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 u
niversal m
aterial)
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 c
ross a
r
iver