Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-07 (26/26)
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The clues:
1a – Bend to fasten shoe, perhaps (6)
BUCKLE
Double definition, with buckle meaning bend and fasten shoe
4a – The average psychic? (6)
MEDIUM
Double definition, with medium meaning average and being a word for a psychic
8a – Japanese port – old seaport Asians know about initially (5)
OSAKA
Japanese port is the definition, with initially as an indicator to take the first letters of old seaport Asians know about
9a – Sure about nice art (7)
CERTAIN
Sure is the definition, with about as an anagram indicator for nice art
10a – Hold pin out for an aquatic mammal (7)
DOLPHIN
Aquatic mammal is the definition, with out as an anagram indicator for hold pin
11a – Third-rate stockings selected? (5)
CHOSE
Selected is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (third-rate) + HOSE (stockings)
12a – A sort of testament? (9)
STATEMENT
This is an &lit clue; the whole thing is the definition, and sort is an anagram indicator for testament
17a – The opening of a chain letter (5)
INLET
Opening is the definition, with of as a hidden word indicator for chain letter
19a – Fought to supply material for drapers (7)
SPARRED
Fought is the definition, with supply material as an anagram indicator for drapers
21a – American lawyer conceals materials (7)
DAMASKS
Materials is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DA (abbreviation for district attorney, an American lawyer) + MASKS (conceals)
22a – Depicted looking strained (5)
DRAWN
Double definition, with drawn meaning depicted and also meaning looking strained
23a – Round – round round the top (6)
ROTUND
The first round is the definition, with the third round being an indicator that T (the top, the first letter of the) goes into ROUND (the second one), resulting in RO(T)UND
24a – Players – or cast, perhaps (6)
ACTORS
Players is the definition, with perhaps as an anagram indicator for or cast
1d – Little brother notices Norfolk sailing area (6)
BROADS
Norfolk sailing area is the definition (Norfolk Broads), with the rest as a charades clue: BRO (little brother, abbreviation for brother) + ADS (notices, like advertisements)
2d – Wine or tea taken with endless bliss (7)
CHABLIS
Wine is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CHA (tea) + BLIS (endless is an indicator to remove the last letter of bliss)
3d – Lead in the French wood (5)
LEASH
Lead is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: LE (the French, the French word for the) + ASH (wood)
5d – Some wear a cheerful expression in affliction (7)
EARACHE
Affliction is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for w(ear a che)erful
6d – I did have a gardening implement, by the sound of it, in a state (5)
IDAHO
State is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I'D (I did have) + A + HO (gardening implement)
7d – Fixed part of mechanism that’s wound up (6)
MENDED
Fixed is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: M (part of mechanism, the first letter of mechanism) + ENDED (wound up)
9d – Boat people making cat noises (9)
CANOEISTS
Boat people is the definition, with making as an anagram indicator for cat noises
13d – Skilled worker needed when a train’s derailed (7)
ARTISAN
Skilled worker is the definition, with derailed as an anagram indicator for a train's
14d – Trouble afterwards to the Navy – or Air Force? (7)
TORNADO
Air Force is the cryptic definition, with afterwards as an indicator that ADO (trouble) goes after TO (to) + RN (abbreviation for Royal Navy)
15d – Light material can turn red (6)
TINDER
Light material is the definition (tinder is used to light material), with the rest as a charades clue: TIN (can) + DER (turn is a reversal indicator for red)
16d – Handsome young man making fuss about wrongdoing (6)
ADONIS
Handsome young man is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ADO (making fuss) + NIS (about is a reversal indicator for SIN, meaning wrongdoing)
18d – I’m illuminated without constraint (5)
LIMIT
Constraint is the definition, with without as an indicator that I'M goes inside LIT (illuminated), resulting in L(IM)IT
20d – When detectives turn up with underwater detective apparatus? (5)
ASDIC
Underwater detective apparatus is the definition (ASDIC was an early form of sonar used to detect submarines.), with the rest as a charades clue: AS (when) + DIC (turn up is a reversal indicator for CID, an abbreviation for the UK’s Criminal Investigation Department)