Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-10 (23/23)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – Embellishment of December speech (10)
DECORATION
Embellishment is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: DEC (abbreviation for December) + ORATION (speech)
7a – One northern viewpoint, for example (8)
INSTANCE
Example is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + N (abbreviation for northern) + STANCE (viewpoint)
8a – Case confusing experts (4)
ACES
Experts is the definition, with confusing as an anagram indicator for case
9a – Trade on the coast of Kent (4)
DEAL
Double definition, with deal meaning trade, and also Deal Castle being on the coast of Kent
10a – Interrupt a burglary (5-2)
BREAK-IN
Double definition, with break-in meaning interrupt, and also being a another word for burglary
12a – Yeast source may provide flavour for Chinese food (6,5)
OYSTER SAUCE
Flavour for Chinese food is the definition, with may provide as an anagram indicator for yeast source
14a – Slip out during day to see show? (7)
DISPLAY
Show is the definition, with during as an indicator that ISPL (out is an anagram indicator for slip) goes into DAY, resulting in: D(ISPL)AY
16a – Spring turning pale (4)
LEAP
Spring is the definition, with turning as an anagram indicator for pale
19a – In Europe Russians see a South American country (4)
PERU
South American country is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for Euro(pe Ru)ssians
20a – Device for recording distance – to do mere maintenance? (8)
ODOMETER
Device for recording distance is the definition, with maintenance as an anagram indicator for to do mere
21a – In favour of locks in secure places (10)
FORTRESSES
Secure places is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FOR (in favor of) + TRESSES (locks of hair)
1d – Had dinner with newspaper boss after row (5)
DINED
Had dinner is the definition, with after as an indicator that ED (abbreviation for editor, newspaper boss) comes after DIN (row, like a loud fight)
2d – Sword that’s wounded girl (7)
CUTLASS
Sword is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CUT (wounded) + LASS (girl)
3d – Foul row (4)
RANK
Double definition, with rank meaning both foul and row
4d – One who believes about gold speculator (8)
THEORIST
Speculator is the definition, with about as an indicator that OR (abbreviation for gold) goes inside THEIST (believer), resulting in: THE(OR)IST
5d – Japanese port giving some Eskimos a kayak (5)
OSAKA
Japanese port is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for Eskim(os a ka)yak
6d – European victory by pleasant Italian city (6)
VENICE
Italian city is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: VE (VE Day is Victory in Europe Day, a European victory) + NICE (pleasant)
11d – Commenced attack (3,5)
SET ABOUT
Double definition, with set about meaning commenced and also meaning attack
12d – Musical boy (6)
OLIVER
Double definition, with Oliver! being a musical, and Oliver also being a boy‘s name
13d – Ineffectual exhortation to be more economical (7)
USELESS
Ineffectual is the definition, with the rest being a cryptic definition: use less is an exhortation to be more economical
15d – Disney character’s planet (5)
PLUTO
Double definition, with Pluto being a Disney character, and also a (dwarf) planet
17d – A diarist, we hear, takes a look (5)
PEEPS
Takes a look is the definition, with we hear as a homophone indicator for the diarist Pepys (which he pronounced “peeps”)
18d – Milton’s first poem shows style (4)
MODE
Style is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: M (Milton’s first, or the first letter of Milton) + ODE (poem)