Guardian Quick Cryptic Crossword 9 (17/20)
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The clues:
6a Carried drill (4)
BORE
Double definition, with bore meaning carried and also meaning drill
7a Head of ranch in orange-pink cattle pen (6)
CORRAL
Cattle pen is the definition, with in as an indicator to insert R (head of ranch, first letter of ranch) into CORAL (orange-pink): COR(R)AL
8a Born supple and merry (6)
BLITHE
Merry is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: B (abbreviation for born) + LITHE (supple)
9a Break vehicle with base of ratchet (4)
BUST
Break is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BUS (vehicle) + T (base of ratchet, last letter of ratchet)
10a Fancy shot of alcohol with ecstasy in (5)
DREAM*
Fancy is the definition, with in as indicator to insert E (abbreviation for ecstasy) into DRAM (shot of alcohol): DR(E)AM
12a Kitten seems a bit uptight (5)
TENSE
Uptight is the definition, with a bit as an indicator that the answer is hidden in Kit(ten se)ems
15a Annoys insects (4)
BUGS
Double definition with bugs meaning annoys and bugs referring to insects
17a Aghast engineers concealing tear (6)
HASTEN*
Tear is the definition, with concealing as an indicator that the answer is hidden in ag(hast en)gineers
19a Goad weed (6)
NETTLE*
Double definition, with nettle meaning goad and nettle also being a type of weed
20a Charge traitor with extortion at first (4)
RATE
Charge is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAT (traitor)+ E (extortion at first, first letter of extortion)
1d Hat left in arbour (6)
BOWLER
Hat is the definition, with in as an indicator to insert L (abbreviation for left) into BOWER (arbour)
2d Animal doctor clutching small garment (4)
VEST
Garment is the definition, with clutching as an indicator to insert S (abbreviation for small) into VET (animal doctor)
3d Cheat prison officer (5)
SCREW
Double definition, with screw meaning cheat and screw also being a term for prison officer
4d Part of theatre blessed singer (6)
TREBLE
Singer is the definition, with part as an indicator that the answer is hidden in thea(tre ble)ssed
5d Prohibits pubs (4)
BARS
Double definition, with bars meaning prohibits and also bars being pubs
11d Extras set sights hiding strengths (6)
ASSETS
Strengths is the definition, with hiding as an indicator that the answer is hidden in extr(as set s)ights
13d Wife surrounded by stools perspires? (6)
SWEATS
Perspires is the definition, with surrounded by as an indicator to insert W (abbreviation for wife) into SEATS (stools): S(W)EATS
14d Archie folded envelopes first (5)
CHIEF
First is the definition, with envelopes as an indicator that the answer is hidden in Ar(chie f)olded
16d Employed American editor (4)
USED
Employed is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: US (American) + ED (editor)
18d Small vessel going to Channel Island (4)
SARK
Channel Island is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for small) + ARK (vessel)