Independent Cryptic #12301

2026-03-12

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Clean line in the sand (6)

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5a

Picture parents embracing and not beginning to argue (8)

Generating...

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

[NOR (=and not) + A <rgue> (“beginning to” means first letter only)] in [PA + MA (=parents, i.e. pa (=father) and ma (=mother))]

9a

They save cooking with some beef (8)

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10a

Dispose of Tesla perhaps charging without joy (6)

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11a

Bowler missing leg after Tufnell say plays the field (10)

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12a

Sack John Torode to start with (4)

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13a

City friend wears a short dress (8)

Generating...

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

BUD (=friend, chum) in [A + HABI <t> (=dress, set of clothes, as in riding habit ; “short” means last letter is dropped)]

16a

Feel cold start to ski season in Tignes (6)

Generating...

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

S <ki> (“start to” means first letter is dropped) + HIVER (=season in Tignes, a French ski resort, i.e. the French for winter )

17a

Bond made them fret endlessly (6)

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19a

It's okay to laugh at ring toss? (8)

Generating...

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

A ring toss, hoopla is a “fair(ground) game”

21a

Spell word (4)

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22a

Every single number one released by entitled group is popular (10)

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25a

End of a difficult passage in classical literature (6)

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26a

One testing tips from entrepreneurs invested in fool's gold (8)

Generating...

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

E <ntrepreneur> S (“tips from” means first and last letters only) in [ASS’S (=fool’s) + OR (=gold, in heraldry)]

27a

Reform urged hard borders frustrating Labour (8)

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28a

President sending out Romney for one task (6)

Generating...

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

<mitt> ERRAND (=(former) President, of France); “sending out Romney for one (=Mitt, the US Republican politician)” means letters “mitt” are dropped

Down

2d

General caught with howitzer at first being out for blood (5)

Generating...

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

LEE (=general, i.e. Robert E. Lee in the American Civil War) + C (=caught, on a cricket scorecard) + H <owitzer> (“at first” means first letter only); the “being” of the definition is a creature, organism

3d

One gets hammered in Bavarian village (5)

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4d

Praise query about Tolstoy character needing no introduction (7)

Generating...

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

<w> HO’S ANNA <?> (=query about Tolstoy character, i.e. Anna Karenina; “needing no introduction” means first letter is dropped)

5d

Fail at cycle path struggling to find technique in howling wind? (15)

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6d

They're not in the habit of going out (7)

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7d

Rebellious to make TV with regular repeats (9)

Generating...

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

REVOL T ING (=rebellious, up in arms); “to make T (into a) V ” means that the letter “t” becomes a “v”; e.g. revolving credit automatically repeats provided the maximum agreed amount is not exceeded

8d

Usual memo strangely remains to be seen (9)

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14d

One goes out? (9)

Generating...

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

A bedwetter goes (=urinates) (while) out (=when asleep)!

15d

Adam Sandler cast wanting leads for fantastic plot (9)

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18d

Swimmer's bottom to top flow (7)

Generating...

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

MANATEE (=”swimmer”, i.e. aquatic mammal); “bottom to top” means last letter moves to start of word

20d

Bachelor out of absinthe getting drunk at some speed (7)

Generating...

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

*( A <b> SINTHE ); “ bachelor (=B, as in BA) out” means letter “b” is dropped from anagram, indicated by “getting drunk”

23d

Backtracking Sir Keir occasionally delivers step change? (5)

Generating...

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

RIS (SIR; “backtracking” indicates reversal) + <k> E <i> R (“occasionally” means alternate letters only are used); as the upright portion of a step, a riser could be described as something that “delivers (a) step change”

24d

Nothing to smile aboutthat's a bit below the belt (5)

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