Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-06-23 (15/24)
Still trying to understand these clues:
- Prepared to make money (5)
The clues:
1a – Most important couple may get spliced (9)
MAINBRACE*
May get spliced is the definition (“splice the mainbrace” is an order given on naval vessels), with the rest as a charades clue: MAIN (most important) + BRACE (couple, meaning pair)
8a – Turn back in vehicle that’s not what it seems (5)
BOGUS*
Not what it seems is the definition, with in as an indicator that OG (turn back, or go backwards) goes into BUS (vehicle): B(OG)US
9a – Group taking long time dressing (7)
BANDAGE*
Dressing is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BAND (group) + AGE (long time)
10a – Sign seen in Rome nowadays (4)
OMEN
Sign is the definition, with in as an hidden word clue in R(ome n)owadays
11a – Find out about exceptional radiation (5-3)
INFRA RED
Radiation is the definition, with about as an indicator that RARE (exceptional) goes into INFD (out is an anagram indicator for find): INF(RARE)D
13a – Take weapons from leader of militia after fresh raids (6)
DISARM
Take weapons is the definition, with after as an indicator that M (leader of militia, or first letter of militia) goes after ISARM (fresh is an anagram indicator for raids)
14a – Ravine enclosing English king (6)
GEORGE*
King is the definition, with enclosing as an indicator that E (abbreviation for English) goes into GORGE (ravine): G(E)ORGE
17a – Agitated, having operated aloft (6,2)
WORKED UP
Agitated is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition (operated aloft = worked up)
19a – Leader in Guardian newspaper backing animals (4)
GNUS
Animals is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: G (leader in Guardian, first letter of Guardian) + NUS (backing is a reversal indicator for Sun, a newspaper)
21a – Again order right sort of ale and gin (7)
REALIGN
Again order is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: R (abbreviation for right) + EALIGN (sort is an anagram indicator for ale and gin)
22a – Prepared to make money (5)
READY
Prepared is the definition, but what is the wordplay?
23a – They may carry sleeping bags, we hear (9)
KNAPSACKS
They may carry is the definition, with we hear as a homophone indicator for nap sacks (sleeping bags)
2d – Is lager drunk – or port? (7)
ALGIERS*
Port is the definition, with drunk as an anagram indicator for is lager
3d – Egg container in someone’s trolley (4)
NEST
Egg container is the definition, with in as an hidden word indicator for someo(ne's t)rolley
4d – Hood put on girl’s head when dressing? (6)
ROBING
Dressing is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ROBIN (Hood, as in Robin Hood) + G (girl's head, or first letter of girl)
5d – Caesar in trouble with birds (8)
CANARIES*
Birds is the definition, with trouble as an anagram indicator for Caesar in
6d – Just fluorine and a mixture of gases (4)
FAIR
Just is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: F (chemical symbol for fluorine) + AIR (mixture of gases)
7d – Pointers like a fox – for no good reason (10)
NEEDLESSLY*
For no good reason is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: NEEDLES (pointers) + SLY (like a fox)
8d – Norfolk term for old weapon? (10)
BROADSWORD*
Old weapon is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BROADS (Broads is a national park in Norfolk) + WORD (term)
12d – Marianne’s new nationality (8)
ARMENIAN
Nationality is the definition, with new as an anagram indicator for Marianne
15d – Gunmen, note, get rid of loot (7)
RANSACK
Loot is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RA (abbreviation for Royal Artillery, gunmen) + N (note) + SACK (get rid of)
16d – Arrive with cycle at college (4,2)
TURN UP*
Arrive is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TURN (cycle) + UP (at college; in the UK, one goes up to university)
18d – Foster’s back (4)
REAR*
Double definition, with rear meaning back but also to foster, as in children
20d – Callas misses first part of opera? (4)
ARIA
Part of opera is the definition, with misses as a subtraction indicator to remove the first letter (first part) of MARIA (Maria Callas is an opera singer)