Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-07-12 (27/28)
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The clues:
1a – Graduate following copper in island (4)
CUBA
Island is the definition, with following as an indicator that BA (graduate, bachelors of arts) comes after CU (chemical symbol for copper): CU+BA
3a – Seaman with girl left rum (8)
ABNORMAL
Rum is the definition (old slang, as in she’s a rum one, and no mistake) with the rest as a charades clue: AB (abbreviation for able seaman, a naval rating) + NORMA (girl‘s name) + L (abbreviation for left)
9a – Demonstrate brother coming back for saw (7)
PROVERB
Saw is the definition (as in that old saw), with the rest as a charades clue: PROVE (demonstrate) + RB (coming back is a reversal indicator for BR, an abbreviation of the vocational title brother)
10a – Grub of a popular variety (5)
LARVA
Grub is the definition, with of as a hidden word indicator for popu(lar va)riety
11a – A chap with millions in capital (5)
AMMAN
Capital is the definition (Amman is the capital of Jordan), with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + M(M)AN (in is an indicator that M (abbreviation for millions) goes into MAN (chap))
12a – Decree in road construction (6)
ORDAIN
Decree is the definition, with construction as an anagram indicator for in road
14a – Spice girl following eccentric (6)
NUTMEG
Spice is the definition, with following as an indicator that MEG (girl‘s name) goes after NUT (eccentric, yikes)
16a – Director’s call for battle (6)
ACTION
Double definition, with action being a director’s call (“lights, camera, action!”) and also a battle
19a – Trial involved old part of Venice (6)
RIALTO
Part of Venice is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RIALT (involved is an anagram indicator for trial) + O (abbreviation for old)
21a – Don’t go to restaurant – epicure’s opening a can (3,2)
EAT IN
Don't go to restaurant is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: E (epicure's opening, first letter of epicure) + A (a) + TIN (can)
24a – Awry, like part of London (5)
ASKEW
Awry is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AS (like) + KEW (part of London)
25a – Insects on a vegetable, not so short (7)
BEETLES
Insects is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BEET (vegetable) + LES (short is a subtraction indicator, removing the last letter from LESS (short))
26a – Terribly neat Tory lawyer (8)
ATTORNEY
Lawyer is the definition, with terribly as an anagram indicator for neat Tory
27a – Farm building, apart from narrow opening (4)
BARN
Farm building is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BAR (apart from) + N (narrow opening, first letter of narrow)
1d – Officers in Spain act oddly (8)
CAPTAINS
Officers is the definition, with oddly as an anagram indicator for Spain act
2d – Cleaner making loud noise? That’s about right (5)
BROOM
Cleaner is the definition, with about as an indicator that R (abbreviation for right) goes into BOOM (loud noise): B(R)OOM
4d – Primate giving bishop a blessing (6)
BABOON
Primate is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: B (abbreviation for bishop) + A (a) + BOON (blessing)
5d – Abandoned lodge regarded with desire (5)
OGLED
Regarded with desire is the definition, with abandoned as an anagram indicator for lodge
6d – Name of chap with one drink (7)
MARTINI
Drink is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MARTIN (name of chap) + I (looks like a one)
7d – Shakespearean king left listener (4)
LEAR
Shakespearean king is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: L (abbreviation for left) + EAR (listener, cryptic definition because your ear listens)
8d – Making a scene, in which spirits might be produced (6)
SEANCE
The whole clue is the definition (&lit) with making as an anagram indicator for a scene
13d – One sister, one child — as one (2,6)
IN UNISON
As one is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + NUN (sister) + I (looks like a one) + SON (child)
15d – Stupid alien found in underbrush (7)
THICKET
Underbrush is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: THICK (stupid) + ET (alien, abbreviation for extra-terrestrial)
17d – Chlorine’s always sharp (6)
CLEVER
Sharp is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CL (chemical symbol for chlorine) + EVER (always)
18d – Sound made by turkey or wolf (6)
GOBBLE
Double definition, with gobble being the sound made by a turkey and also a synonym for wolf (as in wolf down your food)
20d – Inferior cow? (5)
LOWER
Inferior is the definition; lower is also a cryptic definition for cow (since cows low)
22d – A loose woman rising in US city (5)
TULSA
US city is the definition (Tulsa, Oklahoma), with rising as a reversal indicator on a charades clue: A (a) + SLUT (loose woman, YIKES)
23d – Twice per annum father is seen (4)
PAPA
Father is the definition, with twice as an indicator to repeat PA (per annum) twice