Guardian Quick Cryptic Crossword 18 (21/21)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- (all good!)
The clues:
1a A Scot travelling in seaside area (5)
COAST
Seaside area is the definition, with travelling as an anagram indicator for a Scot
4a French writer never changes (5)
VERNE
French writer (Jules Verne) is the definition, with changes as an anagram indicator for never
7a Explosive device in depot, or moved around (7)
TORPEDO
Explosive device is the definition, with moved around as an anagram indicator for depot or
8a Starter of pork that is in pastry (3)
PIE
Pastry is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: P (starter of pork, first letter of pork) + IE (i.e., that is)
9a Swindle man used in chess (4)
ROOK
Double definition, with rook meaning swindle and also being a man used in chess
10a Worst Detective Inspector needs break from work (6)
DIREST
Worst is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DI (abbreviation for Detective Inspector) + REST (break from work)
13a Where campers may be, showing determination (6)
INTENT
Determination is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definiton: in tent is where campers may be
14a Antipodean fruit (4)
KIWI
Double definition, where Kiwi can refer to someone from New Zealand (Antipodian) and kiwi is a fruit
16a Dog in place for experiments (3)
LAB
Double definition, with a lab (labrador retriever) being a dog, and a lab (laboratory) being a place for experiments
18a Foolish, like 1 and 9 (7)
ASININE
Foolish is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AS (like) + I (looks like a number 1) + NINE (9)
19a Puzzle for fictional detective (5)
REBUS
Double definition; a rebus is a puzzle, and Inspector Rebus is a fictional detective
20a Depart twice with large Russian writer (5)
GOGOL
Russian writer is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: GO GO (a word for depart repeated twice) + L (abbreviation for large)
1d A future admiral or emperor? (11)
CATERPILLAR
Cryptic definition; a caterpillar becomes a butterfly in the future, which may be an admiral butterfly or an emperor butterfly
2d Show fortified wine in transport hub (7)
AIRPORT
Transport hub is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AIR (show) + PORT (fortified wine)
3d, 15d Might this reveal Hazel or Holly’s age? (4,4)
TREE RING
Cryptic definition, tree rings reveal a tree’s age, and hazel and holly are types of trees
4d Playing this, the performer ought to take a bow? (6)
VIOLIN
Cryptic definition; a performer playing a violin uses a bow to do so
5d Knock what Jay-Z and Kanye West do (3)
RAP
Double definition; rap means knock, and Jay-Z and Kanye West perform rap music
6d A shocking swimmer? (8,3)
ELECTRIC EEL
Cryptic definition; an electric eel swims and will give you an electric shock
11d Changing diet, gin’s drunk (7)
EDITING
Changing is the definition, with drunk as an anagram indicator for diet gin
12d Trendy rules for relatives by marriage (2-4)
IN-LAWS
Relatives by marriage is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue (or cryptic definition): IN (trendy) + LAWS (rules)
17d Hope, perhaps, for a shilling (3)
BOB
Double definition, with bob being slang for shilling, and also Bob Hope being a famous person