Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-02-05 (24/24)
Still trying to understand these clues:
12d – Journalist about to have a drink (8)— got it!- 20d – Queen of Carthage swindled by love (4)
The clues:
1a – Forgiveness for a second-rate answer (10)
ABSOLUTION
Forgiveness is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + B (second rate) + SOLUTION (answer)
7a – Al cries out for cakes (7)
ECLAIRS
Cakes is the definition, with out as an anagram indicator for Al cries
8a – It revolves either way (5)
ROTOR
It revolves is the definition, with either way as an indicator that it is a palidrome
10a – The language of Somerset? (4)
ERSE
The language is the definition, with of as an indicator that it is contained in Som(erse)t
11a – Greater than zero? Sure! (8)
Positive
Double definition, with positive meaning greater than zero, and Sure! being a positive response
13a – Fidget terribly, being talented (6)
GIFTED
Talented is the definition, with terribly as an anagram indicator for fidget
15a – Managed to get some – but not all – money paid to kidnappers (6)
RANSOM
Money paid to kidnappers is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAN (managed) + SOM (some, but not all of the letters in it)
17a – Drug found on Arctic trip (8)
NARCOTIC
Drug is the definition, with trip as an anagram indicator for on Arctic
18a – Group of soldiers from the United Nations coming to city centre (4)
UNIT
Group of soldiers is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: UN (United Nations) + IT (city centre, or the middle two letters of city)
21a – Begin to jump when surprised? (5)
START
Double definition, with start meaning both begin and jump when surprised
22a – It’s daft, it’s obvious that it’s crazy, initially (7)
IDIOTIC
It's daft is the definition, with initially as an indicator to take the first letter of each word in the rest of the clue
23a – Shot source providing footwear – suitable for use at Wimbledon? (5,5)
COURT SHOES
Footwear - suitable for use at Wimbledon is the (cryptic) definition, with providing as an anagram indicator for shot source
1d – A sailor turned up for a book of maps (5)
ATLAS
Book of maps is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + TLAS (turned up is a reversal indicator for a word for sailor, SALT)
2d – Hide southern family (4)
SKIN
Hide is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (bits and pieces clue for Southern) + KIN (family)
3d – More off for instruction? (6)
LESSON
Instruction is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: more off = less on
4d – End of new tramline? (8)
TERMINAL
End is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for tramline
5d – Gets boats in trouble (7)
OBTAINS
Gets is the definition, with trouble as an anagram indicator for boats in
6d – Cleaners frighten off toffs (10)
DETERGENTS
Cleaners is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DETER (frighten off) + GENTS (toffs)
9d – Muscular pain – ham cures it, perhaps (10)
RHEUMATICS
Muscular pain is the definition, with perhaps as an anagram indicator for ham cures it
12d – Journalist about to have a drink (8)
REPORTER
Journalist is the definition, and the rest is a charades clue: RE (about) + PORTER (drink)
14d – Hotchpotch makes fag roar (7)
FERRAGO
Hotchpotch is the definition (apparently) with makes as an anagram indicator for fag roar
16d – Iris turns on American star (6)
SIRIUS
Star is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SIRI (turns is a reversal indicator for Iris) + US (American)
19d – Paper money produced by musician (5)
NOTES
Double definition, with notes being a name for paper money and also something produced by musician
20d – Queen of Carthage swindled by love (4)
DIDO
Queen of Carthage is the definition, but what’s the wordplay? Something to do with I DO?