Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-06 (28/28)
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The clues:
1a – Fruit crop as it could be (8)
APRICOTS
Fruit is the definition, with could be as an anagram indicator for crop as it
5a – Try to use a bayonet? (4)
STAB
Double definition, with stab meaning try and also use a bayonet
8a – Underground root, primarily? (5)
TUBER
This is an &lit clue; a tuber is an underground root, and the whole thing is also a charades clue: TUBE (the London Underground) + R (primarily is an indicator to take the first letter of root)
9a – Discs that may be broken? (7)
RECORDS
Double definition; records are discs, and also records may be broken
11a – Obtain professional medical treatment (7)
PROCURE
Obtain is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PRO (short for professional) + CURE (medical treatment)
12a – Victor and Oscar get married, having made a solemn promise (5)
VOWED
Made a solemn promise is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: V (abbreviation for Victor) + O (abbreviation for Oscar) + WED (get married)
13a – Frank makes a house a home (6)
HONEST
Frank is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HO (abbreviation for house) + NEST (a home)
15a – Sailor held back by soldiers gets free (6)
GRATIS
Free is the definition, with held as an indicator to put RAT (held back is a reversal indicator for TAR, sailor) into GIS (soldiers): G(RAT)IS
18a – Diana dressed as a nymph? (5)
NAIAD
Nymph is the definition, with dressed as an anagram indicator for Diana
20a – Animals the queen worries about (7)
FERRETS
Animals is the definition, with about as indicator to put ER (Elizabeth Regina, the queen) into FRETS (worries): F(ER)RETS
23a – Cat sees bats about one in the morning (7)
SIAMESE
Cat is the definition, with about as an indicator to put I (looks like a one) + AM (in the morning) into SESE (bats is an anagram indicator for sees): S(IAM)ESE
24a – Charge about right for fish (5)
TROLL
Fish is the definition, with about as an indicator to put R (abbreviation for right) into TOLL (a charge)
25a – Small bird seen by old Balkan leader (4)
TITO
Balkan leader is the definition (Josip Broz, known as Tito), with the rest as a charades clue: S (abbreviation for small) + TIT (bird)
26a – Kid almost gets yob to relax (5,3)
CHILL OUT
Relax is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CHIL (almost is an indicator to remove the last letter of CHILD (kid)) + LOUT (yob)
1d – Team leader entering a competition to misbehave (3,2)
ACT UP
Misbehave is the definition, with the entering as an indicator for T (team leader, first letter of team) to go into A (a) + CUP (competition): AC(T)UP
2d – Difficulty getting feathers dry (3,4)
RUB DOWN
Dry is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RUB (difficulty) + DOWN (feathers)
3d – Some frolic or fun on a Greek island (5)
CORFU
Greek island is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for froli(c or fu)n
4d – Revolver for an artist? (6)
TURNER
Double definition, with Turner being an artist and also a turner being a revolver
6d – Extremely tough line for cast (5)
THROW
Cast is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TH (extremely is an indicator to take the first and last letters of tough) + ROW (line)
7d – Be joining teams in addition (7)
BESIDES
In addition is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: BE (be) + SIDES (teams)
10d – Caught with too much insurance (5)
COVER
Insurance is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (cricket abbreviation for caught) + OVER (too much)
13d – Remote crewmen on Egypt’s borders (7)
HANDSET
Remote is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HANDS (crewmen) + ET (Egypt's borders, the first and last letter of Egypt)
14d – Plant some massed geraniums (5)
SEDGE
Plant is the definition, with some as a hidden word indicator for mas(sed ge)raniums
16d – Musical effect that’s a lot more fluttery? (7)
TREMOLO
Musical effect is the definition, with fluttery as an anagram indicator for lot more
17d – Adult getting cheeky again (6)
AFRESH
Again is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: A (abbreviation for adult) + FRESH (cheeky)
19d – At home a gym is unsuitable (5)
INAPT
Unsuitable is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: IN (at home) + A (a) + PT (abbreviation for physical training, done in a gym)
21d – Animal deliberately enclosed (5)
RATEL
Animal is the definition (a ratel is a honey badger), with enclosed as a hidden word indicator for delibe(ratel)y
22d – Divided Croatian city (5)
SPLIT
Double definition, with split meaning divided and also being a Croatian City