Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-13 (26/26)
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The clues:
1a – Language involved in her web (6)
HEBREW
Language is the definition, with involved as an anagram indicator for her web
4a – Is saga about tennis star? (6)
AGASSI
Tennis star is the definition (Andre Agassi), with about as an anagram indicator for is saga
8a – Raises backs (5)
REARS
Double definition, with rears meaning raises (as in rearing children) and also backs or back sides
9a – Rail cut may be cut short (7)
CURTAIL
Cut short is the definition, with may be as an anagram indicator for rail cut
10a – Sausages from a Greek island (7)
SALAMIS
Double definition, with salamis being sausages, and Salamis being a Greek island
11a – A toff – one who acts for another (5)
AGENT
One who acts for another is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A + GENT (toff)
12a – Glasses needed to see ships? (9)
SCHOONERS
Double definition, with schooners being a type of drinking glasses, and also a type of ships
17a – A civic dignitary for a month or more? (5)
MAYOR
A civic dignitary is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MAY (month) + OR (or). There may be a bonus definition; mayor in Spanish means higher or taller, which is similar to more
19a – A terribly nice part of the bible – very old (7)
ANCIENT
Very old is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + NCIE (terribly is an anagram indicator for nice) + NT (part of the bible, abbreviation for New Testament)
21a – Having any time free is a convenience (7)
AMENITY
Convenience is the definition, with free as an anagram indicator for any time
22a – School housing head of Little John (5)
ELTON
John is the definition (referring to Elton John) with housing as an indicator that L (head of Little, first letter of little) goes into ETON (Eton College is a public school), resulting in E(L)TON
23a – Kings and queens coming from Stroud (6)
TUDORS
Kings and queens is the definition, with coming from as an anagram indicator for Stroud
24a – Remained sober, so we hear (6)
STAYED
Remained is the definition, with hear as a homophone indicator for STAID (sober or serious)
1d – Sarah’s resolved to annoy (6)
HARASS
Annoy is the definition, with resolved as an anagram indicator for Sarah's
2d – Dogs start barking in front of birds (7)
BEAGLES
Dogs is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: B (start barking, first letter of barking) + EAGLES (birds)
3d – Poems misquoted in Surrey? (5)
EPSOM
In Surrey is the definition, with misquoted as an anagram indicator for poems
5d – A letter from Berlin, perhaps, may be relevant (7)
GERMANE
Relevant is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition; a letter from Berlin might be a German E
6d – Financial interest in the post? (5)
STAKE
Double definition, where stake means post and also financial interest
7d – Listen out for openings (6)
INLETS
Openings is the definition, with out as an anagram indicator for listen
9d – Scout turning to girl as usual (9)
CUSTOMARY
Usual is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CUSTO (turning is an anagram indicator for Scout) + MARY (a girl‘s name)
13d – It’s more difficult holding one that’s stronger (7)
HARDIER
Stronger is the definition, with holding as an indicator that I (looks like a one) goes into HARDER (more difficult), resulting in HARD(I)ER
14d – We enter in style, somehow, in a charming manner (7)
SWEETLY
In a charming manner is the definition, with enter as an indicator that WE goes into SETLY (somehow is an anagram indicator for style), resulting in S(WE)ETLY
15d – I’m standing by agreement with striking effect (6)
IMPACT
Striking effect is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: IM (I'm) + PACT (agreement)
16d – Made amends for a noted error (6)
ATONED
Made amends is the definition, with error as an anagram indicator for a noted
18d – Return and surrender (5)
YIELD
Double definition, with yield meaning return (like the yield on an investment) and surrender (to yield to an opponent)
20d – One hundred remaining to be split (5)
CLEFT
Split is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (roman numeral for 100) + LEFT (remaining)