Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles, 2019-12-28 (16/28)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- 13a – A king, surrounded by several, is captured (5)
23a – A bird goes crazy without oxygen (5)— i think this one has an error5d – Study with severe cramp (9)— thanks harvel!8d – Surely you don’t have them? (6)— thanks harvel!
The clues:
1a Irregular form of PC’s radio (8)
SPORADIC *
Irregular is the definition, with form of as an anagram indicator for PC's radio
6a Lettuce is so cold when turned over (3)
COS *
Lettuce is the definition (cos is another name for Romaine lettuce), with turned over as a reversal indicator on SO + C (a bits and pieces clue for cold)
9a Organ composition for big ape (5)
Big ape is the definition (short for orangutan), with composition as an anagram indicator for organ
10a Fish of the non-swim variety (7)
MINNOWS *
Fish is the definition with variety as an anagram indicator for non-swim
11a We bring ingredients for making beer (7)
BREWING
Making beer is the definition, with ingredients for as an anagram indicator for we bring
13a A king, surrounded by several, is captured (5)
TAKEN *
Captured is the definition, with surrounded being an indicator that K (a bits and pieces clue for King) is inside of something?
14a Game for a drink (6)
SQUASH *
Double definition, with squash being both a game and a drink (like a cordial)
15a The din may have provided a clue (6)
HINTED
Provided a clue is the definition, with may have as an anagram indicator for the din
19a November 5 effigies, we hear, making appearance (5)
GUISE
Appearance is the definition, with we hear as a homophone indicator for November 5 effigies (Guys, for Guy Fawkes)
21a Record made by Don West (3,4)
SET DOWN *
Record is the definition, with made by as an anagram indicator for Don West
22a Pirates roving for money overseas (7)
PIASTRE *
Money overseas is the definition (it is a unit of currency), with roving as an anagram indicator for pirates
23a A bird goes crazy without oxygen (5)
GOOSE
Bird is the definition, with crazy being an anagram indicator for goes, adding O as a bits and pieces clue for oxygen — should that be that a bird goes crazy with oxygen though?
24a Little Dorothy demonstrates a part of the Morse Code (3)
DOT
Double definition, with Dot being both short for Dorothy, and also a part of Morse Code
27a Designer getting into trouble has quit (8)
RESIGNED
Quit is the definition, with getting into trouble as an anagram indicator for designer
2d High-rise flat? (7)
PLATEAU *
Cryptic definition, with a plateau being a raised up flat place
3d American soldier right about outfit (3)
RIG
Outfit is the definition, with the rest being a bits and pieces clue: R (a bits and pieces clue for right) + IG (with about as a reversal indicator on GI, meaning soldier)
4d Injure a woman when grabbing silver (6)
DAMAGE
Injure is the definition, with grabbing as an indicator that a word for silver (Ag is its chemical symbol) is contained in a word for woman: DAM(AG)E
5d Study with severe cramp (9)
CONSTRICT *
Cramp is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: CON (study, though I didn’t know this usage) + STRICT (severe)
6d Take a look at the timekeeper (5)
CLOCK
Double definition with clock meaning both timekeeper and take a look
7d Girl from America entertained by Poles (5)
SUSAN *
Girl is the definition, with entertained by as an anagram indicator for USA (America) and poles (N,S)
8d Surely you don’t have them? (6)
DOUBTS *
Cryptic definition I guess. If you’re sure then you don’t have doubts?
12d One script edited by police officer (9)
Police officer is the definition, with edited by as an anagram for one script
16d A couple – a couple getting a few more? (7)
TWOSOME
Couple is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: TWO (couple) + SOME (a few more)
17d German article about pub meal (6)
DINNER
Meal is the definition, with about as an indicator that a German article (der) contains a word for pub (inn): D(INN)ER
18d Flowers provided by teachers when head is absent (6)
ASTERS
Flowers is the definition, with head is absent as a subtraction indicator to remove the first letter of a word for teachers (probably masters)
19d Opening found by journalist opened wide (5)
GAPED
Gaped is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: GAP (opening) + ED (bits and pieces clue for journalist, or editor)
20d Paint may be unsuitable (5)
INAPT
Unsuitable is the definition, with may be as an anagram indicator for paint
23d Say something funny or keep quiet (3)
GAG *
Double definition, with gag meaning both something funny and something that makes one keep quiet