Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-26 (23/23)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
7a – Thrills if Leicester is rebuilt (11)
ELECTRIFIES
Thrills is the definition, with is rebuilt as an anagram indicator for if Leicester
8a – A tantaliser resting (2,4)
AT EASE
Resting is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + TEASE (tantaliser)
9a – Still hiding in attics? (6)
STATIC
Still is the definition, with hiding in as an anagram indicator for attics
10a – Playwright initially types out plays (6)
SPORTS
Plays is the definition (sporting means playing), with out as an indicator to put P (playwright initially, first letter of playwright) into SORTS (types), resulting in S(P)ORTS
12a – Covering for one cold walkabout? (6)
ICECAP
Covering is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + C (abbreviation for cold) + ECAP (about is an anagram indicator for PACE, meaning walk)
13a – Large cask turning the head (3)
TUN
Large casks is the definition, with turning as a reversal indicator for NUT (head)
14a – Animals making work for shoers (6)
HORSES
Animals is the definition, with work as an anagram indicator for shoers
16a – Are red letters more highly valued? (6)
DEARER
More highly valued is the definition, with letters as an anagram indicator for are red
18a – Fish one caught in comfort (6)
SOLACE
Comfort is the definition, with in as an indicator to put A (one) + C (caught, a cricket term) into SOLE (fish), resulting in SOL(AC)E. The in seems a little backwards to me.
20a – Spurious article required by medicine man (6)
SHAMAN
Medicine man is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SHAM (spurious) + AN (article)
22a – Not at all a routine car repair? (2,9)
AU CONTRAIRE
Not at all is the definition, with repair as an anagram indicator for a routine car
1d – Abandoned side (4)
LEFT
Double definition, with left meaning abandoned and also left being a side
2d – Mend broken rapier (6)
REPAIR
Mend is the definition, with broken as an anagram indicator for rapier
3d – Unbelievers present at robberies (8)
ATHEISTS
Unbelievers is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AT (present at) + HEISTS (robberies)
4d – Not all the most eminent trees (4)
FIRS
Trees is the definition, with not all as an indicator to remove the last letter of FIRST (most eminent)
5d – Speak at length about detail (6)
DILATE
Speak at length is the definition, with about as an anagram indicator for detail
6d – Assess the condition I’m in (8)
ESTIMATE
Assess is the definition, with in as an indicator to put IM (I'm) into ESTATE (condition), resulting in EST(IM)ATE
11d – Offer of support and a ring to a girl? (8)
PROPOSAL
Offer is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PROP (support) + O (looks like a ring) + SAL (a girl‘s name); may be an &lit clue also, as offering a ring to a girl is a proposal
12d – Diligence demonstrated by essay on Asian river (8)
INDUSTRY
Diligence is the definition, with on as an indicator to put TRY (essay) after INDUS (Asian river)
15d – Look for fallen arches (6)
SEARCH
Look for is the definition, with fallen as an anagram indicator for arches
17d – Fungus spoilt a cigar (6)
AGARIC
Fungus is the definition, with spoilt as an anagram indicator for a cigar
19d – Stake raised in volcano (4)
ETNA
Volcano is the definition, with raised as a reversal indicator for ANTE (stake)
21d – A positive vote from the positive voters? (4)
AYES
Positive voters is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + YES (positive vote)