Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-02 (25/25)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a – Once more making a profit (5)
AGAIN
Once more
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A
(a
) + GAIN
(profit
)
4a – Jump when surprised in launch? (5)
START
Double definition, with start
meaning launch
, and also jump when surprised
7a – Presiding officer taking flier behind church (8)
CHAIRMAN
Presiding officer
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CH
(abbreviation for church
) + AIRMAN
(flier
)
8a – A country one has entered before (4)
EIRE
A country
is the definition, with entered
as an indicator to put I
(looks like a one
) into ERE
(before
)
9a – Winter transport, we hear, for butcher (4)
SLAY
Butcher
is the definition, with we hear
as a homophone indicator for SLEIGH
(winter transport
)
10a – Error discovered by end of term, I wager (7)
MISTAKE
Error
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: M
(end of term
, last letter of term
) + I
(I
) + STAKE
(wager
)
12a – Playing Lydia, Glenda is a star (7,4)
LEADING LADY
Star
is the definition, with playing
as an anagram indicator for Lydia Glenda
14a – Rum making saint wander (7)
STRANGE
Rum
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ST
(abbreviation for saint
) + RANGE
(wander
)
16a – Serenity, in classical mythology (4)
CALM
Serenity
is the definition, with in
as a hidden word indicator for classi(cal m)ythology
19a – Fabric that may be touched (4)
FELT
Double definition, with felt
meaning touched
and also being a type of fabric
20a – Stubborn old boy expected to hold rodent (8)
OBDURATE
Stubborn
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: OB
(abbreviation for old boy
) + DURATE
(hold
is an indicator to put RAT
(rodent
) into DUE
(expected
))
21a – Shoot small beast crossing river (5)
SPRIG
Shoot
is the definition (the plant definition of shoot
), with the rest as a charades clue: S
(abbreviation for small
) + PRIG
(crossing
is an indicator to put R
(abbreviation for river
) into PIG
(beast
))
22a – Complaint from mothers about parking (5)
MUMPS
Complaint
is the definition, with about
as an indicator to put P
(abbreviation for parking
) into MUMS
(mothers
): MUM(P)S
1d – What’s left after burning trees? (5)
ASHES
Double definition, with ashes
being trees
and also what's left after burning
; also an &lit clue, as it is also what's left after burning trees
2d – Great boxer associated with graduates — or one associated with thieves (3,4)
ALIBABA
One associated with thieves
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ALI
(great boxer
) + BABA
(some graduates have BA
degrees)
3d – Mean to turn handle (4)
NAME
Handle
is the definition, with turn
as an anagram indicator for mean
4d – Sea dog in abandoned US naval base (3,5)
SAN DIEGO
US naval base
is the definition, with abandoned
as an anagram indicator for sea dog in
5d – A male representative (5)
AGENT
Representative
is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A
(a
) + GENT
(male
)
6d – Old jailer from country imprisoning knight (7)
TURNKEY
Old jailer
is the definition, with imprisoning
as an indicator to put K
(chess abbreviation for knight
) into TURKEY
(country
)
11d – Bell sounds for fight (4-4)
DING DONG
Double definition, with ding-dong
being bell sounds
also ding-dong
also being slang for a fight
12d – Mail for landlords? (7)
LETTERS
Mail
is the definition, with landlords
as a cryptic definition (landlords
let properties, so they are letters
)
13d – Word play that may make grandee enraged (7)
ANAGRAM
Cryptic definition; grandee
is an anagram
of enraged
, so that is the word play
15d – Modify some contractual terms (5)
ALTER
Modify
is the definition, with some
as a hidden word indicator for contractu(al ter)ms
17d – Pals running out of steam? (5)
MATES
Pals
is the definition, with running
as an anagram indicator for steam
18d – A mother? He didn’t have one! (4)
ADAM
He didn't have one
(a mother
) is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A
(a
) + DAM
(mother
)