Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-01-21 (26/26)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – They are cold-blooded and calculating! (6)
ADDERS
Double definition; adders (snakes) are cold-blooded, and adding is a type of calculating
4a – Boats made of sticks, with nothing inside (6)
CANOES
Boats is the definition, with inside as an indicator that O (which looks like zero, or nothing) should be put into a word for sticks (CANES): CAN(O)ES
8a – Conclusive evidence of strength of liquor (5)
PROOF
Double definition, with proof meaning both conclusive evidence and strength of liquor
9a – Stories supplied if tonic is ordered (7)
FICTION
Stories is the definition, with ordered as an anagram indicator for if tonic
10a – A month with a girl (7)
AUGUSTA
Girl is the definition (Augusta is a girl‘s name) with the rest as a charades clue: AUGUST + A
11a – Is little Susan having children? (5)
ISSUE
Children is the definition (issue meaning progeny), with the rest as a charades clue: IS (is) + SUE (little Susan)
12a – Very many of you on the beach? (9)
THOUSANDS
Very many is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: THOU (you) + SANDS (on the beach)
17a – Check the accounts of German car trader first (5)
AUDIT
Check the accounts is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AUDI (German car) + T (bits and pieces clue for trader)
19a – Further loan (7)
ADVANCE
Double definition, with advance meaning both further and loan
21a – Diminish as a result of docking? (4,3)
TAIL OFF
Ugh. Diminish is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: the result of docking is that a dog’s tail is off 🙁
22a – French city scroll, illegible in part (5)
LILLE
French city is the definition, with in part as a hidden word indicator for scrol(l ille)gible
23a – The flavour of mackerel is horrible (6)
RELISH
Flavour is the definition, with of as a hidden word indicator for macke(rel is h)orrible
24a – Old girl often in distress? (6)
DAMSEL
Double definition, with a damsel being a woman (an old girl) and also often in distress in stories
1d – Be seen to edit a paper (6)
APPEAR
Be seen is the definition, with edit as an anagram indicator for a paper
2d – Doctor should see dry condition (7)
DROUGHT
Dry condition is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DR (doctor) + OUGHT (should)
3d – First breaks, then splits! (5)
RIFTS
Splits is the definition, with breaks as an anagram indicator for first
5d – Lots for sale here (7)
AUCTION
Cryptic definition; things at an auction are sold in lots
6d – Terribly moist leaves out! (5)
OMITS
Leaves out is the definition, with terribly as an anagram indicator for moist
7d – It has around ten numbers and fourteen lines (6)
SONNET
Fourteen lines is the definition, with around as a reversal indicator for a charades clue: TEN (ten) + NOS (numbers)
9d – Standard-bearer taking stones to Welsh river (9)
FLAGSTAFF
Standard-bearer is the definition (kind of a cryptic definition; it holds a flag), with the rest as a charades clue: FLAGS (stones, like flagstones) + TAFF (Welsh river)
13d – Work is not about making choices (7)
OPTIONS
Choices is the definition, with about the rest as a charades clue: OP (work, as in opus) + TIONS (about is an anagram indicator for is not)
14d – Carol and Leslie – they aren’t married (7)
SINGLES
They aren't married is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SING (carol, like the christmas song) + LES (Leslie)
15d – Transporter for former US president (6)
CARTER
Double definition, with Carter being a former US president, and also somebody who transports things with a cart
16d – Make merry, taking in a show (6)
REVEAL
Show is the definition, with taking in as an indicator that A should go into a word for make merry (REVEL): REVE(A)L
18d – Exercise makes doctor unwell (5)
DRILL
Exercise is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DR (doctor) + ILL (unwell)
20d – Residence in which all four turn up (5)
VILLA
Residence is the definition, with turn up as a reversal indicator for the charades clue: ALL (all) + IV (roman numeral for four)