Independent Cryptic #12287

2026-02-24

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Across

1a

Certainly a lowish bid by girl (7)

Generating...

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

1NT (=lowish bid, in bridge, i.e. One No Trump) + RUTH (=girl, i.e. female forename)

5a

Undamaged monitor about to be sent back inside (7)

Generating...

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

P RE FECT (=monitor, in school); “ about (=re, i.e. regarding) to be sent back” means letters “re” within the word are sent back

9a

The main writers in Donegal oddly unrepresented (7)

Generating...

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

PENS (=writers, i.e. writing implements) in <d> O <n> E <g> A <l> (“oddly unrepresented” means that all odd letters are dropped)

10a

Master enters Exeter prepared for highest degree (7)

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11a

Mashed barley left out as herbal drink (5)

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12a

A long note to inspire read out by Winstone (5)

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13a

Drink to consume when cycling (3)

Generating...

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

EA T (=to consume); “when cycling” means last letter moves to front of word

14a

Maybe thiamine deficiency is dismal (5)

Generating...

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

Cryptically, since thiamine is vitamin B1, “B lack” could be “maybe thiamine deficiency”; a black outlook would be dismal, depressing

15a

It’s found in coal gas and seaweed (4)

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17a

Bring short strap back and wallop (4)

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19a

Time to beg for a job (4)

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20a

Said Python is a graven image (4)

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21a

Pasty initially expelled after a tiny bit (5)

Generating...

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

WHIT (=a tiny bit, smallest amount of) + E <xpelled> (“initially” means first letter only); someone who is pasty-faced looks very pale, white

23a

First person to be caught in part of storm (3)

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25a

Parts of foot missing in second contest with men (5)

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27a

One harbour in trouble without our Indian state (5)

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29a

A board game and some books welcome (7)

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30a

9 heading off to collect 10 sons - that’s (7)

Generating...

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

[TEN (=10, the numeral) + S (=sons)] in <n> INE (=9, the numeral; “heading off” means first letter is dropped); intense is extreme (=entry at 10)

31a

Deceptive appearances? Everyone in fancy dress disheartened (7)

Generating...

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

ALL (=everyone) in FA <n> CY (“disheartened” means middle letter is dropped)

32a

Good will or ill new year follows old (7)

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Down

1d

Girl hangs onto old recipe for a key material (5)

Generating...

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

[O (=old, as in OT) + R (=recipe, from Latin)] in IVY (=girl, as in female forename); ivory was traditionally used to make white piano keys

2d

Rave tribe ask about Ecstasy sudden deaths (9)

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3d

Perhaps loosen carpet round top of stairs and take pile down (7)

Generating...

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

S <tairs> (“top of” means first letter only) in UNTACK (=perhaps loosen carpet, i.e. remove tacks holding it down); the “pile” of the definition refers to a heap, stack

4d

A bed scattered with stash around its top part (9)

Generating...

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

*(A BED) in HOARD (=stash, cache); “scattered” is anagram indicator; a headboard is the top part of a bed

5d

Serenity's heard - Moonlight Sonata perhaps (5)

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6d

Swine from E Devon waterway? (6)

Generating...

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

R (=River) Otter could be described as an “E Devon waterway”; a rotter is a swine, a cur

7d

Strain of electronic glam rock band turned up (5)

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8d

Initially cornered 25 5D in Kafka’s work (9)

Generating...

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

The castle (or rook) is an “initially cornered chess (=entry at 25) piece (=entry at 5D)”, meaning that it starts a game in the corner of the board; The Castle is a 1926 novel by the German-language writer Franz Kafka

14d

Richer gambler on his way (9)

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16d

Metal worker to work with large medal hit when cast (9)

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18d

Attack entrance to broadcast (9)

Generating...

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

Homphone (“broadcast”) of “way-in (=entrance) to”

21d

Webmaster’s expurgated lexicographer (7)

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22d

A small bloomer from soprano Miss 14A (originally Miss 21A) (6)

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24d

Some toe the line for noble girl (5)

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26d

Term for structure of skeleton - a key material (5)

Generating...

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

<structur> E (“term for” means last letter only) + BONY (=of skeleton); ebony was traditionally used to make black piano keys

28d

Around yard stags like marshy grasses (5)

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