Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2019-11-04 (23/24)
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The clues:
1a – Prophet going round S. American city for insects (10)
MOSQUITOES
Insects is the definition, with going around as an indicator that QUITO (a South American city) should be put into the name of a prophet (MOSES): MOS(QUITO)ES
7a – Al has left one country for another (7)
AUSTRIA
Another (country) is the definition, with left as an indicator that Al should be subtracted from the name of another country: AUSTR(AL)IA
8a – String of islands off China? (5)
CHAIN
String of islands is the definition, with off as an anagram indicator for China
10a – Hearing vowels in comfort (4)
EASE
Comfort is the definition, with hearing as a homophone indicator for vowels (E's)
11a – Having a banquet? Order neat figs! (8)
FEASTING
Having a banquet is the definition, with order as an anagram indicator for neat figs
13a – Catty in a doggy way? (6)
BITCHY
Catty is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition
15a – Heartless Tennyson’s new poem (6)
SONNET
Poem is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for TENSON (heartless Tennyson, or Tennyson with middle letters removed)
17a – Presiding officer taking flier behind church (8)
CHAIRMAN
Presiding officer is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CH (church) + AIRMAN (flier, behind)
18a – Laundry used to be hot (4)
WASH
Laundry is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: WAS (used to be) + H (hot)
21a – One article is about a desert (5)
SINAI
Desert is the definition, with about as an anagram indicator for I (one) + AN (article) + IS (is)
22a – Resolute detectives in action (7)
DECIDED
Resolute is the definition, with in as an indicator that CID (detectives) should go into a word for action (DEED)
23a – Dear sir – big upset for officers (10)
BRIGADIERS
Officers is the definition, with upset as an anagram indicator for dear sir big
1d – They disguise king in multitude (5)
MASKS
They disguise is the definition, with in as an indicator that K (a bits and pieces clue for King) should go into a word for multitude (MASS)
2d – Tender god of love turns up (4)
SORE
Tender is the definition, with turns up as a reversal indicator on EROS (Greek god of love)
3d – American taking a long time in customs? (6)
USAGES
Customs is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: US (American) + AGES (a long time)
4d – Where schoolchildren bought food for friar’s dance? (4-4)
TUCK SHOP *
Where schoolchildren bought food is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TUCKS (friar's, as in Friar Tuck) + HOP (dance)
5d – Tail one wags in high spirits (7)
ELATION
High spirits is the definition, with wags as an anagram indicator for tail one
6d – Documents get returned in books (10)
PAPERBACKS
Books is the definition, with in as an indicator that BACK (returned) should go into a word for documents (PAPERS): PAPER(BACK)S
9d – Death’s nigh, perhaps – it may be deadly (10)
NIGHTSHADE
It may be deadly is the definition, with perhaps as an anagram indicator for death's nigh
12d – Delightful prince? (8)
CHARMING
Double definition, with charming meaning delightful and also being the name of a prince
14d – Rough terrain for coach (7)
TRAINER
Coach is the definition, with rough as an anagram indicator for terrain
16d – Frank or poor Dan locked up by police (6)
CANDID
Frank is the definition, with locked up by as an indicator that AND (poor is an anagram indicator for Dan) goes into a word for police (CID)
19d – Edna goes back to southern mountains (5)
ANDES
Mountains is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ANDE (goes back is a reversal indicator for Edna) + S (bits and pieces clue for Southern)
20d – Expert holding right amount of land (4)
ACRE
Amount of land is the definition, with holding as an indicator that R (bits and pieces clue for right) goes into a word for expert (ACE): AC(R)E