Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles, 2019-12-30 (25/28)
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The clues:
1a Principal nut (4)
HEAD
Double definition, with nut being slang for head, and head also meaning principal
3a New chap sure to buy something (8)
PURCHASE
Buy something is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for chap sure
9a Judges playing conkers? (7)
RECKONS
Judges is the definition, with playing as an anagram clue for conkers
10a Bar returns from riotous feast (5)
REVEL
Riotous feast is the definition, with returns as a reversal indicator for a word for a bar (lever)
11a Smooth learner enters the ring (5)
BLAND
Smooth is the definition, with enters as an indicator that L (a bits and pieces clue for learner) should go into a word for ring (BAND, as in wedding band), so: B(L)AND
12a Silent characters sign up (6)
ENLIST
Sign up is the definition with characters as an anagram indicator for silent
14a Money we got back for nut (6)
CASHEW
Nut is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: CASH (money) + EW (got back is a reversal indicator for we)
16a Tools needed for a quarter of the deck (6)
SPADES
Double definition, with spades being both tools and a quarter of a deck of cards
19a Capital city taking back a famous inventor with love (6)
OTTAWA
Capital city is the definition, with taking back as a reversal indicator for a charades clue: A + WATT (famous inventor James Watt) + O (bits and pieces clue for love)
21a Majestic and terribly large (5)
REGAL
Majestic is the definition, with terribly as an anagram indicator for large
24a Wild dog kept in a building overseas (5)
DINGO
Wild dog is the definition, with kept in as a hidden word indicator for buil(ding o)verseas
25a A sign that visitors aren’t welcome (4,3)
KEEP OUT
Cryptic definition; a sign saying keep out is a sign that visitors aren't welcome!
26a Ship’s officer with many sailors (8)
MATELOTS *
Sailors is the definition (matelot is British slang for sailor), with the rest as a charades clue: MATE (ship's officer) + LOTS (many)
27a Feat unaffected by revolution (4)
DEED
Feat is the definition, with unaffected by revolution as an indicator that the answer is a palindrome
1d Book that’s difficult to endorse? (8)
HARDBACK
Book is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HARD (difficult) + BACK (support)
2d Capital invested in Joan of Arc casually returned? (5)
ACCRA *
Accra is the definition (it is the capital of Ghana), with in as a hidden word clue that something is hidden in Joan of (Arc ca)sually, but also backwards because of returned
4d Invisible nun wandering around diocese (6)
UNSEEN
Invisible is the definition, with around being an indicator that a word for diocese is contained in an anagram (because of wandering) of nun, so: UN(SEE)N
5d Song arranged by Carlo (5)
CAROL
Song is the definition, with arranged by as an anagram indicator for Carlo
6d Did save, somehow, as recommended (7)
ADVISED
Recommended is the definition, with somehow as an anagram indicator for did save
7d They wriggle in a creel sometimes (4)
EELS
They wriggle is the definition, with in a as a hidden word indicator for cr(eel s)sometimes
8d Pet for Dorset leader in Dorset resort (6)
POODLE
Pet is the definition, with in as an indicator that the first letter of Dorset (Dorset leader) should go into a word for a Dorset resort (Poole, a large coastal town in Dorset), so: POO(D)LE
13d Ladies to gather round, being cut off (8)
ISOLATED
Being cut off is the definition, with gather round as an anagram indicator for ladies to
15d Showing taste in unusual material (7)
SATINET *
Material is the definition, with unusual as an anagram indicator for taste in
17d Someone who carries drink? (6)
PORTER
Double definition, with porter being a type of drink and someone who carries stuff
18d Jill’s partner gets alien garment (6)
JACKET
Garment is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: JACK (Jill's partner) + ET (alien)
20d A payment for a coral island (5)
ATOLL
Coral island is the definition with the rest being a charades clue: A + TOLL (payment)
22d Geoff’s beginning to wander in a small wood (5)
GROVE
Small wood is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: G (Geoff's beginning, or the first letter of Geoff) + ROVE (wander)
23d The first man a woman married (4)
ADAM
The first man is a definition, with the rest being a charades clue: ADA (a woman‘s name) + M (a bits and pieces clue for married)