Categories
Solutions

Easy Cryptic Crossword 2020-01-01

Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles, 2020-01-01 (19/28)

Still trying to understand these clues:

  • 2d – Mormon’s end by salt lake (4) — got it!
  • 14d – Page bound to be easily bent (7) — got it!

The clues:

1a Being there, have a ball a couple of hours before midnight (10)

show answer
ATTENDANCE

Being there is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: AT TEN (a few hours before midnight) + DANCE (have a ball)

7a Braille translation for a politician (7)

show answer
LIBERAL

Politician is the definition, with translation as an anagram indicator for braille

8a Name of man responsible for seaside structures (5)

show answer
PIERS

Double definition, with piers being both a man's name and a type of seaside structures.

My first guess was another double definition: CLIFF

10a Short dog with a little tail (4)

show answer
CURT *

Short is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: CUR (dog) + T (a little bit of the word tail)

11a Two instruments for sailors’ dance (8)

show answer
HORNPIPE

Sailors' dance is the definition, with the rest being sort of a charades clue: HORN (instrument) + PIPE (another instrument)

13a Poor sample of trees (6)

show answer
MAPLES

Trees is the definition, with poor as an anagram indicator for sample

15a Cleryman moved diagonally (6)

show answer
BISHOP *

Double definition with bishop being a clergyman (typo?) and also a chess piece that moves diagonally

17a After restraint certain to get cover again

show answer
REINSURE

Cover again is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: REIN (restraint) + SURE (certain)

18a Chief supporter (4)

show answer
ARCH

Double definition with arch meaning chief (like arch-enemy) and supporter (the structure)

21a Stroll round Minehead, having the power (5)

show answer
AMBLE

Stroll is the definition, with round as an indicator that M (Minehead, the first letter of mine) should go into a word for having the power (ABLE)

22a Disturbance resolved in court (7)

show answer
RUCTION *

Disturbance is the definition, with resolved as an anagram indicator for in court

23a The dogs ran wild, being wilful (10)

show answer
HEADSTRONG

Being wilful is the definition, with wild as an anagram indicator on the dogs ran

1d The colour of fresh bream (5)

show answer
AMBER

Colour is the definition, with fresh as an anagram indicator for bream

2d Mormon’s end by salt lake (4)

show answer
TARN *

Lake is the definition (A tarn is a mountain lake, pond or pool, formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier), with the rest being a charades clue: TAR (this word and salt are both slang for sailor) + N (Mormon's end, or the last letter of Mormon)

3d The naval hero is in the hold (6)

show answer
NELSON *

Double definition, with Nelson being both a naval hero (Horatio Nelson), and a wrestling hold

4d Part of book taken out in theatre!

show answer
APPENDIX

Double definition, with an appendix being both part of a book, and something you get taken out in an (operating) theatre

5d Care for teachers is head’s part (7)

show answer
CHERISH

Care for is the definition, with part as a hidden word indicator on tea(cher is h)ead (typo?)

6d Girl going by jet or prison van (5,5)

show answer
BLACK MARIA *

Prison van is the definition (though I had never heard a police van called a “Black Maria“, pronounced ma-RY-ah), with the rest as a charades clue: BLACK (jet, as in jet black) + girl (Maria), maybe with going by as an indicator that the clue for girl is after the one for jet

9d Knot for fastening a leg of mutton (10)

show answer
SHEEPSHANK

Knot is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: SHEEP (mutton) + SHANK (leg)

12d After bad scare finish climb again (8)

show answer
REASCEND

Climb again is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: REASC (bad is an anagram indicator for SCARE) + END (finish)

14d Page bound to be easily bent (7)

show answer
PLIABLE *

Easily bent is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: P (a bits and pieces clue for page) + LIABLE (bound to be)

16d Conservative upset by doctor’s decay (3-3)

show answer
DRY-ROT *

Decay is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: DR (a bits and pieces clue for doctor) + YROT (upset is a reversal indicator for a word for conservative, Tory)

19d Being sorry, destroy force (5)

show answer
RUING

Being sorry is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: RUIN (destroy) + G (bits and pieces indicator for force)

20d Repeat what is said in the newspaper (4)

show answer
ECHO *

Double definition, with echo meaning repeat what is said but also being the title of many newspapers