamentable ceremony (7)

Generating...

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

FUN (joyous) ERA (time) L[amentable]

30a

Tests of materials like, for example, sulphur (6)

flowerflowerflower
31a

King Edward pocketing American bill went on campaign (8)

Generating...

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

CR (King) USA (American) D (bill) ED[ward] Last one in

Down

1d

More discerning, irrational and cold, Starmer turns guts (7)

Generating...

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

PI (irrational, π) C[old] KEIR (Starmer) with E<>I swapping (turns guts)

2d

Sailor follows old prime minister's guiding light (5,4)

Generating...

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

NORTH’S (old prime minister’s) TAR (sailor)

3d

Writer so upset about cycling director Billy (5,5)

Generating...

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

SO< CA (about) {Billy} WILDER (film director) “cycling” the R to the front < Wiki: Billy_Wilder >

4d

Resin found occasionally in rising creek by moat (5)

Generating...

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

Alternate (occasionally) backwards (rising) hidden in c R e E k B y M o A t

6d

Maybe Avalon features in this legend (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

One preparation of lead is best (5)

Generating...

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

I (LEAD)* AInd: preparation of .

8d

Sculpted penis outside hollow travertine tomb of 3 was made by him (7)

Generating...

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

(PENIS)* AInd: Sculpted, around T[ravertin]E Ref. Jacob the sculptor < Wiki: Jacob Epstein >

9d

Grand soda hunt abandoned (8)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Cool rector comes in to fix small steps (10)

Generating...

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

IN (cool) R[ector] in CEMENT (fix) S[mall]

17d

French dog accepts prime bits from older kids (8)

Generating...

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

[o]LD[e]R i.e. the 2nd, 3rd and 5th prime number positions of OLDER, in CHIEN (dog, in French)

18d

Time oil worker and journalist set off (9)

Generating...

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

T[ime] RIGGER (oil worker) ED (journalist)

19d

Overly affectionate mother's job can stay unfinished (7)

Generating...

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

JO[b] CA[n] STA[y] Mother of Oedipus < Wiki: Jocasta >

21d

Determined badger's place was in front of the field (7)

Generating...

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

SETT (badger’s place) LED (was in front …)

23d

Sends his weird extra text (5)

Generating...

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

(HIS)* AInd: weird , PS (extra text)

25d

Pilot lowering female prisoner (5)

Generating...

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

FLIER (pilot) shift F (from female) down.

27d

Billy who once rocked animal product on seat of Harley (4)

Generating...

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

FUR (animal product) [Harle]Y The old rocker who wasn’t really very old < Wiki: Billy Fury >