Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-04-21 (28/28)
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The clues:
1a – Hot-tempered person in an aeroplane (8)
SPITFIRE
A spitfire is a model of aeroplane, and also a term for a hot-tempered person
6a – A lot of hair to clean up (3)
MOP
Double definition, with mop being a way to clean up and also referring to a lot of hair
9a – A poem about baby’s first home (5)
ABODE
Home is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + BODE (about is an indicator to put B (baby's first, first letter of baby) into or onto ODE (poem))
10a – Pudding right for one who is not serious (7)
TRIFLER
One who is not serious is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TRIFLE (pudding) + R (abbreviation for right)
11a – A Roman emperor owned parts of Iran (7)
HADRIAN
A Roman emperor is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HAD (owned) + RIAN (parts of is an anagram indicator for Iran)
13a – A carriage for a tutor (5)
COACH
Double definition, with coach meaning carriage and also tutor
14a – Trim a tree (6)
SPRUCE
Double definition, with a spruce being a tree and spruce also meaning trim (like spruce up)
15a – Open paste (6)
SPREAD
Double definition, with spread meaning open and a spread (like a food spread) being a paste
19a – Searches thoroughly for hairdressing tools (5)
COMBS
Double definition, with combs meaning searches thoroughly, and combs being hairdressing tools
21a – Joy seeing some French illumination (7)
DELIGHT
Joy is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: DE (some French, a French word?) + LIGHT (illumination)
22a – Europeans residing in bigger mansions (7)
GERMANS
Europeans is the definition, with residing in as a hidden word indicator for big(ger mans)ions
23a – Parts of the Far East (5)
AREAS
Parts is the definition, with of as a hidden word indicator for F(ar eas)t
24a – The name of a man from Ayr (3)
RAY
The name of a man is the definition, with from as an anagram indicator for Ayr
25a – Journey that may make arm tired (4,4)
TRAM RIDE
Journey is the definition, with make as an anagram indicator for arm tired
2d – Slow and laborious worker – PC before red revolution (7)
PLODDER
Slow and laborious worker is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PLOD (PC, derogatory slang for a police constable) + DER (revolution is an anagram or reversal indicator for red)
3d – Bond takes it back east (3)
TIE
Bond is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TI (back is a reversal indicator for it) + E (abbreviation for east)
4d – At home with nurse? That’s mean! (6)
INTEND
Mean is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: IN (at home) + TEND (nurse)
5d – Ordering Pepsi-Cola – like a bishop? (9)
EPISCOPAL
Like a bishop is the definition, with ordering as an anagram indicator for Pepsi-Cola
6d – Country taking part in formal talks (5)
MALTA
Country is the definition, with taking part in as a hidden word indicator for for(mal ta)lks
7d – Rod, pole or – fish (5)
PERCH
Double definition, with a perch being a fish and also a pole or rod
8d – He’s after fuel cuts (6)
GASHES
Cuts is the definition, with after as an indicator that HES (he's) goes after GAS (fuel), resulting in GAS + HES
12d – Continual instances, perhaps (9)
INCESSANT
Continual is the definition, with perhaps as an anagram indicator for instances
16d – Urge principal to become an intellectual (7)
EGGHEAD
Intellectual is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: EGG (urge, like to egg on) + HEAD (principal)
17d – Hate being tested and failing? (6)
DETEST
Hate is the definition, with failing as an anagram indicator for tested
18d – Poems and essay, say, on Black Sea port (6)
ODESSA
Black Sea port is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ODES (poems) + SA (say is a homophone indicator for essay)
19d – American soldier going back in vehicle that produces smoke (5)
CIGAR
Produces smoke is the definition, with in as an indicator that IG (going back is a reversal indicator for GI, American soldier) goes into CAR (vehicle), resulting in C(IG)AR
20d – Tipsy – like Robin’s men (5)
MERRY
Double definition, with merry meaning tipsy and also referring to Robin Hood’s merry men
23d – Song making appearance (3)
AIR
Double definition, with air being a type of song, and also meaning appearance (as in, she had an air of confidence about her)