Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-02-11 (24/24)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- 22a – Dropped in on Italian film director (7)
The clues:
1a – Informal neckwear injured people (10)
CASUALTIES
Injured people is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CASUAL (informal) + TIES (neckwear)
7a – Unmarried people taking some kissing lessons? (7)
SINGLES
Unmarried people is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for kis(sing les)sons
8a – Climbed a pole to see flowers? (5)
ROSES
Flowers is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ROSE (climbed) + S (a bits and pieces clue for pole, like South pole)
10a – Something used by angler for river fish? (4)
REEL
Something used by angler is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: R (bits and pieces clue for river) + EEL (fish)
11a – Footwear for coaches (8)
TRAINERS
Double definition, with trainers meaning coaches and also being a type of footwear
13a – They tend to be in hospital! (6)
NURSES
Double definition; nurses tend people and do so in the hospital
15a – Dreamy state produced by nectar (6)
TRANCE
Dreamy state is the definition, with produced by as an anagram indicator for nectar
17a – Attractive trap in sorcery (8)
MAGNETIC
Attractive is the definition, with in as an indicator that NET (trap) goes into a word for sorcery (MAGIC): MAG(NET)IC
18a – Only turning to one instrument (4)
TUBA
Instrument is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TUB (turning is a reversal indicator for BUT, meaning only) + A (one)
21a – I take ladders out from wrecks (5)
RUINS
Wrecks is the definition, with out as an indicator that I (I) should go into RUNS (ladder is a British term for a run in a stocking): RU(I)NS
22a – Dropped in on Italian film director (7)
FELLINI
(Italian?) film director is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FELL (dropped) + IN (in) + I (is this a bits and pieces clue for Italian?)
23a – Terrible hag snorted, being wilful (10)
HEADSTRONG
Wilful is the definition, with terrible as an anagram indicator for hag snorted
1d – Boat capsized in ocean (5)
CANOE
Boat is the definition, with capsized as an anagram indicator for ocean
2d – Condiment for Jack Tar (4)
SALT
Double definition, with salt being a condiment and also another word for sailor (like Jack Tar)
3d – Take in topless cab before brothers turn up (6)
ABSORB
Take in is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AB (topless cab, or cab with the first letter removed) + SORB (turn up is a reversal indicator for BROS)
4d – Rows about stray dogs (8)
TERRIERS
Dogs is the definition, with about as an indicator that ERR (stray) goes into TIERS (rows): T(ERR)IERS
5d – Oriental festival on the first of November (7)
EASTERN
Oriental is the definition (yikes), with the rest as a charades clue: EASTER (festival) + N (first of November, meaning the first letter of November)
6d – Terrible monster or a scientist (10)
ASTRONOMER
Scientist is the definition, with terrible as an anagram indicator for monster or a
9d – Orderly sorting out messy attic (10)
SYSTEMATIC
Orderly is the definition, with sorting out as an anagram indicator for messy attic
12d – Free to be let out again? (8)
RELEASED
Free is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; RE-LEASED (let out again)
14d – Maigret’s sort of music? (7)
RAGTIME
Music is the definition, with sort as an anagram indicator for Maigret's
16d – 1000 is suitable for a square peg (6)
MISFIT
Square peg is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: M (Roman numeral for 1000) + IS (is) + FIT (suitable)
19d – Availing oneself of gun is wrong (5)
USING
Availing oneself is the definition, with wrong as an anagram indicator for gun is
20d – In feudal society as well (4)
ALSO
As well is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for feud(al so)ciety