Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-05 (24/24)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – Seldom glad about first prizes (4,6)
GOLD MEDALS
First prizes is the definition, with about as an anagram indicator for seldom glad
7a – Delays upset traders (7)
RETARDS
Delays is the definition, with upsets as an anagram indicator for traders
8a – Anger in fashion? (4)
RAGE
Double definition, with rage meaning anger and also in fashion (like all the rage)
10a – Bird seen before circling north (4)
ERNE
Bird is the definition, with circling as an indicator that N (abbreviation for North) goes into ERE (before), resulting in ER(N)E
11a – Left at home to occupy a sibling (8)
SINISTER
Left is the definition, with occupy as an indicator that IN (at home) goes into SISTER (sibling), resulting in S(IN)ISTER
13a – Fixed form of denial (6)
NAILED
Fixed is the definition, with form as an anagram indicator for denial
15a – Look for arches in need of repair (6)
SEARCH
Look for is the definition, with in need of repair as an anagram indicator for arches
17a – A sort of train carrying American or European (8)
AUSTRIAN
European is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A + USTRIAN (carrying is an indicator that US goes into TRIAN, with sort as an anagram indicator for train). I think this one might have been tidier as “Sort of a train carrying…” so that sort could apply to a train, and US would go into that rather than just in front of it.
18a – Fools go backwards in health resorts (4)
SPAS
Health resorts is the definition, with backwards as a reversal indicator for SAPS (fools)
21a – Got up to see a flower (4)
ROSE
Double definition, with rose meaning got up and also being a kind of flower
22a – Dismiss someone who takes your money? (7)
CASHIER
Double definition, with cashier being someone who takes your money, but also meaning dismiss
23a – Remember an imaginary animal? (4,2,4)
BEAR IN MIND
Remember is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; an imaginary animal could be a bear in (your) mind
1d – Make progress, starting Greek at school (3,2)
GET ON
Make progress is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: G (starting Greek, first letter of Greek) + ETON (Eton College, a public school)
2d – Instrument required by Simply Red (4)
LYRE
Instrument is the definition, with required as a hidden word indicator for Simp(ly Re)d
3d – Resin reponsible for mother’s nervous condition? (6)
MASTIC
Resin is the definition (mastic is a resin, and an early chewing gum), with the rest as a cryptic definition: mother's nervous condition could be MA'S TIC
4d – It may be deadlier off the tracks (8)
DERAILED
Off the tracks is the definition, with it may be as an anagram indicator for deadlier
5d – Less of a burden than a box of matches? (7)
LIGHTER
Double definition, with lighter meaning less of a burden to carry, and a box of matches being something you could use to light something (a lighter)
6d – Nine failed in test occurring every third year (9)
TRIENNIAL
Occurring every third year is the definition, with in as an indicator that IENN (failed is an anagram indicator for nine) goes into TRIAL (test), resulting in TR(IENN)IAL
9d – Short race arranged for musicians (9)
ORCHESTRA
Musicians is the definition, with arranged as an anagram indicator for short race
12d – Words of condolence may be expensive, darling (4,4)
DEAR DEAR
Words of condolence is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DEAR (expensive) + DEAR (darling)
14d – Wild rhinos and elephants first seen near the coast (7)
INSHORE
Near the coast is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: INSHOR (wild is an anagram indicator for rhinos) + E (elephants first, first letter of elephant)
16d – Dance with two tins (6)
CANCAN
Dance is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CAN + CAN (two tins)
19d – Lions, we hear, were nosy (5)
PRIED
Were nosy is the definition, with we hear as a homophone indicator for PRIDE (lions). PRIDE would have also been a fine answer, with similar logic
20d – Wine from Hastings (4)
ASTI
Wine is the definition (Asti is a wine), with from as a hidden word indicator for H(asti)ngs