Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-07-17 (24/24)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – Newly-wed holding flower in restaurant (5,4)
GRILL ROOM
Restaurant is the definition, with holding as an indicator that RILL (flower) goes into GROOM (newly-wed): G(RILL)ROOM
8a – Left port, carrying full cargo (5)
LADEN
Carrying full cargo is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: L (abbreviation for left) + ADEN (a port city)
9a – Male in lather replaced such underwear? (7)
THERMAL
Underwear is the definition, with in as an indicator that M (abbreviation for male) goes into an anagram (indicated by replace) for lather: THER(M)AL
10a – Sportsmen who are paid for writing? Not quite (4)
PROS
Sportsmen who are paid is the definition, with not quite as an indicator to subtract the last letter from PROSE (writing)
11a – A lean cop busted a notorious gangster (2,6)
AL CAPONE
Notorious gangster is the definition, with busted as an anagram indicator for a lean cop
13a – Bonuses for actors in crowd scenes (6)
EXTRAS
Double definition, with extras being actors in crowd scenes, and bonuses being extras
14a – Audible river quarter (6)
FOURTH
Quarter is the definition (one quarter is one-fourth of something) with audible as a homophone indicator for FORTH (a river, the River Forth in Scotland)
17a – An instrument Edward desecrated (8)
VIOLATED
Desecrated is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: VIOLA (instrument) + TED (nickname for Edward)
19a – Security group getting nothing for so long (4)
CIAO
So long is the definition (“so long!” being a similar greeting), with the rest as a charades clue: CIA (security group) + O (nothing, looks like a zero)
21a – Fruit that makes dog rave (7)
CURRANT
Fruit is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CUR (dog) + RANT (rave)
22a – Move the work period (5)
SHIFT
Double definition, with shift meaning move, and also meaning work period
23a – Birds a sailor throws around (9)
STARLINGS
Birds is the definition, with around as an indicator that TAR (sailor) goes into SLINGS (throws): S(TAR)LINGS
2d – Old soldier – or cadet being trained (7)
REDCOAT
Old soldier is the definition, with trained as an anagram indicator for or cadet
3d – Pole gets allowed outside some time before Easter (4)
LENT
Time before Easter is the definition, with outside as an indicator that LET (allowed) contains N (abbreviation for the north pole): LE(N)T
4d – Disconcert rodent with title it lost (6)
RATTLE
Disconcert is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAT (rodent) + TLE (lost is an indicator to subtract IT from TITLE)
5d – Surgeon who’s on the switchboard? (8)
OPERATOR
On the switchboard is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; a surgeon is one who operates
6d – Magazine articles held by William Morris (4)
AMMO
Magazine articles is a cryptic definition (ammo is in a magazine) with held by as a hidden word indicator for Willi(am Mo)rris
7d – Bird table – or hut that’s rebuilt (10)
BLUETHROAT
Bird is the definition, with rebuilt as an anagram indicator for table or hut
8d – Insincere support provided by civil peers (3,7)
LIP SERVICE
Insincere support is the definition, with provided by as an anagram indicator for civil peers
12d – Falls that can impair one’s vision (8)
CATARACTS
Double definition; cataracts can impair one's vision, and Cataract Falls is a waterfall in Indiana
15d – Cultivating fruit? Good! (7)
RAISING
Cultivating is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAISIN (fruit) + G (abbreviation for good)
16d – Epistle from landlord? (6)
LETTER
Epistle is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; a landlord is one who lets an apartment
18d – Monster one may read about in Mother Goose (4)
OGRE
Monster is the definition, with about as a reversal indicator for ERGO (in is a hidden word indicator for Moth(er Go)ose)
20d – Wine from the East Indies? (4)
ASTI
Wine is the definition, with from as a hidden word indicator for E(ast I)ndies