Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-09-20 (25/25)
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The clues:
1a – Small fruit put underground, we hear (5)
BERRY
Small fruit is the definition, with we hear as a homophone indicator for BURY (put underground)
4a – Cereal in west requiring warmth (5)
WHEAT
Cereal is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: W (abbreviation for west) + HEAT (warmth)
7a – A lovable eccentric primarily (5,3)
ABOVE ALL
Primarily is the definition, with eccentric as an anagram indicator for a lovable
8a – Standard portion or medium selection (4)
NORM
Standard is the definition, with selection as a hidden word indicator for portio(n or m)edium
9a – Woman from the United Nations (4)
EDNA
Woman is the definition (Edna is a woman‘s name), with from as a hidden word indicator for Unit(ed Na)tions
10a – Drug distributed in Paris (7)
ASPIRIN
Drug is the definition, with distributed as an anagram indicator for in Paris
12a – Carrier hurried in back street to get drink (11)
TRANSPORTER
Carrier is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: TRANS (in is an indicator to put RAN (hurried) into ST (back is a reversal indicator for ST, abbreviation for street)) + PORTER (drink)
14a – Sinatra could be a skilled worker (7)
ARTISAN
Skilled worker is the definition, with could be as an anagram indicator for Sinatra
16a – Action taken to back favourites (4)
STEP
Action taken is the definition, with back as a reversal indicator for PETS (favourites)
19a – Be fond of story about king (4)
LIKE
Be fond of is the definition, with about as an indicator to put K (abbreviation for king) into LIE (story): LI(K)E
20a – Persuaded to talk when taken from the bank (5,3)
DRAWN OUT
Double definition, with drawn out meaning persuaded to talk and also meaning taken from the bank
21a – Cleaners don’t have gents to put off (5)
DETER
Put off is the definition, with don't have as an indicator to remove GENTS (gents) from DETERGENTS (cleaners)
22a – Want to follow Branson’s first jet? (5)
BLACK
Jet is the definition (as in jet black), with the rest as a charades clue: B (Branson's first, first letter of Branson) + LACK (want)
1d – Anger about bishop revealing scripture (5)
BIBLE
Scripture is the definition, with about as an indicator to put B (chess abbreviation for bishop) into BILE (anger): BI(B)LE
2d – Bird that’s upset an Italian city (7)
RAVENNA
Italian city is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAVEN (bird) + NA (upset is a reversal indicator for an)
3d – You are not finished in time (4)
YEAR
Time is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: YE (you) + AR (not finished is an indicator to remove the last letter from are)
4d – Manuscript buried in wood somewhere in Cheshire (8)
WILMSLOW
Somewhere in Cheshire is the definition, with buried in as an indicator to put MS (abbreviation for manuscript) into WILLOW (wood): WIL(MS)LOW
5d – Change in middle of genuine weariness (5)
ENNUI
Weariness is the definition, with change as an anagram indicator for ENUIN (middle as an indicator to remove the first and last letters of genuine)
6d – Row about stray dog (7)
TERRIER
Dog is the definition, with about as an indicator to put ERR (stray) into TIER (row): T(ERR)IER
11d – One smear for one from Tonga, say (8)
ISLANDER
One from Tonga, say is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: I (looks like a one) + SLANDER (smear)
12d – Delayed, having attempted to cross a river (7)
TARRIED
Delayed is the definition, with cross as an indicator to put A (a) + R (abbreviation for river) into TRIED (attempted): T(A)(R)RIED
13d – Giant one found with a fairy queen (7)
TITANIA
Fairy queen is the definition (from A Midsummer Night's Dream), with the rest as a charades clue: TITAN (giant) + I (looks like a one) + A (a)
15d – Lacking vigour, trainer takes part (5)
INERT
Lacking vigour is the definition, with part as a hidden word indicator for tra(iner t)akes
17d – Courage is needed to remove feathers (5)
PLUCK
Double definition with pluck meaning courage, and also to remove feathers
18d – Essayist requiring meat (4)
LAMB
Double definition, with Lamb being an essayist, and lamb being a type of meat