Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2020-07-01 (25/26)
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The clues:
1a – Rock plant’s last seen by aquatic creature (6)
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TOTTER
Rock is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: T (plant's last, or the last letter of plant) + OTTER (aquatic creature)
4a – Merchant who distributes the cards? (6)
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DEALER
Double definition, with a dealer being a merchant and also one who distributes cards
8a – One small boy in the Scillies, for example (5)
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ISLES
Scillies for example is the definition (they are isles), with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + S (abbreviation for small) + LES (name of a boy)
9a – Small change for Old Bill? (7)
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COPPER
Double definition, with a copper coin being small change, and also slang for police like Old Bill
10a – Seeing less impressive performance (7)
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BLINDER
Double definition, with blinder meaning seeing less, and also being slang for an impressive performance
11a – Follow girl after men lost lead (5)
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ENSUE
Follow is the definition, with after as an indicator that SUE (a girl‘s name) comes after EN (men lost lead, or men without its first letter): EN+SUE
12a – Cook missed tea cup (9)
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DEMITASSE
Tea cup is the definition, with cook as an anagram indicator for missed tea
17a – Paradoxical odds? (5)
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EVENS
Cryptic definition? Evens is the opposite of odds
19a – Material for nails a tinker ordered? (7)
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KERATIN
Material for nails is the definition (fingernails are made of keratin), with ordered as an anagram indicator for a tinker
21a – One may have provided food for pet before? Right! (7)
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CATERER
One may have provided food is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CAT (pet) + ERE (before) + R (abbreviation for right)
22a – Tremble when given a flavoured milk drink (5)
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SHAKE
Double definition, with shake meaning tremble and also being a flavoured milk drink
23a – Bugs making a sound we can hear (6)
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ANNOYS
Bugs is the definition, with we can hear as a homophone indicator on a noise (meaning a sound)
24a – Joined in duet with variations (6)
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UNITED
Joined is the definition, with with variations as an anagram indicator for in duet
1d – Attempt to carry one pound in hat (6)
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TRILBY
Hat is the definition, with carry as an indicator that I (looks like one) + LB (abbreviation for pound) goes into TRY (attempt): TR(ILB)Y
2d – Team leader in league, as agreed (7)
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TALLIED*
Agreed is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: T (team leader, or first letter of team) + ALLIED (in league)
3d – Relieved when a seed is transplanted (5)
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EASED
Relieved is the definition, with transplanted as an anagram for a seed
5d – A fast train, say (7)
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EXPRESS
Double definition, with express being a fast train, and also meaning say
6d – Yorkshire city is first to be heard (5)
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LEEDS
Yorkshire city is the definition, with to be heard as a homophone indicator for leads (is first)
7d – More impetuous, having a piece of bacon (6)
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RASHER
Double definition, with rasher meaning more impetuous (more rash) and also meaning piece of bacon
9d – Janitor, a conscientious type (9)
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CARETAKER
Janitor is the definition, with conscientious type as a cryptic definition (one who takes care)
13d – Learner in sad state getting tight (7)
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MISERLY
Tight is the definition, with in as an indicator that L (abbreviation for learner) goes into MISERY (sad state): MISER(L)Y
14d – Selected portion of former publication (7)
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EXTRACT
Selected portion is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue or cryptic definition: EX (former) + TRACT (publication)
15d – Parisian thanks leader of army in old kingdom (6)
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MERCIA
Old kingdom is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MERCI (Parisian thanks, or thanks in French) + A (leader of army, or first letter of army)
16d – Really it’s in a legal document, though it could be denied (6)
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INDEED
Really is the definition, and there are two bits of wordplay: IN (in) + DEED (legal document), and with could be as an anagram indicator for denied
18d – Dined in college, by the sound of it (5)
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EATEN
Dined is the definition, with by the sound of it as a homophone indicator for Eton, a college
20d – A piece from Salieri sent up (5)
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RISEN
Sent up is the definition, with from as a hidden word indicator in Salie(ri sen)t