Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-06 (28/28)
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The clues:
1a – Don’t fail to find a way through the mountains (4)
PASS
Double definition, with pass meaning don't fail, and also being a way through the mountains
3a – A bad role turning out to be delightful (8)
ADORABLE
Delightful is the definition, with turning out as an anagram indicator for a bad role
9a – Poles in trouble with letter from Greece (7)
EPSILON
Letter from Greece is the definition, with trouble as an anagram indicator for poles in
10a – Stick duck in boat (5)
CANOE
Boat is the definition, with in as an indicator that O (duck, like a duck egg, a cricket term) goes into CANE (stick), resulting in CAN(O)E
11a – Partially decorates a long room (5)
SALON
Room is the definition, with partially as a hidden word indicator for decorate(s a lon)g
12a – Middleman insolvent by end of year (6)
BROKER
Middleman is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BROKE (insolvent) + R (end of year, last letter of year)
14a – French resort saint found most pleasing (6)
NICEST
Most pleasing is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: NICE (French resort) + ST (abbreviation for saint)
16a – Tool for carver or cheat (6)
CHISEL
Double definition, with a chisel being a tool for carver, but also a word for cheat (like to cheat someone out of something)
19a – Actors playing for Cuban leader (6)
CASTRO
Cuban leader is the definition, with playing as an anagram indicator for actors
21a – Row about head of ginger cat (5)
TIGER
Cat is the definition, with about as an indicator that G (head of ginger, first letter of ginger) goes into TIER (row), resulting in TI(G)ER
24a – A little radio signal saying farewell (5)
ADIOS
Farewell is the definition, with a little as a hidden word indicator for r(adio s)ignal
25a – Islanders can rest in resort (7)
CRETANS
Islanders is the definition, with resort as an anagram indicator for can rest
26a – Stones thrown by mere lads (8)
EMERALDS
Stones is the definition, with thrown as an anagram indicator for mere lads
27a – Some insane Roman emperor? (4)
NERO
This is an &lit clue; the whole clue is the definition, and some is a hidden word indicator for insa(ne Ro)man
1d – Nice entreaties by social worker (8)
PLEASANT
Nice is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PLEAS (entreaties) + ANT (social worker, ants are social creatures known for their hard work)
2d – Material for sails? (5)
SISAL
This is an &lit clue; the whole thing is the definition, and material is an anagram indicator for sails
4d – River making a U-bend (6)
DANUBE
River is the definition, with making as an anagram indicator for a u-bend
5d – Right-hand page in a directory (5)
RECTO
Right-hand page is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for di(recto)ry.
6d – Flags for prohibitionists? (7)
BANNERS
Flags is the definition, with prohibitionists as a cryptic definition (they ban things, so they are banners)
7d – You’re heard in vessel (4)
EWER
Vessel is the definition, with heard as a homophone indicator for you're
8d – Aircraft seen in quiet country roads? (6)
PLANES
Aircraft is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: P (quiet, as on sheet music) + LANES (country roads)
13d – Sore calf cured out of doors (8)
ALFRESCO
Out of doors is the definition, with cured as an anagram indicator for sore calf
15d – Poison found in any iced confection (7)
CYANIDE
Poison is the definition, with confection as an anagram indicator (?) for any iced
17d – Place of rapid growth – with an electric blanket? (6)
HOTBED
Place of rapid growth is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: if you have an electric blanket, you will have a hot bed
18d – Might death start to appear unnatural? (6)
FORCED
Appear unnatural is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FORCE (might) + D (death start, first letter of death)
20d – Opera produced by a Scot (5)
TOSCA
Opera is the definition (Tosca is an opera by Puccini), with produced as an anagram indicator for a Scot
22d – Amazing girl? (5)
GRACE
Cryptic definition; Grace is a girl’s name, and also part of the title of the hymn Amazing Grace
23d – Herb for a wise man (4)
SAGE
Double definition; sage is an herb, and also a word for a wise man