Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-15 (28/28)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – Communications from dining room taking a long time (8)
MESSAGES
Communications is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MESS (dining room) + AGES (a long time)
6a – Crazy about beastly mother (3)
DAM
Beastly mother is the definition (a dam is a female parent of a beast or animal, such as a horse), with about as a reversal indicator for MAD (crazy)
9a – After a dance Edward had aspirations (5)
HOPED
Had aspirations is the definition, with after as an indicator that ED (Edward) goes after HOP (dance)
10a – It’s glee that’s upset a writer of sad poems (7)
ELEGIST
Writer of sad poems is the definition, with upset as an anagram indicator for it's glee
11a – Sort of non-swim fish? (7)
MINNOWS
Fish is the definition, with sort as an anagram indicator for non-swim
13a – Squeeze applied to newspapers? (5)
PRESS
Double definition, with press meaning squeeze and also referring to newspapers
14a – The colour Anne is turning (6)
SIENNA
Colour is the definition, with turning as an anagram indicator for Anne is
15a – Underground store for a vendor, so we hear (6)
CELLAR
Underground store is the definition, with so we hear as a homophone indicator for SELLER (vendor)
19a – Take over, making queen cross (5)
ANNEX
Take over is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ANNE (queen, probably this Queen Anne) + X (cross)
21a – Stormy night is visible (7)
INSIGHT
Visible is the definition, with stormy as an anagram indicator for night is. This probably should have had length indicated as (2,5)
22a – Tiresome work outside (7)
TEDIOUS
Tiresome is the definition, with work as an anagram indicator for outside
23a – Ministry of Transport’s alternative car (5)
MOTOR
Car is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MOT (abbreviation for Ministry of Transport) + OR (alternative)
24a – State, for example (3)
SAY
Double definition, with state meaning say, and say also meaning for example (say, in this puzzle)
25a – One who will feel at home in Madrid – and Paris, perhaps (8)
SPANIARD
One who will feel at home in Madrid is the definition, with perhaps as an anagram indicator for and Paris
2d – Cost of putting swans in river (7)
EXPENSE
Cost is the definition, with putting in as an indicator that PENS (female swans) goes into EXE (the River Exe), resulting in EX(PENS)E
3d – Blue pole with notice attached (3)
SAD
Blue is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for the South pole) + AD (notice)
4d – Agrees about musical (6)
GREASE
Musical is the definition, with about as an anagram indicator for agrees
5d – Did Lamb write his essays with these enclosures? (5,4)
SHEEP PENS
Cryptic definition, with pens referring to enclosures for sheep, and also something you write with; a lamb is a baby sheep, and Charles Lamb was an essayist
6d – Take the car from where it may be parked? (5)
DRIVE
Double definition maybe? Drive means take the car, and also is a gear like park
7d – Chess wins for pals (5)
MATES
Double definition, with mates being chess wins (like checkmates) and also pals
8d – Demons following church primates (6)
CHIMPS
Primates is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CH (abbreviation for church) + IMPS (demons)
12d – Unpleasant debts after broadcast on box (9)
OBNOXIOUS
Unpleasant is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: OBNOX (broadcast is an anagram indicator for on box) + IOU'S (debts)
16d – A boat that’s not so heavy (7)
LIGHTER
Double definition, with lighter meaning not so heavy and also being a type of boat
17d – Answer provided by laboratory vessel (6)
RETORT
Double definition, with retort being an answer and also being a type of laboratory vessel
18d – Seat is put out for a rest after lunch (6)
SIESTA
Rest after lunch is the definition, with put out as an anagram indicator for seat is
19d – Social worker is joining those in opposition (5)
ANTIS
Those in opposition is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ANT (social worker, ants being social creatures known for their work) + IS
20d – An Enid Blyton character would appear strange in New York (5)
NODDY
Enid Blyton character is the definition, with in as an indicator that ODD (strange) goes into NY (abbreviation for New York), resulting in N(ODD)Y
23d – Me in France and around the Isle of Man (3)
MOI
Me in France is the definition (moi is French for me), with around as a reversal indicator for IOM (abbreviation for Isle of Man)