Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2019-11-02 (25/26)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- 15a – Start to show to advantage (3,3)
The clues:
1a – Follower putting record on new pile (8)
DISCIPLE
Follower is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DISC (record) + IPLE (new is an anagram indicator for pile)
6a – Dine in The Athenaeum (3)
EAT
Dine is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for Th(e At)henaeum
9a – Fibre from old ropes – or wood – universal material’s origin (5)
OAKUM
Fibre from old ropes is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: OAK (wood) + UM (universal material's origin; the first letters of universal material)
10a – A symbol of authority must involve respect (7)
SCEPTRE
Symbol of authority is the definition, with involve as an anagram indicator on respect
11a – Attempt to get placed in field event (4,3)
SHOT PUT
Field event is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SHOT (taking a shot is making an attempt) + PUT (placed)
13a – Woman’s mealtime prayer (5)
GRACE
Double definition, with Grace being a woman‘s name and also a mealtime prayer
14a – Chaperone expected girl back (6)
DUENNA
Chaperone is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DUE (expected) + NNA (girl back, Ann backwards)
15a – Start to show to advantage (3,3)
SET OFF
Start is a definition, but what is the wordplay?
18a – Alter dance again? (5)
REJIG
Alter is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition (do a jig again)
20a – Fir cone might come from this sort of tree (7)
CONIFER
Sort of tree is the definition, with might come from as an anagram indicator for fir cone
21a – Two beastly males providing stiff fabric (7)
BUCKRAM
Stiff fabric is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BUCK (male deer) + RAM (male sheep)
22a – A board game for you and your mates? (5)
CHESS
Cryptic definition; chess is a board game with (check)mates
23a – Affirmative start to yesterday (3)
YES
Affirmative is the definition, with start as an indicator to take the first letters of yesterday
24a – Building material for start of construction on Greek island (8)
CONCRETE
Building material is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CON (start of the word construction) + CRETE (Greek island)
2d – Tedious smoker I put out (7)
IRKSOME
Tedious is the definition with put out as an anagram indicator for smoker I
3d – Coat turning up in river (3)
CAM
River is the definition (Cam is a river in England), with turning up as an indicator that MAC (a type of coat) should be backwards
4d – See Pat exchanging foreign currency (6)
PESETA
Foreign currency is the definition, with exchanging as an anagram indicator for see Pat
5d – Holly, perhaps, always caring for the environment (9)
EVERGREEN
Holly (a type of evergreen) is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: EVER (always) + GREEN (caring for the environment)
6d – Out of context, rather more (5)
EXTRA
Double definition, with extra meaning out of context (as in extra-terrestrial) and more
7d – Trees oft hewn in Hants? (3,3,6)
THE NEW FOREST *
In Hants is the definition (it is a national park in Hampshire), with in as a pretty weak anagram indicator for trees oft hewn
8d – Have boys in cradle changed much? (12)
CONSIDERABLY
Much is the definition, with changed as an anagram indicator for boys in cradle
12d – Eulogy upsetting gay prince (9)
PANEGYRIC
Eulogy is the definition, with upsetting as an anagram indicator for gay prince
16d – Unconventional – like retired policeman? (7)
OFFBEAT
Unconventional is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: a retired policeman is off his beat
17d – Man with cue, getting break, displays keen perception (6)
ACUMEN
Keen perception is the definition, with getting break as an anagram indicator for man cue
19d – Devices for lifting cards? (5)
JACKS
Double definition, with jacks being cards (the value above ten) and also devices for lifting
22d – Vehicle beginning to cross a river (3)
CAR
Vehicle is the definition with beginning as an indicator that you should take the first letters of the words cross a river