Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2023-12-01 (23/23)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
7a – Try my routes out – for people who don’t know where they are going? (7,4)
MYSTERY TOUR
People who don't know where they are going might end up on a mystery tour, and out is an anagram indicator for try my routes
8a – Characteristic of cap set askew (6)
ASPECT
Characteristic is the definition, with askew as an anagram indicator for cap set
9a – No huge assortment is sufficient (6)
ENOUGH
Sufficient is the definition, with assortment as an anagram indicator for no huge
10a – Interfere with award, by the sound of it (6)
ANSWER
12a – A foreign festival makes it safe (6)
FIESTA
A foreign festival is the definition, with makes as an anagram indicator for it safe
13a – Health resort in Spain (3)
SPA
Health resort is the definition, with in as hidden word indicator for (SPA)IN
14a – Craftsmen getting on in service (6)
MASONS
Craftsmen is the definition, with in as an indicator to put on in MASS (service): MAS(ON)S
16a – Centre redevelopment not long ago (6)
RECENT
Not long ago is the definition, with redevelopment as an anagram indicator for centre
18a – Serial involving a country (6)
ISRAEL
Country is the definition, with involving as an anagram indicator for serial
20a – Intense dislike of headgear that’s brightly coloured? (6)
HATRED
Intense dislike is the definition, with a cryptic definition that a headgear that's brightly colored is a hat red
22a – A bird from Florence? (11)
NIGHTINGALE
Double definition; a nightingale is a bird and also the surname of Florence Nightingale
1d – Little devils at one mile per second! (4)
IMPS
Little devils is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + MPS (abbreviation for mile per second)
2d – Rise for dances awkwardly (6)
ASCEND
Rise is the definition, with awkwardly as an anagram indicator for dances
3d – Sauce ruined presents (8)
PERTNESS
Sauce is the definition (meaning attitude) with ruined as an anagram indicator for presents
4d – Old stringed instrument from hilly region (4)
LYRE
Old stringed instrument is the definition, with from as a hidden word indicator for hil(ly re)gion
5d – Gloomy doctor got up (6)
MOROSE
Gloomy is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MO (abbreviation for medical officer, or doctor) + ROSE (got up)
6d – Clever, getting on in seaside resort (8)
BRIGHTON
Seaside resort is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BRIGHT (clever) + ON (on)
11d – Lean pigs mucked up, seen in passing (8)
ELAPSING
Passing is the definition, with mucked up as an anagram indicator for lean pigs
12d – Distant object is an old coin (8)
FARTHING
Old coin is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FAR (distant) + THING (object)
15d – Go near nuts or fruit (6)
ORANGE
Fruit is the definition, with nuts as an anagram indicator for go near
17d – A yacht going astray in China (6)
CATHAY
In China is the definition, with going astray as an anagram indicator for a yacht
19d – Many things sold at auction (4)
LOTS
Double definition, with lots meaning many things and also being sold at auction
21d – Always the first woman to go by river (4)
EVER
Always is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: EVE (first woman) + R (abbreviation for river)