Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-05 (26/28)
Still trying to understand these clues:
26a – Neglected matters go by this governing body (3,5)— thanks, @JoshuaKosman!
The clues:
1a – Stiff young man hoarding diamonds (4)
BODY
Stiff is the definition, with hoarding as an indicator that D (abbreviation for diamonds) goes into BOY (young man): BO(D)Y
3a – In the morning wild boar is heavenly food (8)
AMBROSIA
Heavenly food is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: AM (in the morning) + BROSIA (wild is an anagram indicator for boar is)
9a – Joint in road caused annoyance (7)
RANKLED
Caused annoyance is the definition, with in as an indicator that ANKLE (joint) goes into RD (abbreviation for road): R(ANKLE)D
10a – Rotter requiring small drink (5)
SWINE
Rotter is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for small) + WINE (drink)
11a – A boxing match, more or less (5)
ABOUT
More or less is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (a) + BOUT (boxing match)
12a – Comprehend six feet (6)
FATHOM
Double definition, with fathom meaning comprehend, and also fathom being a unit of measurement equal to six feet
14a – Companion introduced to right sort of plant (6)
LICHEN
Plant is the definition, with introduced to as an indicator that CH (abbreviation for Companion of Honour) goes into LIEN (right): LI(CH)EN/spoiler]
16a – Outlaw taking shelter in mountain kingdom (6) [spoiler title="show answer"]BHUTAN
Mountain kingdom is the definition, with taking as an indicator that HUT (shelter) goes into BAN (outlaw)
19a – Cave reached when going over river (6)
GROTTO
Cave is the definition, with going over as an indicator that R (abbreviation for river) goes into GOT TO (reached)
21a – French city scroll, illegible in part (5)
LILLE
French city is the definition, with in part as a hidden word indicator for scrol(l ille)gible
24a – Completely vertical (5)
PLUMB
Double definition, with plumb meaning vertical (like a plumb bob) and also meaning completely (like “you’re plumb crazy”)
25a – Spot new clerk clad in iron (7)
FRECKLE
Spot is the definition, with clad in as an indicator to put RECKL (new is an anagram indicator for clerk) into FE (chemical symbol for iron): F(RECKL)E
26a – Neglected matters go by this governing body (3,5)
THE BOARD*
Double definition, with the board being a governing body, and go by the board referring to neglected matters
27a – Prepare to publish current returns (4)
EDIT
Prepare to publish is the definition, with returns as a reversal indicator for TIDE (current)
1d – Marine crustacean, a sort of lean crab (8)
BARNACLE
Marine crustacean is the definition, with sort as an anagram indicator for lean crab
2d – Wild dog hiding out? Not entirely (5)
DINGO
Wild dog is the definition, with not entirely as a hidden word indicator for hi(ding o)ut
4d – Fielder I’m about to remove (3-3)
MID-OFF
Fielder is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MI (about is a reversal indicator for I'm) + DOFF (remove)
5d – Some ignore site for further examination (5)
RESIT
Further examination is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for igno(re sit)e
6d – Extend trip away from home (4,3)
SPIN OUT
Extend is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: SPIN (trip, like taking a car for a spin) + OUT (away from home)
7d – Be an accomplice in Lincoln, ending in court (4)
ABET
Be an accomplice is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ABE (Lincoln) + T (ending in court, last letter of court)
8d – Gay bishop, supple and graceful (6)
BLITHE
Gay is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: B (chess abbreviation for bishop) + LITHE (supple and graceful)
13d – Does this take the boredom out of saving? (8)
INTEREST
Cryptic definition; being interested in something is something like the opposite of being bored by it, and saving money can earn you interest on it
15d – Many stir drink excessively (7)
CAROUSE
Drink excessively is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (roman numeral for 100, which is many) + AROUSE (stir)
17d – He hugs tree — time for protection on top (6)
HELMET
Protection on top is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HELME (hugs is an indicator to put ELM (a tree) into he) + T (abbreviation for time)
18d – Child’s beginning to get tender chest (6)
COFFER
Chest is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (child's beginning, first letter of child) + OFFER (tender)
20d – Expressions of gratitude and disapproval are forbidden (5)
TABOO
Forbidden is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TA (expression of gratitude) + BOO (expression of disapproval)
22d – Popular as starter for dinner (5)
LIKED
Popular is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: LIKE (as) + D (starter for dinner, first letter of dinner)
23d – Second postman in a row (4)
SPAT*
Row is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for second) + PAT (referring to the children’s show Postman Pat)