Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-19 (28/28)
Still trying to understand these clues:
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The clues:
1a – Agree at the same time to withhold rent (6)
CONCUR
Agree is the definition, with withhold as an indicator to subtract RENT (rent) from CONCURRENT (same time)
5a – Noon? Correct! (5)
AMEND
Correct is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; noon is the AM END (end of the morning)
9a – Economise? It’s no good! (7)
USELESS
It's no good is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; one way to economise is to use less
10a – Was blue bike seen here? (5)
MOPED
Double definition, with moped meaning was blue, and a moped being a bike
11a – Where sink contains sticky stuff (5)
RESIN
Sticky stuff is the definition, with contains as a hidden word indicator for whe(re sin)k
12a – Sovereign getting on within a month (7)
MONARCH
Sovereign is the definition, with within as an indicator to put ON (on) into MARCH (a month): M(ON)ARCH
14a – He’s after fuel cuts (6)
GASHES
Cuts is the definition, with after as an indicator to put HES after GAS (fuel)
16a – Robust redhead enters room (6)
STURDY
Robust is the definition, with enters as an indicator to put R (redhead, first letter of red) into STUDY (a room)
19a – Is one surrounded by fish in this country? (7)
TUNISIA
Country is the definition, with surrounded as an indicator to put IS (is) + I (looks like a one) into TUNA (fish): TUN(IS)(I)A
21a – Plant that’s last in herbaceous border (5)
SEDGE
Plant is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (last in herbaceous, last letter of herbaceous) + EDGE (border)
23a – A frog prepared to succeed (2,3)
GO FAR
Succeed is the definition, with prepared as an anagram indicator for a frog
24a – Appropriate part of harness (7)
SNAFFLE
Double definition, with snaffle meaning appropriate (as in take) and also being part of a harness
25a – Contract providing prize money (5)
PURSE
Double definition, with purse meaning contract (like to purse your lips) and also being a term for prize money
26a – Month before border chaos (6)
MAYHEM
Chaos is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MAY (a month) + HEM (a border of a garment)
2d – Portents some women scorn (5)
OMENS
Portents is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for w(omen s)corn
3d – Eels can swim to get clear of dirt (7)
CLEANSE
Get clear of dirt is the definition, with swim as an anagram indicator for eels can
4d – Go on turning employer against me (6)
RESUME
Go on is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RESU (turning is a reversal indicator for USER (employer)) + ME
5d – Capital backing in Vietnam, maybe (5)
AMMAN
Capital is the definition (Amman is the capital of Jordan), with backing in as a reversal/hidden word indicator for Viet(nam ma)ybe
6d – Ruler has upset agent in capital (7)
EMPEROR
Ruler is the definition, with upset as a reversal indicator for ROREPME (in is an indicator that REP (agent) goes into ROME: RO(REP)ME)
7d – Druid oddly ineffective (3)
DUD
Ineffective is the definition, with oddly as an indicator to take only the odd letters of DrUiD
8d – Dismissed correctly, without qualification (8)
OUTRIGHT
Without qualification is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: OUT (dismissed) + RIGHT (correctly)
13d – Noel Coward wrote this complaint (3,5)
HAY FEVER
Double definition, with hay fever being a complaint, and Hay Fever being a play written by Noel Coward
15d – Wretched serf not summoned (4,3)
SENT FOR
Summoned is the definition, with wretched as an anagram indicator for serf not
17d – In France you cast your eye over unknown part of Italy (7)
TUSCANY
Part of Italy is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TU (In France you, the French word for you) + SCAN (cast your eye over) + Y (unknown, like a math variable)
18d – I can’t answer, I’m here and there (6)
PASSIM
Here and there is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PASS (I can't answer) + IM (I'm)
20d – Small Indian rocks on mountain (5)
SCREE
Rocks on mountain is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for small) + CREE (Indian)
22d – Writer fed up with Old English (5)
DEFOE
Writer is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DEF (up is a reversal indicator for fed) + OE (abbreviation for Old English)
23d – Origins of garage and parking space (3)
GAP
Space is the definition, with origins as an indicator to take the first letters of Garage And Parking