Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-03-31 (26/26)
Still trying to understand these clues:
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The clues:
1a – Article about unknown writer (4)
ANON
Unknown writer is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AN (article) + ON (about)
3a – A horse is not all bad (8)
STALLION
A horse is the definition, with bad as an anagram indicator for is not all
9a – Stopping in cages for a change (7)
CEASING
Stopping is the definition, with for a change as an anagram indicator for in cages
10a – Lawful support – setback for the French (5)
LEGAL
Lawful is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: LEG (support, as in a leg to stand on) + AL (setback is a reversal indicator for LA, which is French for the)
11a – Races round island to see wrecks (5)
RUINS
Wrecks is the definition, with round as an indicator to put I (abbreviation for island) into RUNS (races), resulting in RU(I)NS
12a – Changed course continually – sound diplomacy (6)
TACKED
Changed course continually is the definition, with sound as a homophone indicator for TACT (diplomacy)
14a – Death, some say, resulting from fight on seesaw (3,5,2,3)
THE WAGES OF SIN
Death, some say is the definition, with resulting from as an anagram indicator for fight on see-saw
17a – The rest of Spain? (6)
SIESTA
Cryptic definition; a siesta is a type of rest in Spain
19a – Subject of article written by myself (5)
THEME
Subject is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: THE (article) + ME (myself)
22a – Do what certain people don’t, but do reform (5)
DOUBT
Do what certain people don't is the definition (?), with reform as an anagram for but do
23a – A hundred agree about area of land (7)
ACREAGE
Area of land is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + C (roman numeral for hundred) + REAGE (about is an anagram indicator for agree)
24a – She gets a call and a good clip (8)
SHEARING
A good clip is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SHE (she) + A (a) + RING (call)
25a – For a bit of fun, start singing in plane (4)
JEST
A bit of fun is the definition, with in as an indicator to put S (start singing, the first letter of singing) in JET (plane), resulting in JE(S)T
1d – Bill presented to clergyman is correct (8)
ACCURATE
Correct is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AC (bill, like accounts) + CURATE (clergyman)
2d – Took a picture that includes an animal (5)
OKAPI
Animal is the definition, with includes as a hidden word indicator for to(ok a pi)cture
4d – Reunited to produce a profit for a female (8,5)
TOGETHER AGAIN
Reunited is the definition, with the rest as a cryptic definition: to produce a profit for a female is TO GET HER A GAIN
5d – Cilla changed colour (5)
LILAC
Colour is the definition, with changed as an anagram indicator for Cilla
6d – Entrance for poor singers (7)
INGRESS
Entrance is the definition, with poor as an anagram indicator for singers
7d – Nothing seen on eastern river (4)
NILE
River is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: NIL (nothing) + E (abbreviation for eastern)
8d – A foreign festival makes it safe (6)
FIESTA
A foreign festival is the definition with makes as an anagram indicator for it safe
13d – Does this take the boredom out of saving? (9)
INTEREST
Cryptic definition; a savings account has interest, and things are less boring if you have interest in them
15d – Gourmet putting dog in eastern dish (7)
EPICURE
Gourmet is the definition, with putting as an indicator to put CUR (dog) into E (abbreviation for eastern) + PIE (dish), resulting in EPI(CUR)E
16d – Animals prepared to rest (6)
OTTERS
Animals is the definition, with prepared as an anagram indicator for to rest
18d – Indian instrument is taken up by sailor (5)
SITAR
Indian instrument is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SI (taken up is a reversal indicator for is) + TAR (sailor)
20d – With a little rubber a secretary may rub out (5)
ERASE
Rub out is the definition, with with a little as a hidden word indicator for rubb(er a se)cretary
21d – Paradoxically they could be evens (4)
ODDS
Cryptic definition; odds can even