Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-02 (25/25)
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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)