Independent Cryptic #12293

2026-03-03

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Doubting it with number reversed in account (8)

Generating...

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

A reversal of IT SONG (number) in AC (account)

6a

See 23 Down

9a
27a

(and 27 Across) Singer to tempt Ham's boy, as Spooner says (4,4)

Generating...
10a

Still around at hospital, melon variety causing illness (10)

Generating...

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

PIC (‘still’ – photograph) round AT H (hospital) OGEN (melon variety)

11a

Motorway madness an illusion? (6)

flowerflowerflower
12a

On top, man turned against former European (8)

Generating...

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

A reversal (‘turned’) of ALSO (‘on top’) GUY (man) + V (against)

13a

Sweet thing to quarrel trashing snug in pub (5,5)

Generating...

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

ROW (quarrel) and an anagram (‘trashing’) of SNUG in BAR (pub)

16a

Nitrogen in unopened pickle is concerning (2,2)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Try small drink (4)

Generating...

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

Double definition

19a

Tortured character has passion to steal back female (10)

Generating...

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

HEAT (passion) + a reversal (‘back’) of FILCH (steal) + F (female)

22a

Dog in show with energy chewed lead (8)

Generating...

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

AIR (show) E (energy) + an anagram (‘chewed’) of LEAD

24a

Deplore unconvincing book collection (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Embracing one, this clerk surprisingly virtuous? (10)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘surprisingly’) of THIS CLERK round or ’embracing’ I (one)

27a

See 9 Across

28a

Figure is round, not entirely lifeless (6)

Generating...

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

IS O (round) GON e (‘lifeless’) missing the last letter (‘not entirely’)

29a

Caller out to engage occasionally good Swiss singer? (8)

Generating...

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

YELLER (‘caller out’) round (‘engaging’) O D (alternate or ‘occasional’ letters of good)

Down

2d

Cool flower excited Gaelic Romeo (7)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘excited’) of GAELIC + R (Romeo in the phonetic alphabet)

3d

Greek character old and enormous (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Slept so badly without so much as a bra? (7)

flowerflowerflower
5d

An Earnshaw in renovated yacht?

flowerflowerflower
6d

Online writer, second-rate feller (7)

Generating...

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

B (‘second-rate’) LOGGER (tree feller)

7d

Beer wasted in population leaving London? (9)

Generating...

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

Double definition

8d

Time locks securing home: into this one might vanish (4,3)

Generating...

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

T (time) HAIR (locks) round (‘securing’) IN (home)

14d
18d

(and 18 Down) Rowing with Hunger (Boat Race book) (9,7)

Generating...
15d

State aim ultimately denied (3)

Generating...

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

GOA l (aim) missing the last letter or ‘ultimately denied’

18d

See 14 Down

19d

Encourage judge in that case to release husband (7)

Generating...

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

HEAR (judge) T h EN (‘in that case’) missing or ‘releasing’ the ‘h’ (husband)

20d

Weapon to keep animals together outside a pound (7)

Generating...

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

HERD (‘keep animals together’) round A LB (pound)

21d

Bridge manoeuvre punishes opponents (7)

Generating...

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

FINES (punishes) S E (south and east – opponents in Bridge or other card games)

23d
6a

(and 6 Across) Writer's initially outrageous liberty grated with men (5,6)

Generating...
25d

Sennett's Normand married Magwitch? (5)

Generating...

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

M (married) ABEL (Abel Magwitch – from Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’) – we had to check this – it’s a reference to Mabel Normand, friend and partner of Mack Sennet in the early days of the American film industry