Independent Cryptic #1831

2025-03-30

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Dad's fun paperback to take on holiday? (8)

Generating...

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

PA’S + SPORT, withh a somewhat cryptic definition

6a

Racer showing expertise after gear twisted (2-4)

Generating...

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

ART (expertise) after reversal of COG (gear twisted)

9a

Italian translated Plato, and Annie (10)

Generating...

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

Anag (translated) of PLATO + ANNIE

10a

The Woman in White, wanting book for trip (4)

Generating...

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

bRIDE (The Woman in White, nothing to do with the Wilkie Collins novel) without B (wanting book)

11a

Moral objection against people crossing sea being sent back (12)

Generating...

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

CON (against) + NATION (people) around (crossing) reversal of MED (sea being sent back)

14a

First item on list Craig developed a stinker? (6)

Generating...

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

Anag (developed) of L CRAIG

15a

Return Spooner's worthless crap (8)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of “bum cack” (worthless crap)

17a

Careful, certainly, spiking sweet drink with alcohol (8)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Irregular headed up military department after revolution (6)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Cheat adjusted the scoreboard at change of ends? (3,3,4,2)

Generating...

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

Cryptic def – in cricket bowlers change ends at the end of each over, which is reflected on the scoreboard

23a

Greek river becomes blocked, by the sound of it (4)

Generating...

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

Homophone (by the sound of it) of “sticks”

24a

Dotty lending cue as favour (10)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Novelty exhibit in church (6)

flowerflowerflower
27a

The Spanish explorer ultimately disappointed over this quest? (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

2d

Retired president shot Democrat (4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Pool and chess diverted playwright (9)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Stop rubbing metal sheet with top scratched (3)

Generating...

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

fOIL (metal sheet, without its first letter)

5d

Bear and rodents mostly venerated by Native Americans (7)

Generating...

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

Charade of TOTE (carry, bear) + MICe (rodents mostly)

6d

Police station, motorway and lake at the bottom of unusual garden (11)

Generating...

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

Anag (unusual) of GARDEN + M + ERIE

7d

Open top Ferrari? I would, given a raise (5)

Generating...

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

Charade of CAR (Ferrari?) +DI (reversal of I’d, I would)

8d

Switch identity wearing jewellery with short hairstyle (6,4)

Generating...

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

Insertion (wearing) of ID in RING (jewellery) + CROP (short hairstyle)

12d

Dire actor in cast fixated with theory (11)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Patter of light rain in Manchester town? Check (5,5)

Generating...

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

SPIT (light rain) in SALE CH (Manchester town, check)

16d

Ammunition belt from outlaw desperado emptied with sly look (9)

Generating...

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

Charade of BAN (outlaw) + DO (DesperadO emptied) + LEER (sly look). I’m more used to the spelling “bandolier”

18d

Desperate religious festival with cross upside-down (2-2-3)

Generating...

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

Reversal (upside-down, in a down clue) of EID (religious festival) + ROOD (cross)

21d

Tariff applied to biological category (5)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Drug charity stocks a bit of cannabis (4)

Generating...

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

AID (charity) containing (stocks) C

25d

Shown key turns (3)

Generating...

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

Reversal (turns) of DELete key