Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-08-29 (28/28)
Still trying to fully understand these clues:
- Substance agency has in mind (5)
The clues:
1a – Search thoroughly for groom (4)
COMB
Double definition, with comb meaning search thoroughly and also being a way to groom yourself
3a – Viking calls man back (8)
NORSEMAN
Viking is the definition, with back as a reversal indicator on NAMES (calls) + RON (a man‘s name)
9a – Unconventional — like a retired policeman? (7)
OFFBEAT
Unconventional is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; a retired policeman is off his beat
10a – Girl showing some honest affection (5)
NESTA
Girl is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for hone(st aff)ection
11a – Substance agency has in mind (5)
MEANS
Triple definition?
has in mind(this is what shemeans)agency(she has themeansto do something)substance(??)
12a – Growin’ dried fruit (6)
RAISIN
Dried fruit is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: raisin‘ something is growin‘ it
14a – One grows flowers (6)
IRISES
Flowers is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + RISES (grows)
16a – Stick with a Scottish island (6)
STAFFA
Scottish island is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: STAFF (stick) + A (a)
19a – Tight header in beautiful game (6)
BLOTTO
Tight is the definition (meaning drunk), with the rest as a charades clue: B (header in beautiful, first letter of beautiful) + LOTTO (a game)
21a – Africans, as in Mali, left out (5)
MASAI
Africans is the definition, with in as indicator to add AS (as) to MALI (Mali), and out as an indicator to remove L (abbreviation for left): M(AS)AI
24a – Enchanted soldier in raincoat (5)
MAGIC
Enchanted is the definition, with in as an indicator to put GI (soldier) into MAC (raincoat): MA(GI)C
25a – Hairstyle from which combs may be taken (7)
BEEHIVE
Double definition; a beehive is a hairstyle, and you can take (honey)combs from a beehive
26a – Royalist wandering without companions (8)
SOLITARY
Without companions is the definition, with wandering as an anagram indicator for royalist
27a – Ringleader put in charge is unrestricted (4)
FREE
Unrestricted is the definition, with put in as an indicator to put R (ringleader, the first letter of ring) into FEE (charge): F(R)EE
1d – How mince is cooked for a Chinese dish (4,4)
CHOW MEIN
Chinese dish is the definition, with cooked as an anagram indicator for how mince
2d – Criminals held back by Thai family (5)
MAFIA
Criminals is the definition, with held back as a hidden word and reversal indicator for Th(ai fam)ily
4d – Animals ordered to rest (6)
OTTERS
Animals is the definition, with ordered as an anagram indicator for to rest
5d – Egyptian peninsula or some Egyptian islands seen from the south (5)
SINAI
Egyptian peninsula is the definition, with seen from the south as a reversal indicator, and some as a hidden word indicator for Egypt(ian is)lands
6d – Old woman with unyielding dog (7)
MASTIFF
Dog is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MA (old woman) + STIFF (unyielding)
7d – New nosh not in a mess (4)
NEAT
Not in a mess is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: N (abbreviation for new) + EAT (nosh)
8d – Reputed monster is seen to be ridiculous (6)
NESSIE
Reputed monster is the definition, with ridiculous as an anagram indicator for is seen
13d – Islanders queue in HQ (8)
BALINESE
Islanders is the definition, with in as an indicator to put LINE (queue) into BASE (HQ): BA(LINE)SE
15d – Sick bird, we hear, is unlawful (7)
ILLEGAL
Unlawful is the definition, with hear as a homophone indicator for ILL EAGLE (sick bird)
17d – Wood or metal initially placed in river (6)
TIMBER
Wood is the definition, with placed in as an indicator to put M (metal initially, first letter of metal) into TIBER (river): TI(M)BER
18d – Storage unit in South African aircraft? (6)
BOMBER
Aircraft is the definition, with in as an indicator to put MB (abbreviation for megabyte, a storage unit) into BOER (a South African): BO(MB)ER
20d – One should be engaged in diplomacy, it’s implied (5)
TACIT
Implied is the definition, with engaged in as an indicator to put I (looks like a one) into TACT (diplomacy): TAC(I)T
22d – A riskier finish for a winter sportsman (5)
SKIER
Winter sportsman is the definition, with finish as an indicator to take the last part of riskier
23d – Audio equipment in Hampstead (4)
AMPS
Audio equipment is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for H(amps)tead