Independent Cryptic #12305

2026-03-17

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Call with a wave when bird grabs arm (8)

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5a

Fermented stuff some neckI'm chicken (6)

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9a

Deduce better with the head tucked in (5)

Generating...

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

F INER (better) with the F ( first letter [head]) moved and tucked in later in the word to form IN F ER

10a

Sweet MP frolicking with one lord (9)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Duck to be part of meze platter (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Largely appealing young lady one's drawn (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Official stealing note from bank (3)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Wasteful additional drifting eliminates racer in the end (11)

flowerflowerflower
18a

What solvers will do here (involving intersections ultimately) (11)

Generating...

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

CROSSWORDS (what solvers will do here) containing (involving) S ( last letter of [ultimately] instersection S )

22a

Saw perhaps not entirely as well (3)

Generating...

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

TOO l (a saw is a tool) excluding the last letter (not entirely) L

23a

US thinker being uninitiated bored by setter (7)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Overeat or pass? (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Nothing cool about base corrupt place by river (9)

flowerflowerflower
28a

Unfortunate Democrat faced wrong flag (5)

Generating...

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

( POOR [unfortunate] + D (Democrat]) all reversed (faced wrong)

29a

Hardly a cutter where soldiers board ship? (6)

flowerflowerflower
30a

Brand added alongside potter's material (8)

Generating...

Down

1d

Wrap commonly thrust item (4)

Generating...

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

FOIL (a material used to wrap food before or after cooking.  I think ‘commonly’ applies to this definition of FOIL ) double definition

2d

Lidl's opening provided swell launch (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Courage left and right from Dani mid-tackle (9)

Generating...

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

( D and I [ outer letters of [left and right from] D an I ) contained in (mid) HARNESS (tackle)

4d

Most flattering untruths in love/intimacy (7)

Generating...

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

LIES (untruths) contained in (in) ( O [character representing zero {love score in tennis}] + IT [sexual intercourse; intimacy])

6d

Regularly considered fit? Find out otherwise (5)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Short articles a must at coronation (7)

Generating...

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

CURT (short) + ( AN [indefinite article] + A [another indefinite article] giving articles)

8d

Mog's put forth current concerning task as punishment (10)

Generating...

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

I’M (the setter’s; Mog’s) + POSIT (postulate; put forth) + I (in physics, the symbol for electric current) + ON (concerning)

11d

Drink second drink (5)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Local business flogging celery and radishes primarily (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (flogging) CELERY AND + R [ first letter of [primarily] R adishes)

17d

Certainly as grumpy about media figure (9)

Generating...

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

AS + ( SURLY [grumpy] containing [about] ED [editor, an important figure in a media company])

19d

Topless beau and stood-up friend touch a bit (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Assemblage of McCartney music for cycling (5)

Generating...

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

S WING (genre of music) with the letters cycled one place to the left and round to the back to form WING S

21d

Queen's country rises over limits on alcohol (7)

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22d

Shaking quality Merlot to redistribute oxygen (7)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Rower basically keeps inverting blade (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Stallone's back training with Eastern weapon (4)

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