Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-08-26 (28/28)
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The clues:
1a – Models talk with Poles (8)
PATTERNS
Models is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PATTER (talk) + NS (abbreviations for North and South poles)
6a – Have food in the attic (3)
EAT
Have food is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for th(e at)tic
9a – Dance playfully with something for Batman and Robin initially (5)
CAPER
Dance playfully is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CAPE (something for Batman) + R (initially is an indicator to first character of Robin)
10a – City sound for Wodehouse character (7)
WOOSTER
Wodehouse character is the definition, with sound as a homophone indicator for Worcester (a city)
11a – Continue to cause a fuss (5,2)
CARRY ON
Double definition, with carry on meaning continue and also meaning cause a fuss
12a – Fireplace that’s tremendous, so we hear (5)
GRATE
Fireplace is the definition, with so we hear as a homophone indicator for GREAT (tremendous)
13a – English woman almost makes cake (6)
ECLAIR
Cake is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: E (abbreviation for English) + CLAIR (almost is an indicator to remove the last letter of CLAIRE, a woman‘s name
15a – Heartless Italian certain to take cover (6)
INSURE
Take cover is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: IN (heartless is an indicator to remove the inner characters from Italian) + SURE (certain)
19a – Swear nothing is taken from path (5)
CURSE
Swear is the definition, with taken from as an indicator to remove O (looks like a zero, nothing) from COURSE (path)
21a – Used teeth on lightly-cooked snack (7)
RAREBIT
Snack is the definition, with on as an indicator to put BIT (used teeth) after RARE (lightly-cooked)
23a – Melissa is resolved to be irresolute (7)
AIMLESS
Irresolute is the definition, with resolved as an anagram indicator for Melissa
24a – A large branch providing wake-up call (5)
ALARM
Wake-up call is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + L (abbreviation for large) + ARM (branch)
25a – Part of the next layer? (3)
HEN
Layer is the cryptic definition (a hen lays eggs), with part of as a hidden word indicator for t(he n)ext
26a – Awful grime around WC getting darker (8)
GLOOMIER
Darker is the definition, with around as an indicator to put LOO (WC) into GMIER (awful is an anagram indicator for grime): G(LOO)MIER
2d – Dismay about right eastern costume (7)
APPAREL
Costume is the definition, with about as an indicator to put R (abbreviation for right) + E (abbreviation for eastern) into APPAL (dismay): APPA(RE)L
3d – Linger with sailor on railway (5)
TARRY
Linger is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TAR (sailor) + RY (abbreviation for railway)
4d – Atkinson’s trees? (6)
ROWANS
Double definition, with rowans being trees, and Atkinson's suggesting Rowan’s (for Rowan Atkinson)
5d – Nought’s amiss with weapon (7)
SHOTGUN
Weapon is the definition, with amiss as an anagram indicator for nought's
6d – Spare one of the crowd (5)
EXTRA
Double definition, with extra meaning spare, and also an extra being one of the crowd in a film
7d – Pithy part for Peter Sellers (5)
TERSE
Pithy is the definition, with part as a hidden word indicator for Pe(ter Se)llers
8d – Frozen dripping? (6)
ICICLE
Cryptic definition; an icicle is frozen dripping water
14d – I caught a bird that’s pulled up the lettuce (7)
ICEBERG
Lettuce is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (I) + C (cricket abbreviation for caught) + EBERG (pulled up is an reversal indicator for GREBE, a type of bird)
16d – Missing leader speechless with anger and resentment (7)
UMBRAGE
Resentment is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: UMB (missing leader is an indicator to remove the first letter of DUMB (speechless)) + RAGE (anger)
17d – Unruly mob — ten put in grave situation (6)
ENTOMB
Put in grave situation is the cryptic definition, with unruly as an anagram indicator for mob ten
18d – Quickly taking break in river (6)
PRESTO
Quickly is the definition, with in as an indicator to put REST (break) in PO (river): P(REST)O
19d – Train — or part of one (5)
COACH
Double definition, with coach meaning train (like, to coach an athlete) and also being a part of a train (a seating class)
20d – Computer memory found by an Italian (5)
ROMAN
Italian is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ROM (computer memory) + AN (an)
22d – Kingdom not fancied by leader of monarchists (5)
REALM
Kingdom is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: REAL (not fancied?) + M (leader of monarchists, first letter of monarchists)