Independent Cryptic #1843

2025-06-22

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Exhaust Caucasian talking like Spooner? (8)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of ‘pale type’

5a

Large bear coming over American's fair game (6)

Generating...

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

Reversal (‘coming over’) of L POOH (large bear) + A

9a

Maybe envy what the Sistine Chapel has during conclave? (11)

Generating...

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

As seen recently, during a papal conclave the Sistine Chapel has CARDINALS IN it.

11a

Horrible being stuck in Mallorca (3)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Construction needing support thin brace you'd say (6)

Generating...

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

Soundalike (‘you’d say’) of ‘lean two’ for ‘thin brace’ [Edit: as KVa @2 points out, the homophone indicator applies only to ‘two’ as ‘lean’ doesn’t need one, being a synonym]

13a

In case of feud one coach for club with two mugs? (8)

Generating...

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

Insertion of ACE + CAR inside FD (‘case of F eu D ‘), the definition referring to the reversible figures on playing cards, with the question mark because it’s a definition by example – it might equally apply to a spade, diamond or heart as a club

15a

Celebration permitted after boys made new national record (12)

Generating...

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

DO (‘celebration’)+ OK (‘permitted’) after anagram (‘new’) of BOYS MADE

19a

Very neat smooth bridge broken by sharp hammer (12)

Generating...

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

Insertion (‘broken by’) of PICK (‘sharp hammer’) into SAND SPAN (‘smooth bridge’)

22a

Motorcyclist worried route keeps clear? (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram (‘worried’) of ROUTE around (‘keeps’) RID

24a

Carefree British drunk male (6)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Irritate chap forgetting his name? (3)

Generating...

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

GE n T minus the N (‘forgetting his name’). Definition as in ‘what really gets me is…’

27a

Tinsel arrayed almost time for this song? (11)

Generating...

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

Anagram (‘arrayed’) of TINSEL + NIGH + T , with the whole clue also working as the definition. Lovely clue

28a

Course ship's taken across lake (6)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Tree given dignified treatment after being cut? (8)

Generating...

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

FIR + STAID

Down

1d

Deer hunter set up equipment (6)

Generating...

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

Reversal (‘set up’ in a down clue) of ELK + CAT

2d

Irruption from broken drain nothing to stop it (6)

Generating...

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

Anagram (‘broken’) of DRAIN with O inside (‘nothing to stop it’)

3d

Decorated parts of large garden fencing apart (9)

Generating...

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

Insertion of IN TWO (‘apart’, as in asunder) into PARK

4d

Max intensity from little dog you can hear (4)

Generating...

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

Sounds like (‘you can hear’) ‘peke’

6d

Tiny amount of elasticity saving billions (5)

Generating...

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

b OUNCE (‘elasticity’) without B (‘saving billions’)

7d

In favour of friend consuming no alcohol (8)

Generating...

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

Envelope (‘consuming’) of PRO PAL around NO

8d

Emperor's son expected to embrace king after bow (8)

Generating...

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

DUE (‘expected’) around (‘to embrace’) K after ARCH

10d

Careless make-up daughter has smeared (8)

Generating...

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

SLAP + D + anagram (‘smeared’) of HAS

14d

Want good spring after poor (8)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Animals that are one sort sing early (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

While gas sold regularly using it? (8)

Generating...

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

Alternate letters of g A s S o L d + ON GAS (‘using it’)

18d

Detective Murphy listened to chief (8)

Generating...

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

Soundalike (‘listened to’) of ‘dick’ (detective) ‘tater’ (spud, murphy)

20d

Disgraceful mark idiots picked up on degree course (6)

Generating...

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

Reversal (‘picked up’ in a down clue) of GITS + MA

21d

5 years in prison and losing heart (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Problem remains with unfinished canal (5)

Generating...

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

IS (‘remains’) + SUE z (‘unfinished canal’)

25d

Opponent learning code bored by books (4)

Generating...

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

AI (‘learning code’) around (‘bored by’) NT