Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2022-04-24 (28/28)
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The clues:
1a – Estimate speed (4)
RATE
Double definition, with rate meaning both estimate and speed
3a – Recoil from disadvantage (8)
DRAWBACK
Double definition, with a drawback being a disadvantage and also draw back meaning recoil
9a – Mimic to make airport departure (4,3)
TAKE OFF
Double definition, with a take-off being an airport departure and take off also meaning mimic, like an impression
10a – Joint carved below? (5)
ELBOW
Joint is the definition, with carved as an anagram indicator for below
11a – Trees uprooted and planted again (5)
RESET
Planted again is the definition, with uprooted as an anagram indicator for trees
12a – Fish for a girl on Monday (6)
SALMON
Fish is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SAL (a girl‘s name) + MON (abbreviation for Monday)
14a – Daniel may be fixed … (6)
NAILED
Fixed is the definition (nailing something might be part of fixing it) with may be as an anagram indicator for Daniel
16a – … Frank may be the son going astray (6)
HONEST
Frank is the definition, with going astray as an anagram indicator for the son
19a – Shake a container for arrows (6)
QUIVER
Double definition, with quiver meaning shake and also a quiver being a container for arrows
21a – Forbidden love in abandoned boat (5)
TABOO
Forbidden is the definition, with in as an indicator to put O (love, which is zero as a tennis score, and zero looks like an O) into TABO (abandoned is an anagram indicator for boat): TAB(O)O
24a – Proprietor or new director? (5)
OWNER
Proprietor is the definition, with director as an anagram indicator for or new
25a – Appear scintillating in new singlet (7)
GLISTEN
Appear scintillating is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for singlet
26a – Letters from Burl’s daughter? (8)
MISSIVES
Letters is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; Burl Ives’s daughter would be Miss Ives
27a – One look may be child’s-play (1-3)
I-SPY
Child's play is the definition with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + SPY (look)
1d – Engineers growing weary and going to bed (8)
RETIRING
Going to bed is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RE (abbreviation for Royal Engineers) + TIRING (growing weary)
2d – Accepts a translation of Keats (5)
TAKES
Accepts is the definition, with translation as an anagram indicator for Keats
4d – Turn down garbage (6)
REFUSE
Double definition, with refuse (as a noun) being garbage and also refuse (as a verb) meaning turn down
5d – Revolver taken in hand by driver (5)
WHEEL
Double definition (both a little cryptic); a wheel revolves, so is a revolver, and also a steering wheel is taken in hand by driver
6d – A doctor got up for this chap (7)
AMBROSE
This chap is the definition (Ambrose is a man’s name), with the rest as a charades clue: A + MB (doctor, MB is a bachelor of medicine) + ROSE (got up)
7d – New Zealander seen in khaki windcheater (4)
KIWI
New Zealander is the definition, with seen in as a hidden word indicator for kha(ki wi)ndcheater
8d – Calm those getting upset about nothing (6)
SOOTHE
Calm is the definition, with about as an indicator to put O (nothing, looks like zero) into SOTHE (getting upset is an anagram indicator for those): S(O)OTHE
13d – Ruined – yet ran to a lawyer (8)
ATTORNEY
Lawyer is the definition, with ruined as an anagram indicator for yet ran to
15d – Big lizards alarming us again (7)
IGUANAS
Big lizards is the definition, with alarming as an anagram indicator for us again
17d – Confused, but I do get the lot this way! (6)
OUTBID
Get the lot this way (in an auction) is the definition, with confused as an anagram indicator for but I do
18d – Scoundrel going after black shoe (6)
BROGUE
Shoe is the definition, with going after as an indicator to put ROGUE (scoundrel) after B (abbreviation for black)
20d – A composer some opera-lover digs? (5)
VERDI
A composer is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for opera-lo(ver di)gs
22d – Restrains a killer in a motel (5)
BATES
Double definition; bates means restrains (as in bated breath) and Norman Bates is a killer in a motel (spoilers!)
23d – Class for Bond’s boss (4)
FORM
Class is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FOR + M (James Bond's boss)