Independent Cryptic #12300

2026-03-11

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Across

1a

Everyone is taken aback missing one left in Spanish city (7)

Generating...

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

ALL l IVES (everyone) excluding (missing) L (left) and then reversed (taken aback)

5a

Does Henry call for topic on Bluesky? (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Fashionable movement prohibited reportedly with past close to forgotten (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Opening passage part of fortnightly retrospective (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Setter's mature public front (5)

Generating...

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

I’M (I am; setter is; setter’s) + AGE (mature)

12a

Whip round touched one American meeting South Pacific islanders (9)

Generating...

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

( TAN [beat; flog; whip] containing [round] [ HIT {affected; touched} + I {Roman numeral for one} + A {American}]) + S (South)

14a

Quiz show host in Times Square not working (14)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Perform in regularly broadcast shows about one extremely destructive heavy metal group (14)

Generating...

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

( ACT [perform] + IN + SERIES [regularly broadcast shows]) containing (about) ( I [Roman numeral for one] + DE [ outer letters of {extremely} D estructiv E] )

21a

Number at school help to turn over slightly repellent material (9)

Generating...

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

( TEN [a number] + GAM [school of whales] + AID [help]) all reversed (to turn over)

23a

Most of standard opera (5)

Generating...

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

NORMA l (standard) excluding the final letter (most of) L

24a

Got an unusual letter from NATO? (5)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Records 24 hours for Spooner in Arctic transport (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

That place holds a patient ultimately? (7)

Generating...

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

THERE (that place) containing (holds) ( A + T [ final letter of [ultimately] patien T )

27a

Finished with young lady in part of Ireland (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Cry and join up? Amen (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Periodically Kuwait University providing support for vehicle in a state (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Sales now poor; nothing taken? (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (poor) SALES NOW containing (taken) O (character representing zero or nothing)

4d

Troubled trading ends badly (11)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Chinese repeated words without restriction (3)

Generating...

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

c HAN t (a slogan spoken or sung in a repetitious or rhythmic manner; repeated words) excluding the outer letters C and T (without restriction)

6d

Hide Tesla having no cash (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

On large area cleared out tree with four branches (7)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Cargo with gold beginning to trouble likeable individual (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Completely develops setter perhaps too much on reflection (11)

Generating...

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

HONES (sharpens; polishes; develops) + ( DOG [a setter is a breed of DOG ] + OTT [over the top; perhaps too much]) reversed (on reflection)

15d

A doctor on track for return homethat makes the heart beat faster (9)

Generating...

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

A + DR (doctor) + LANE (track) reversed (for return) + IN (home)

16d

Dart hit a crook working intently (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (crook) DART HIT A

18d

Racecourse giving treasurer a boost a novice (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Being paid is getting closer with name-dropping (7)

Generating...

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

N EARING (getting closer) with N (name) d ropping in this down entry [namedropping] to form EAR N ING

20d

Fight largely virtuous artist (6)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Roughly arrest Unionist for manslaughter at last (5)

Generating...

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

ABO r T (stop; arrest) with U (Unionist) replacing (for) R ( final letter of [at last] manslaughte R )

25d

Outstanding couple from Rome (3)

Generating...

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

DUE (Italian [Rome] word for ‘two’) double definition