Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-02-21 (25/26)
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The clues:
1a – A couple of pence soothes and pacifies (8)
APPEASES
Pacifies is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + PP (P is a bits and pieces clue for pence, and there are a couple of them) + EASES (soothes)
6a – Greek god – of use in the kitchen (3)
PAN
Double definition, with Pan being the name of a Greek god, and a pan being of use in the kitchen
9a – Stone and silver devoured (5)
AGATE
Stone is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AG (chemical symbol for silver) + ATE (devoured)
10a – More willing to pass over and back out? (7)
READIER
More willing is the definition, with out as an indicator that DIE (pass over) goes into REAR (back): REA(DIE)R
11a – Performer taking part when taking part is tedious (7)
ARTISTE
Performer is the definition, with the first part as a hidden word indicator for taking p(art is te)dious
13a – Spare one of the crowd (5)
EXTRA
Double definition, with extra meaning spare, and an extra being an actor playing one of the crowd
14a – Two cats in a drum? (3-3)
TOM-TOM
Drum is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TOM (cat) + TOM (second cat)
15a – Conflict observed in a European capital (6)
WARSAW
European capital is the definition (capital of Poland), with the rest as a charades clue: WAR (conflict) + SAW (observed)
18a – Some lover totally unconcealed (5)
OVERT
Unconcealed is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for l(over t)otally
20a – She might have a part in current Hair production (7)
ACTRESS
She might have a part is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AC (like A/C current) + TRESS (a lock of hair)
21a – It’s nonsense making a pig clean (7)
HOGWASH
Nonsense is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HOG (pig) + WASH (clean)
22a – Trunk or tangled roots (5)
TORSO
Trunk is the definition, with tangled as an anagram indicator for roots
23a – Is able to provide a container (3)
CAN
Double definition, with can being a type of container and also meaning is able
24a – Drink or meal done badly (8)
LEMONADE
Drink is the definition, with badly as an anagram indicator for meal done
2d – Ghost seen in Hampton maze (7)
PHANTOM
Ghost is the definition, with maze as an anagram indicator for Hampton
3d – A seer I heard (3)
EYE
Seer is the cryptic definition (an eye sees, so it is a seer), with heard as a homophone indicator for I
4d – County with a fringe on top? (6)
SURREY
Double definition, with Surrey being a county in South East England, but also a carriage featured in a song from Oklahoma! (Surrey with a Fringe On Top)
5d – Replacement for paper star (5,4)
SPARE PART
Replacement is the definition, with for (or maybe replacement for?) as an anagram indicator for paper star
6d – Indicate the precise moment (5)
POINT
Double definition, with point meaning both indicate and a precise moment
7d – Comedian displaying French shrewdness? (6,6)
NORMAN WISDOM
Comedian is the definition (Norman Wisdom was an English actor and comedian), with the rest as a charades clue: NORMAN (French) + WISDOM (shrewdness)
8d – Chaotic parts may be disastrous (12)
CATASTROPHIC
Disastrous is the definition, with may be as an anagram indicator for chaotic parts
12d – Something lacking in brief season in America (9)
SHORTFALL
Something lacking is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SHORT (brief) + FALL (season in America; autumn is the more common name for the season in the UK)
16d – Was fast listener held transfixed? (7)
SPEARED
Transfixed is the definition, with held as an indicator that EAR (listener) goes into SPED (was fast): SP(EAR)ED
17d – Comprehend six feet (6)
FATHOM
Double definition, with fathom meaning comprehend and also being a unit of measure (six feet)
19d – Marbles man – Nigel, possibly (5)
ELGIN *
Marbles man is the definition, with possibly as an anagram indicator for Nigel
22d – One gets nothing for it (3)
TEN
Cryptic definition; the string for the number ten (10) is made up of 1 (one) and 0 (nothing)