Guardian Quick Cryptic Crossword 19 (24/25)
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The clues:
1a Expendable Detective Inspectors fold fur (11)
DISPENSABLE
Expendable is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DIS (abbreviation for Detective Inspectors) + PEN (a fold is a pen for sheep) + FUR (sable)
7a Most hackneyed stories set in stone (7)
STALEST
Most hackneyed is the definition, with in as an indicator to insert TALES (stories) into ST (abbreviation for stone): S(TALES)T
8a Ninja regularly holding container (3)
JAR
Container is the definition, with holding as an indicator that the answer is hidden in nin(ja r)egularly
9a Scouser sometimes hides addicts (5)
USERS
Addicts is the definition, with hides as an indicator that the answer is hidden in sco(user s)ometimes
12a Parasite left river (5)
LOUSE
Parasite is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: L (abbreviation for left) + OUSE (a river in England)
15a Foreign article about falsehood (5)
ALIEN
Foreign is the definition, with about as an indicator to insert LIE (falsehood) into AN (article): A(LIE)N
16a Kill small bug (5)
SMITE
Kill is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for small) + MITE (bug)
18a Part of pictures I took in second test (5)
RESIT
Second test is the definition, with part of as an indicator that the answer is hidden in pictu(res I t)ook
20a Hawaiian dish partly spoiled (3)
POI
Hawaiian dish is the definition, with partly as an indicator that the answer is hidden in s(poi)led
21a Coerce mythical creature to consume first piece of orange (7)
DRAGOON
Coerce is the definition, with consume as an indicator to insert O (first piece of orange, the first letter of orange) into DRAGON (mythical creature): DRAGO(O)N
23a Discourages examination during deaths (11)
DEMORALISES*
Discourages is the definition, with during as an indicator to insert ORAL (examination) into DEMISES (deaths): DEM(ORAL)ISES
1d Talk about field sport at start of summer (7)
DISCUSS
Talk about is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DISCUS (field sport) + S (start of summer, first letter of summer)
2d Startle vehicle in South East (5)
SCARE
Startle is the definition, with in as an indicator to insert CAR (vehicle) into SE (abbreviation for South East)
3d Creature ignoring odd bits of seaweed (3)
EWE
Creature is the definition, with odd bits as an indicator to take the odd characters of seaweed
4d Carpathian perhaps embracing Latin colonist (7)
SETTLER
Colonist is the definition, with embracing as an indicator to insert L (abbreviation for Latin) into SETTER (Carpathian is the setter of this puzzle)
5d Small and perfectly formed piece from Punjabi journalist (5)
BIJOU
Small and perfectly formed is the definition, with piece from as an indicator that the answer is hidden in Punja(bi jou)rnalist
6d Mistake made by wearer periodically (3)
ERR
Mistake is the definition, with periodically as an indicator to take every other letter of wearer
10d Traitor dreamt on and off (3)
RAT
Traitor is the definition, with on and off as an indicator to take every other letter of dreamt
11d Second loan provider is remote (7)
SLENDER
Remote is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for second) + LENDER (loan provider)
13d Individual bounced regularly (3)
ONE
Individual is the definition, with regularly as an indicator to take every other letter in bounced
14d Holds out as former lover takes care (7)
EXTENDS
Holds out is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: EX (former lover) + TENDS (takes care)
17d Said I omitted section in phrase (5)
IDIOM
Phrase is the definition, with section as an indicator that the answer is hidden in sa(id I om)itted
19d Cries about new elitists (5)
SNOBS
Elitists is the definition, with about as an indicator to insert N (abbreviation for new) into SOBS (cries): S(N)OBS
20d Walk upwards evenly (3)
PAD
Walk is the definition, with evenly as an indicator to take every other letter of upwards
22d Trouble caused by oddly deficient facials (3)
AIL
Trouble is the definition, with oddly deficient as an indicator to remove every other letter from facials