Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2023-12-02 (26/26)
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The clues:
1a – To some in trouble, feelings are needed (8)
EMOTIONS
Feelings is the definition, with trouble as an anagram indicator for to some in
6a – Tree seen if turning to the right (3)
FIR
Tree is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: FI (turning is a reversal indicator for if) + R (abbreviation for right)
9a – Violet almost changed colour (5)
OLIVE
Colour is the definition, with changed as an anagram indicator for viole (almost is a removal indicator for Violet)
10a – Unruly girl was first to be questioned (7)
GRILLED
Questioned is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: GRIL (unruly is an anagram indicator for girl) + LED (was first)
11a – Moving house? (7)
CARAVAN
Cryptic definition; a caravan is a moving house
13a – Superficial burn produced by fusing electrical component (5)
SINGE
Superficial burn is the definition, with component as a hidden word indicator for fu(sing e)lectrical
14a – Animals ordered to rest (6)
OTTERS
Animals is the definition, with ordered as an anagram indicator for to rest
15a – Musical instrument filled with ice cream? (6)
CORNET
Double definition; a cornet is a musical instrument and also a dessert filled with ice cream
18a – Took a picture that includes an animal (5)
OKAPI
Animal is the definition, with includes as a hidden word indicator for to(ok a pi)cture
20a – Brought to a conclusion everywhere (3,4)
ALL OVER
Double definition, with all over meaning both brought to a conclusion and everywhere
21a – Stuck with tot holding present (7)
ADHERED
Stuck with is the definition, with holding as an indicator to put HERE (present) into ADD (tot): AD(HERE)D
22a – Alice’s new name (5)
CELIA
Name is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for Alice
23a – Finish back in Widnes (3)
END
Finish is the definition, with back and in being indicators that end can be found backward and hidden in Wi(dne)s
24a – Disturbed rest with clap that’s ghostly (8) [spoiler title="show answer"]SPECTRAL
Ghostly is the definition, with disturbed as an anagram indicator for rest and clap
2d – Detective finding mother with wild tiger (7)
MAIGRET
Detective is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MA (mother) + IGRET (wild is an anagram indicator for tiger)
3d – Neckwear that’s Siamese, by the sound of it (3)
TIE
Neckwear is the definition, with by the sound of it as a homophone indicator for Thai (Siamese)
4d – Musical instruments vital to life (6)
ORGANS
Double definition, with organs being musical instruments and also body parts vital to life
5d – Cylinder jammed? (5,4)
SWISS ROLL
Cryptical definition; a swiss roll is a dessert that is a cylinder filled with jam
6d – No elf could be a criminal (5)
FELON
Criminal is the definition, with could be as an anagram indicator for no elf
7d – Quite an occasion when the extreme left write? (3-6,3)
RED LETTER DAY
Quite an occasion is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; the extreme left would be communist (red), so a day when they write (like a letter) could be a red letter day
8d – Drink as alternative to the cool cha? (3,9)
HOT CHOCOLATE
Drink is the definition, with alternative as an anagram indicator for to the cool cha
12d – Green coating spoiling diver’s rig (9)
VERDIGRIS
Green coating is the definition, with spoiling as an anagram indicator for diver's rig
16d – A short work of fiction: November Girl (7)
NOVELLA
A short work of fiction is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: NOV (abbreviation for November) + ELLA (girl)
17d – Light taken from attic and left (6)
CANDLE
Light is the definition with from as a hidden word clue for atti(c and le)ft
19d – Hurt when head is broken outside city (5)
ACHED
Hurt is the definition, with outside as an indicator to put C (abbreviation for city) into AHED (broken is an anagram indicator for head): A(C)HED
22d – A share of the profits, called for by movie director? (3)
CUT
Double definition; a cut is a share of the profits, and a movie director calls “Cut!“