Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-01-17 (26/26)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- 5d – Joy ride? (9)
The clues:
1a – Writer says ties get knotted (8)
ESSAYIST
Writer is the definition, with get knotted as an anagram indicator for says ties
6a – Final goal? (3)
END
Double definition with end meaning both final and goal (as in, means to an end)
9a – Some regretful bird (5)
EGRET
Bird is the definition, with some as an indicator that it is contained in r(egret)ful
10a – Being afraid, shaking a finger (7)
FEARING
Being afraid is the definition, with shaking as an anagram indicator for a finger
11a – Midday, and horse is in shape (7)
NONAGON
Shape is the definition (a nonagon is a nine-sided shape), with in as an indicator that a word for horse (NAG) goes into a word for midday (NOON): NO(NAG)ON
13a – Mark isn’t a convert (5)
STAIN
Mark is the definition, with convert as an anagram indicator for isn't a
14a – An agreeable chap (3-3)
YES-MAN
Cryptic definition, a yes-man being somebody who agrees
15a – Someone who carries drink? (6)
PORTER
Double definition, with porter being someone who carries and a type of drink
18a – A composer overdid the central section (5)
VERDI
Composer is the definition, with the central section as an indicator that it is in the middle of o(verdi)d
20a – Pariah is not in shed (7)
OUTCAST
Pariah is the definition with the rest as a charades clue: OUT (not in) + CAST (shed, like cast off)
21a – Literary work, after only half a month, upset everyone (7)
NOVELLA
Literary work is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: NOVE (half a month, half of the word November) + LLA (upset everyone, the word all backwards)
22a – Scottish child – one in farm building (5)
BAIRN
Scottish child is the definition, with in as an indicator that I (which looks like a one) goes into a word for farm building (barn): BA(I)RN
23a – Melody in the atmosphere (3)
AIR
Double definition, with air meaning both melody and what is in the atmosphere
24a – One gate’s damaged – but that was a long time ago (5,3)
STONE AGE
A long time ago is the definition, with damaged is an anagram indicator for one gate's
2d – Contracts for psychiatrists? (7)
SHRINKS
Double definition, with shrinks meaning contracts (like materials shrinking) and being slang for psychiatrists
3d – A New Testament insect (3)
ANT
Insect is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + NT (bits and pieces clue for New Testament)
4d – Small child taking railway from foot-soldiers (6)
INFANT
Small child is the definition, with taking away as a subtraction indicator for removing RY (bits and pieces indicator for railway) from INFANTRY (foot-soldiers)
5d – Joy ride? (9)
TRANSPORT
??
6d – I care about Heather (5)
ERICA
Heather is the definition (heather is a common name for erica plants) with about as an anagram indicator for I care
7d – Getting worse and needing great reform (12)
DEGENERATING
Getting worse is the definition with reform as an anagram indicator for needing great
8d – Pa expanded (12)
PENNSYLVANIA
Cryptic definition – PA is the postal abbreviation for Pennsylvania
12d – A flower pleased Louis, perhaps (9)
GLADIOLUS
Flower is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: GLAD (pleased) + IOLUS (perhaps is an anagram indicator for Louis)
16d – Ripping bits of granite (7)
TEARING
Ripping is the definition with bits of as an anagram indicator for granite
17d – Fruit excessively dull inside (6)
TOMATO
Fruit is the definition with inside as an indicator that a word for dull (mat, as giving a matte appearance to something) goes into a word for excessively (too): TO(MAT)O
19d – Wanderer finally finished being a wanderer (5)
ROVER
Wanderer (at the end of the clue) is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: R (wanderer finally, or the last letter of wanderer) + OVER (finished)
22d – Busy buzzer (3)
BEE
Cryptic definition; a bee is busy and buzzes