Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-19 (26/26)
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The clues:
1a – Where Marco Polo went abroad in a yacht (6)
CATHAY
Where Marco Polo went is the definition, with abroad as an anagram indicator for a yacht
4a – Shock-absorber containing more moisture (6)
DAMPER
Shock-absorber is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: something containing more moisture is going to be damper
8a – Don’t touch and go (5)
LEAVE
Double definition, with leave meaning don't touch and also meaning go
9a – Rotters breaking glass vessels in the lab (7)
RETORTS
Glass vessels in the lab is the definition, with breaking as an anagram indicator for rotters
10a – King captured in revolutionary month is shown to be innocent (7)
CLEARED
Shown to be innocent is the definition, with captured in as an indicator that LEAR (king) goes into CED (revolutionary is a reversal indicator for DEC, abbreviation for the month December)
11a – Synthetic material – or any material? (5)
RAYON
Synthetic material is the definition, with the second material as an anagram indicator for or any
12a – Paul McCartney song that was a big hit not long ago (9)
YESTERDAY
Double definition, with Yesterday being a Paul McCartney song that was a big hit, and yesterday being not long ago
17a – Quite near a pub (5)
LOCAL
Double definition, with local meaning quite near and also referring to a pub
19a – Eastern ruler’s wife coming in to consult an attorney (7)
SULTANA
Eastern ruler's wife is the definition, with coming in as a hidden word indicator for con(sult an a)ttorney
21a – Frightened by man carrying weapon? (7)
ALARMED
Frightened is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AL (a man‘s name) + ARMED (carrying weapon)
22a – Steal a small amount (5)
PINCH
Double definition, with pinch meaning steal and a pinch being a small amount
23a – The author of “Tristram Shandy” enters with a flourish (6)
STERNE
The author of "Tristram Shandy" is the definition, with with a flourish as an anagram indicator for enters
24a – Editorial chief (6)
LEADER
Double definition, with chief meaning leader, and leader also meaning newspaper editorial
1d – Material I found in 17 parts (6)
CALICO
Material is the definition, with found in as an indicator to put I into CALCO (parts is an anagram indicator for LOCAL, the answer to the clue in 17a), resulting in CAL(I)CO
2d – Attempt to take in old drama? (7)
TRAGEDY
Drama is the definition, with take in as an indicator to put AGED (old) into TRY (attempt), resulting in TR(AGED)Y
3d – Sounding like a simple Moslem leader (5)
AMEER
Moslem leader is the definition (intentional that both are variant spellings?), with sounding like as a homophone indicator for A MERE (a simple)
5d – Ted and Rita go out to get dressed (7)
ATTIRED
Dressed is the definition, with go out as an anagram indicator for Ted Rita
6d – Be nosy about the queen providing drink (5)
PERRY
Drink is the definition (perry is an alcoholic beverage made from pears), with about as an indicator to put ER (queen, Elizabeth Regina) into PRY (be nosy), resulting in P(ER)RY
7d – Uphill revolt? (6)
RISING
Double definition, with rising meaning uphill and also revolt
9d – Compensated – with new clothes? (9)
REDRESSED
Compensated is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: getting new clothes is being re-dressed
13d – Biblical king on his own one day? (7)
SOLOMON
Biblical king is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SOLO (on his own) + MON (one day, abbreviation for Monday)
14d – Longed for time to end badly? (7)
YEARNED
Longed for is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: YEAR (time) + NED (badly is an anagram indicator for end)
15d – Conceals 150 trees (6)
CLOAKS
Conceals is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CL (roman numeral for 150) + OAKS (trees)
16d – Laundress used to be a woman (6)
WASHER
Laundress is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: WAS (used to be) + HER (a woman)
18d – A bird that’s used for lifting? (5)
CRANE
Double definition, with crane being a bird and also something used for lifting
20d – Scandinavians heard in the fall? (5)
LAPSE
Fall is the definition, with heard as a homophone indicator for LAPPS (inhabitants of Finland, so Scandinavians)